For the Taking PT2

Writers: Chelle, Jane
Date Posted: 11th August 2008

Characters: E'rae, Jh'slaen
Description: E'rae & Jh'slaen go on a hunting expedition in an unsettled part of the territory.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 11, day 21 of Turn 4

"Make sure you make plenty of noise when you don't want to be bothered." E'rae nodded to himself, his footfalls certainly rustling loud. "And when you do, stay quiet and downwind."

"I'm fairly sure I don't want to be bothered by anything, ever," Jh'slaen muttered. "I'm not entirely sure I'm cut out for this hunting business."

"I think it's important to get back to nature every now and again. There's something calming about it. Things are simplistic." E'rae glanced about him, then stopped since they had reached the proposed campsite. Bending down, he pulled off the pack and began to check for fresh signs to make sure nothing else was traveling through.

"I grew up on a cothold - nature was just part of life."

"Aye well it was for me too, though I wasn't in a cothold." E'rae was satisfied with the campsite. He began to unpack what would stay here and what they would need to go hunting. The pack would need to be repacked carefully.

"Where were you then," Jh'slaen asked, trying to help but not sure that anything he did was of any use. The other dragonrider seemed so competent by comparison.

"Well I grew up at Garnet Valley, but we went out into the territory a lot." Nodding to himself as he set up the essentials for storing while they were gone, he looked up to nod to the greenrider. "You'll need to remove the food and any other smelly thing in your pack to leave here."

"Smelly things? It's just snack food."

"Aye but...they will smell it and they'll think it's food too and then they may approach you." E'rae tried to get across just how bad that might be.

"Approach me?" That didn't sound good. "Attack me, you mean?"

"Ah well they won't attack at first, but they may aye." These animals were predators, which meant they didn't necessarily have to be provoked. He finished repacking and stood. "All right, now for the scenting. I hope you didn't use the latrine before we left..." And with that, he unceremoniously turned his back and began sprinkling the perimeter with his urine.

"Whoa!" Jh'slaen jogged alongside the other dragonrider. "What are you doing _that_ for?"

"Marking our territory and keeping the creatures away." It worked in the animal world, so E'rae was going to follow their customs.

"And that works?"

"Aye, just like if you put human hair around a garden, the pesties are less likely to get into it." Perhaps if he used farmer logic, the greenrider would get it quicker.

"Really?" Jh'slaen was learning more than he could ever have imagined when he had agreed to this trip. All he had to do now was survive it-and he would be an expert for next time. If there was a next time, and he fervently hoped there wouldn't be.

After finishing, E'rae headed off into the jungle, intent on gaining a prize. The bluerider and the greenrider could be in for trouble or success. The most important thing to remember was to keep focus.

Last updated on the August 16th 2008

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For the Taking PT2