|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2023 9:24 am
Reil 8
. He swung off of his mount to an uncomfortably wet squishing sound, when his left boot hit the ground. He swore quietly. Cow pie.
" I won't miss this part of the job either. " He scraped his boot off the best he could.
"The smell better come off me at the end of this." he muttered at his beast tamer friend. It was a neat thing to do something so very traditional, but man did herders have a hard and strangely beautiful life. It took a certain kind of person to be able to handle this. Especially with as small an outfit as they were running. They didn't even have a covered wagon, just tents and a few clothes and cooking pans.
Travel light, travel fast was not always travel comfortably and securely. Though even with a wagon and a few more people the desert did not guarantee safety ever. It was too changing a landscape with rougher than average conditions. They munched trail food as they rode and took very short breaks unless it was too water the animals. They would stay a bit longer at oasis that provided adequate hydration. The large animals did need water. Happily usually there was also some shade to hunker down in, maybe have a short and quick nap. The best sleep for a drover.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2023 9:24 am
Thal 9
The next morning...
Even he had to admit after so much beef stew that he was more than ready to be home and more than a little homesick at the moment. Usually he had much better mobility, not plodding along behind bovine stupid heads that were curious and occasionally quite dumb. What he didn't expect was for his green broke Harpy to have an ever loving bucking fit.
Harpy arched into the air bucking and rearing for no reason that he had seen maybe a burr had not gotten noticed and worked its way under his saddle.
He could not blame her he held on to his breath and squeezed his legs an arm out for balance. She was a spirited thing bucking, and she was trying valiantly to eject him from his back and his perch on the saddle. However he had been riding janarim since he was a baby right along with Ushiwa. They were specialists in both janarim and snaptrotters which were the two most common predatory species. He was able to ride it out thankfully.
Not bad for a proper go of it that was for sure. He smiled and waved proudly at Reillan for not getting pitched off the back of her. "Young beasts are so spunky,sometimes I forget."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2023 9:24 am
Reil 9
"Well done!" he had made it look so easy, Reil knew that it wasn't. He was an accomplished rider but bucking could still be tricky. He wondered what had set the golden janarim off but she had sure put up a good fight.
The hybrid sat atop her at the end and that was an accomplishment. Thunder roll behind them. Great, rain. "Maybe that is what she heard." Poor girl was having a rough go of this if they all were. The sky opened up and it began to rain eventually quite heavily. Joy. Thunder rolled up in the stratosphere. They would get there eventually. He reassured himself that he would get home. And that any delays or extra conditions just had to be steadily worked through then it would all be better.
He would be back with his family and Thal back with his, they would have dinner and all would again be right in the world with a few gold richer for the experience. He told his wet sad self that over and over.
He was not a water fellow, quite the opposite in fact and rain was still somewhat uncomfortable for him. Though rare enough that it rained in the desert. Interesting, maybe one of those weather mages were practicing out in the toolies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2023 9:24 am
Thal 10
And now it was raining like it meant it. Thunder rolled overhead and the cattle lowed in fear, it was all they could do to keep them in a tight moving knot. They had to keep going to give the quhar direction or they would pick one of their own.
It was dark, deep kind of blackness and he and Reil shouted back and forth, keeping good communication going through the storm. It was a beautiful everything, but a miserably wet experience.
However, they were making good progress, if they could keep it up for a few more days they would be okay. He would be ready for a good sleep that was for sure. It would take them a few days to recover but then they would be right as reign and he could go back to training and chores with some more experience and some coin in his pocket. Though that was small consolation now.
"Well, at least its not too hot." He said to himself and his janarim. They moved off and kept tight against the herd getting them to funnel in the right direction despite the lightshow going overhead. They should be okay so long as the lightning did not strike too close. He was sure everyone missed having a barn at this point.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2023 9:25 am
Reil 10
Both men hunched up and rode onward, there was still a long ways to go but they had been through so much already. They could handle most things. At least they were eating well, dried beef and stew.
It truly did take a long time to get there, though the rest of the trip went a bit calmer. With a stray cow delay here and there, nothing too bad. The riders and their moutns had gained valuable experience and extra trust. It was good when it was over too.
The herd got split and sent to where they were going respectively and he and Thal got to bath, eat and enjoy the laughter and hugs of a good return. They had managed not to loose any animals and one promptly dropped her calf when they reached home. It was a good omen. He smiled at the familiar view of the ranch with its myriad of paddocks and round pens, barns and above all every color and type of critter. He was good for adventure for a bit. That had been a most uncomfortable but rewarding experience he felt that he was better for it. They made sure to really spoil the janarim partners that had helped them the whole way across the desert. Extra juicy meat for the good girls.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
