Life in the woods

Most of what I have to do has been done. Trade finished, though I cannot seem to find the fisherman. I am stocked up for the winter and now I just have to finish maintenance on my house. I shall start on tarring the walls soon, so that they aren't letting any of the chill through the gaps. Then it's the roof that needs fixing, maintaining the larder to make sure vermin don't gnaw at my stocks - the woodswitch can feed and care for them if she so desires, and I shan't ridicule her for it, but her choices are not mine.

I have gone hunting, deeper inwood, almost to the other end of it - and the forest had whispered to me of others being there. I haven't seen these other woodsmen, but I saw signs of their passage - the underbrush speaks of people that call that place their home, through disturbed bushes, trampled leaves, general signs like that. Other people call it home, for it is nowhere near where mother lives, nor where my brother's hut stays empty for the winter. I should seek these others out, to see who they are and what to expect. Perhaps an understanding could be made, a trade. Assuming, and hoping, they are reasonable people.
I would hate to have to chase another out of the woods, but if it was a poacher or a person too witless to live in the woods, I might have to. Either for the good of the forest, or their own. I remember that pompous fool who called himself a "lesser noble" (how typical for our kin to belittle even those of their perceived stature and put themselves above the rest of us in any way imaginable) that decided living in the woods of their land would be good for him, because he had read a tale too many about dashing woodsmen and their bravery. It took him two days to decide the cold is too much and leave, but not before he put the hut to the torch. A waste of material and were I not there, the forest might've caught fire as well.

I will not have that happen in Chetwood. If I have to be at odds with whoever calls it home alongside me, so be it.

Expect the best, but prepare for the worst, as grandfather used to say. So I shall.