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Good Braerith Hunting


Date:  November 12, 2002
Places:  Telgar Weyr's Central Bowl and Feeding Grounds
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  I was intrigued when Ursa sent us mentor-types a +mail
saying that we were cleared to teach our mentees one of the Weyrling
lessons, namely the first hunt.  Kassi had never taught a class before
(unsurprisingly!), but I figured she'd get a kick out of doing so, 
given her fondness for Weyrlings and for dispensing 'helpful' lectures
when the occasion suits.  Elauren proved amenable to doing the lesson 
with me, and blood and gore soon abounded.

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The Log:

You fly downwards towards the bowl.

You slide off of Lysseth's neck to land beside her easily. She rumbles,
cocking her head down at you, and you rub her eyeridges gratefully.

"Oh, howdy there Wingleader," Elauren says, offering a well-postured salute
for her mentor. From over her shoulder, Braerith turns whorling eyes upon
Lysseth and rumbles a greeting. Whether it's his stomach or his throat is
hard to distinguish, as his eyes are straked with hungr.

"I don't care what you say, 'twere looking healthier and greener when I
left than when I got there," Kassima insists to Lysseth--Faranth only knows
what about--even as she straightens from her automatic landing-crouch. The
green is looking as long-suffering as any dragon can. "Anyway, 'twas a
peaceful evening and I didn't run into any Healers, and I know the *real*
reason you're complaining is that 'twasn't Boll, anyway. We'll *go* t'Boll,
I promise, but I wanted t'check on m'mints... oh." Yes, Kassi's just
noticed that this section of the Bowl isn't entirely bereft of human life.
"Err. G'deve, Elauren. Taking another walk, or am I interrupting business?"
She certainly notices Braerith's eyes, flicking a thoughtful glance his
way, but saves whatever comment she might make for after her mentee's reply.

Elauren can't help but snort a chuckle for Kassi's benefit, having
interrupted her conversation. "Well, Brae's hungry a course. I was about to
go toss half a carcass at him, but well, he says he's getting tired of that
game. Still, it squelches the hole in his gut." She pauses, "How about
yourself? You over at the healers again?"

Kassima asks, more rhetorically than not, "Does the whole Weyr know I spend
time with Healers? Aye, aye, I hung around the garden and told stories to
m'mint plants. Lysseth's now quite convinced that I'm insane." And the
snort Lysseth gives in response is indeed of the 'you've got *that* right'
variety. "I'd imagine he's getting tired of it. He's old enough t'be
hunting for himself--" The greenrider seems to be pondering something, and
throws a glance towards her lifemate; they're both silent for a few beats
as they converse. "Conveniently, m'lady-love is a touch peckish herself.
So, Braerith, would you care for a lesson in hunting?"

In response, Braerith swings his wedge downward, sending a whuffling of air
at Lysseth's rider. His claws dig down into the earth of the Bowl in
anticipation. "I reckon that's a yes," Elauren replies, her face lighting
up with a grin. The young woman turns her gaze back towards Kassi and
shrugs at her, "Well, I reckon I told you this once, long ago now, that I
hate gossip. But Brae likes to listen in on the dragon chatter. I recall
him forwarding something about you at healer onward to me a sevenday or so
ago now."

Kassima just grins at the whuffling, without extending her hand to offer a
scritch this time. It never does to hold out your hand to a hungry dragon.
"Good. 'Twas surprised t'hear we--mentors, I mean--can be teaching this
one, but I admit 'twas rather intrigued by the idea. Head over this way
with us, then?" Or at least, with Kassi; while her rider sets out for the
fence around the Grounds at a casual amble, Lysseth springs into the air to
glide the full distance, settling just inside. "Dragons have t'be the only
creatures on Pern worse than humans about gossip, aye. Nay harm done;
'twasn't precisely secret anyway, and it doesn't even make for juicy
retelling."

Lysseth springs into the air for a quick flight over the fence and into the
feeding grounds, where she settles again.

"Aye, not really very juicy," Elauren informs, following the greenrider and
chatting at the same time. "I am glad though, that you're allowed. I reckon
Decarath and Spineth and all the others can only be hungry so often."

Braerith springs into the air for a quick flight over the fence and into
the feeding grounds, where it settles again.

