When Taboo Is Necessary

Writers: Miriah
Date Posted: 11th June 2012

Characters: J'ackt
Description: Jenackt does the unthinkable.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 7, day 18 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Sarban; Mentor Approved

J'ackt

The chance meeting of the hold guards and the Emerald Falls Hold Steward had let Jenackt know that he had been too close to Emerald Falls. He had to stay away for a while until his presence had been more or less forgotten.

Jenackt had successfully stowed away on a riverboat, hiding and nibbling on
his scarce provisions until they had finally landed near the mouth of the
river that met the ocean. It also meant that he had moved away from known
sources of food, so Jenackt struggled to find enough to eat. Hugging the
river, searching for mussels and fish seemed the best idea, but his efforts
hadn't been overly rewarding; he was growing thinner than he needed to be.
He had been about to abandon his trek and return to familiar lands when he
found it.

Jenackt didn't know much about the animals, only that the young dolphin
should not have been laying on the sandy beach of the river delta. Had it
gotten lost or separated from its group? How did it end up going up even a
small section of the river? He approached slowly, looking around, and knelt
by the creature. Its hide was parched, only its tail lying limply in the
water. Then the quiver of the blowhole shocked Jenackt. It was alive, but
barely; the eye of the thing opened and a weak click uttered from its mouth.

Jenackt's thoughts of hunger disappeared. His affection for animals reared
its head as he spoke softly. "Hold on." It had to be wet; he knew that.
Hurriedly, he moved to the tail and began to splash water as best as he
could over the parched hide. He continued until he had thoroughly soaked the
prone dolphin, and then headed back to its side, laying his hand on its
heated head. There was a tiny squeak of acknowledgment, but Jenackt also saw
that the breathing was getting shallower.

Cursing softly, Jenackt bent and with all of his strength shoved at the
dolphin, trying to nudge him towards the water. Unfortunately, weakened by
hunger himself, his attempts at moving the dolphin back into the water were
not successful. "Come on…you've got to try…" Jenackt spoke softly to the
animal, digging his knees and feet into the sand. "Sweet Faranth,
just…wiggle…shaffit…Help me out here!"

Gritting his teeth, Jenackt pushed again and then looked down. There was no
movement from his charge. The eyes had closed and the blowhole was still;
the dolphin had simply been too weak. Jenackt shoulders slumped as he
punched at the sand with frustration. "Shaffit!" He sat back and rested his
head on his knee. He had tried. At least he had tried.

Suddenly his stomach erupted in a loud growl and Jenackt laid a hand over his abdomen.

His eyes slowly moved to the lifeless dolphin. He couldn't.
His stomach protested again and Jenackt swallowed roughly. He had to eat.
Faranth only knew when he would find anything else. He closed his eyes and
slowly drew his knife, before laying a light hand on the sun-parched hide.
"I'm sorry. Very sorry. But, I don't have a choice." His logic told him
that, properly dried and stored he would be able to have enough food to
return to his dwelling without emerging for a while. He could go home to
familiarity, and still be safe.

Jenackt, always the survivor, did what he had to do.

Last updated on the July 1st 2012

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When Taboo Is Necessary