A Hunting We Shall Go

Writers: Kaysea
Date Posted: 10th June 2007

Characters: Th'gar, B'har
Description: B'har and Th'gar go out hunting to help supplement the food stores
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 28 of Turn 4

"You ready?" B'har looked across at Th'gar as he mounted his dragon for the
first time since the hurricane and devastation had hit Dolphin Cove and its
surroundings.

"I'm ready, let's go." Th'gar looked surly, but was trying hard not to look to
eager to leave the Weyr, the Thread that had fallen so soon after the Hurricane,
causing further havoc and deaths had torn the heart from the survivors.

it wasn't just that the Weyr was in shock, and mourning; but the food stores had
been greatly depleted by the floods, the survivors and people seeking shelter
from along the coast.

Complete cots wiped from the coastline, some inhabitants not heading the
warnings, some leaving their evacuations to late, and some ignorant of just how
hard the storm would hit.

With a last look at his surroundings Th'gar gave Valieth the order to rise, and
watched as B'har on Iaaeth rose as well. Today they had been told to search the
furthest holdings between the Weyr and Topaz Sea Hold for livestock that may
have been fortunate enough to survive without dragon protection.

The spiralled up above the heights, with Valieth giving a bugle of
acknowledgement to the watch dragon and his mate; Th'gar watched for B'har's
pumping of his arm to indicate the go /between/.

Both riders appeared stunned at the sight that greeted them, a wide swathe of
land that had been cleared by the hurricane, trees and scrub uprooted and flung
in all directions, completely flattened it wasn't hard to see which way the
hurricane had travelled. The indication wasn't good for surviving stock, even
if they had managed to survive Thread fall by hiding under outcrops of rock and
old outbuildings, the outbuildings probably hadn't survived the rage of the storm.

}:We're to fly low and check for any signs of life as well as stock:{ Valieth's
voice echoed in Th'gar's head.

**I know dear one, but it doesn't look good. Can you see anything?**

}:Nothing that moves. There are dead herdbeasts below, not many but some:{

**And Iaaeth?** he looked right, across the dividing span of open sky between
himself and B'har, **Does he report anything?**

Valieth flew silently for a few dragonlengths, }:Up ahead of him, a small herd
of three or four beasts with young:{

**Well, at least that's something.** Th'gar thought, as much to himself as his
dragonmate.

Valieth dipped his right wing and turned in a long, slow arc towards B'har and
Iaaeth. }:No sign of life other than the herd:{

The surviving skybrooms gave some shelter to the beasts as far as the weather,
but they sensed the dragons long before the pair were overhead, the young one
was kept to the centre of the other four beasts as they picked up speed.

Th'gar could hear the panicked bellows from below as the herd gathered speed and
tried evasive tactics darting first one way and then another, skitting between
outcrops of rock and bush.

}:Iaaeth's rider said he knows where they're headed - a small cothold up along
the rise:{

Both dragons appeared to pick up speed as the beasts below continued their run.
**Ask B'har how many we need?** He knew it was a stupid question, the Weyr
right now, needed as many beasts as possible to feed the masses, but
transporting without 'timing it', would be a problem. Wild felines had been
known to populate this area, and leaving the remains for the slaughtered beasts
would be an open invitation.

Before an answer could be relayed between the two dragons Th'gar saw another
dragon appear on the horizon to their left. }:Ulterth and his rider are here to
assist:{ Valieth informed his rider.

As B'har had indicated, the beasts were headed to a holding at the top of a
small hill. A thin trail of smoke could be seen spiralling up from the chimney
at one end of the building. **Shards! Don't tell me these beasts are owned.**
his disappointment was hard to hide, and he slapped his thigh in annoyance.

They were on the border between the two domains, Dolphin Cove Weyr and Topaz Sea
Hold. It would be a toss up between the two as to whom the cot would be
beholding to, and whether they were able to assist or donate anything to the Weyr.

A small figure could be seen emerging from the cot itself, a man from what
Th'gar could discern from this distance. Valieth and Ulterth circled high about
the cot, while B'har and Iaaeth landed not far from the cot, but far enough away
from the cowering beasts. Dismounting, they watched as the rider made his way
hastily to the top of the hill to be met by the holder.

It wasn't long before they heard from B'har, the herd were wild no claim from
the holder who had his own beasts penned inside the larger of the two
outbuildings. He had requested they leave the younger beast here to mature, and
possibly breed with his own, but the choice to do so would be left with the riders.

B'har mounted quickly and once again Iaaeth was aloft. It didn't take long for
the three riders to take down the four older beasts and Ulterth and his rider
disappeared almost at once with two of the beasts held tightly within the
dragons fore claws.

Valieth rose quickly as well, the second two dead beasts held within his grasp,
as Th'gar watched Iaaeth rise, the young live beast held gently within his
talons. At a safe distance Valieth followed Iaaeth back to the holding, and
watched as the young beast was laid down near an open pen for the holder to herd
it into.

B'har wasted no time rising again and giving a hearty pump of his forearm to
indicate they return to the Weyr.

}:Not a bad haul:{ Valieth's pleased thoughts echoed in Th'gar's head. }:B'har
is pleased with us, he said to meet him on his ledge, once we have delivered the
beasts to the roasting pits:{

It didn't take long to unload their haul to the pits, where the butchers began
dressing the meat almost immediately. The skins to go to the Weyr tanners, the
innards to be sent to the kitchens for pies. By the time the butchers had
finished there would be no waste from the four beasts from their hunting trip,
and the other livestock that had been gathered that day.

**I could do with a wash, but a drink wouldn't go astray either.** Th'gar
thought, as Valieth leapt high into the air and gave a powerful downbeat of his
wings to make them rise swiftly into the air and to the higher weyrledges.

As Valieth landed gently on the ledge, Th'gar realised just what a good view
B'har and Iaaeth had had of his rescue attempt that night just over a sevenday
ago. He dismounted slowly, still amazed when he thought of how not only _he_
had survived but the unfortunate Malen as well.

The man had been identified, but still hadn't recovered full conscious since
that night. He had been secluded since that night, in the infirmary suffering
from high fevers from the long exposure he had suffered.

"Come in! Come in!" Th'gar shifted uneasily and walked the short distance down
the entranceway and into the dragon cavern beyond, to find B'har holding out a
tumbler of the harsh root spirit commonplace in the smaller holds.

"A gesture of thanks from holder Metrico." he grinned. "To good hunting!" he
proposed, chinking tumblers with Th'gar. "Drink up, man, there's plenty more,
and we deserve it."

Iaaeth shuffled back along the entranceway and made his way out to the ledge,
leaving the riders to celebrate their spoils, and Th'gar's first ride since his
recovery. The two dragons settled themselves on the weyrledge to enjoy what
remained of the late afternoon sun, the voices of their riders lulling them into
drowsiness.

Last updated on the June 21st 2007

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A Hunting We Shall Go