As we neared Kaya, we could see the enormity of the task at hand. The deer was a large buck, its coat shimmering in the faint moonlight. Lifeless eyes stared back at us while its muscular body hung limp, suspended on a makeshift pulley. "I need a hand here," Kaya said again, her tone echoing the strain of her endeavor.
Hazuki was the first to reach Kaya's side. Without a word, she started to help tie up the deer, her nimble hands weaving the rope around its body and back onto the stick. Cassidy and I joined in, our hands, too, busying themselves with the task.
The deer was heavy, the dead weight pressing against our hands and shoulders as we lifted it. Despite the exertion, we moved in sync, our movements streamlined by a shared sense of purpose. Cassidy and I positioned ourselves on either side of the deer, the stick resting on our shoulders while Hazuki and Kaya provided additional support.
As we lifted, our muscles strained, our breaths ragged in the crisp night air. Cassidy, to my left, had beads of sweat trickling down her forehead, her face flushed with the exertion. I felt my own muscles protesting against the weight, the ropes biting into the flesh of my shoulder. But we pressed on, our collective strength propelling us forward.
Yan-Hua trailed behind us, scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. Her vigilant eyes darted around the area, the soft glow of the moonlight reflected in them.
The journey back to the truck was a test of endurance. We moved slowly, our steps careful, our pace measured. The faint rustling of the leaves, the occasional snap of twigs under our feet, and our ragged breathing were the only sounds breaking the quiet of the night.
Finally, we reached the truck. We lowered the deer with a sigh of relief, the stick thudding against the ground. We were silent for a moment, catching our breaths, the sound of our heavy breathing mixing with the night's serenade of crickets.
The task of gutting the deer fell onto Kaya, her hunting background having prepared her for this part of the process. But it was the unlikely help of Hazuki, our resident nurse, that truly transformed the gutting and butchering process into an art.
Kaya started by carefully positioning the deer on its back. With a hunter's practiced efficiency, she made an incision down the belly. She took her time, ensuring she didn't pierce any of the internal organs. There was a soft, wet sound as she worked, a reminder of the morbid yet necessary task at hand.
Hazuki was there beside her, watching with an intense focus. It was a strange juxtaposition, the sight of Hazuki in her nurse uniform, her hands that were used to saving lives now involved in butchering a dead one. Yet there was a kind of grace in her actions, a respect for life and death in the precision of her movements.
Once the deer was opened, Kaya carefully started to remove the internal organs, her hands steady as she worked. There was an almost surgical precision in her actions, a testament to her experience in the wild. She set the organs aside, stating that nothing would be wasted.
Then, with the carcass gutted, it was time to quarter the deer. Hazuki and Kaya worked side by side, the cabin illuminated by the soft glow of the truck's headlights. Hazuki's medical knowledge came into play, her understanding of muscle and bone structure helping to guide Kaya's knife.
They moved with practiced ease, Hazuki pointing out the joint connections, Kaya severing them with clean cuts. The deer was methodically reduced into smaller, more manageable pieces. Each piece of meat was then carefully cleaned by Hazuki, her nurse's training evident in her meticulousness.
These cleaned cuts were placed into a large plastic bag that Cassidy held open, her face an odd mixture of awe and disgust. As the bag filled, the reality of what we had achieved started to set in.
"Looks like we are set, good job girls." I grinned.
"Hell yeah boss!" Cassidy exclaimed, the other girls gave me nods and looks of approval.
"Alright, let's load it up." I said, slamming the trunk. "We are going to Banff girls!"
Q: Have you ever gone hunting before?