"True enough. Even a small dragon only needs t'eat his or her fill every
few days, and even with only one beast a lesson, it probably wouldn't take
long for one particular dragon t'be full. Adult dragons shouldn't overeat
any more than young ones should. Braerith may eat more frequently,
a'course, because he's still growing." Kassima rattles this off as she
walks, sliding an amused sidelong glance towards the blue Weyrling at the
last. "And doubtless you've been told all of this a thousand and one times.
In any event--Lyss wouldn't *need* to eat for another day or two; possibly,
if'n 'twere some sort of crisis, she could push it a day after that,
because she ate well at her last feeding. But she's amenable to the idea of
food now." Indeed: the green's scouting out the available beasts in
decidedly predatory fashion. "First things first. *How* hungry is Braerith?
How much food does he want?"

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Braerith's voice is a dulled rainbow, with a
doppler-shift of red that reflects the blue's hunger. <<I'm so hungry I
could eat a whole beast!>> There's a pause, and then he returns with a
cackle. <<My 'Ren says she says that sometimes, but it's menat to be funny.
I'm -not- being funny.>>

Lysseth> Braerith senses that Lysseth's thoughts are only lightly touched
with a tangy copper-red, a moderate and controlled hunger--though the scent
of the milling, rustling beasts strengthens it by the moment. << That is
well, since you will need to. They do not like us to waste any animals we
kill if we can help it--we must only kill what we can eat comfortably. What
size beast do you think you can eat? >> She flicks through a series of
mental images, each of an animal found in these grounds: caprines, seldom
and rather small; wherries, not all that large either but fatter;
herdbeasts, large, slightly dangerous, but also thick with meat.

"He's purty hungry," Elauren replies at last, having nodded along with
everything that her mentor has filled her in on. "I've seen the hunting a
few times now in passing. Always kind of interesting how each dragon has
it's own style. I'll be lookin' forward to seeing Lysseth's." Now that
statment sounded odd. Looking forward to watching a dragon blood and gore a
live beast. She snorts as a follow up, her eyes turning on Lysseth and
Braerith in the feeding grounds.

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Braerith rumbles as each image passes his by.
There's a pause and he settles it. The visual he sends is that of one of
the smaller herdbeasts that's begun to skitter away from them, full of fear
as the dragons loom over it's herd. <<That one looks a good size to match
my hunger.>>

Kassima nods absently--her eyes have that half-glazed look that suggests
she's keeping in touch with Lysseth while she listens. "Lysseth's style
isn't pretty," she mutters, with a Look for the green in question. "I'm
trying t'convince her to be at least *somewhat* neat about the kill. I'm
thinking I'll ask her t'demonstrate wherry and herdbeast kills for him.
There's a slightly different technique to it; wherries have claws and
herdbeasts have hooves, and especially while he's still growing, he'll want
t'make sure nay t'run afoul of either one, y'ken? But if'n he's nay feeling
hungry enough for two animals right now, then let him know 'tis all right
for him to just take one. Lyss knows better than I do exactly how much
t'kill at this point, but while he's first learning, you'll want t'make
sure he doesn't bite off more than he can chew. So t'speak." Unfocusing,
she consults Lysseth for a minute. "Herdbeast, eh? He *is* hungry. All
right--she's going t'take a wherry first; so this time, just watch, all
right?"

Lysseth> Braerith senses that Lysseth accepts this choice with a touch of
amusement: << Your hunger is indeed strong. My rider says that I must try
to kill neatly, to demonstrate the best method for you, though personally I
prefer a bit of fun with a meal. Watch closely! But do not try to take your
chosen beast until after you have seen me kill one of his kind. >>

"Right, got it. Claws and hooves. I hope he won't come out with too many
scratches then. Should I stay with him?" the weyrling asks, turning a
watchful eyes towards Lysseth. Braerith's tail is twitching, his talons
gouging into the soil beneath him again as he waits for Lysseth's
demonstration.

Dragon> Braerith bespoke Lysseth with << It -is- strong. We were hoping to
hunt soon, so we waited until now. I am glad my 'Ren will not have to toss
beasts at me any more. It was fun at first, but I think I will like hunting
better. >>

In the Feeding Grounds, Lysseth waits for her rider's silent cue before
finally leaping again into the air, gliding once over the Grounds at about
half a dragonlength up; she settles then into a circling pattern whose
focus tightens on a cluster of plump, flustered wherries. Kept too fat--and
perhaps wing-clipped--to fly any distance, they attempt to escape at a
waddling run. That gives Lyss plenty of time to close on the first one to
break from the pack, falling down, down... 'til suddenly her wings flare
out; she banks, drops, and lands with her hindclaws hooked into the
wherry's pelt and the avian's hind half crushed beneath her. The bird
manages one squawk that's half shrill scream before the dragon's teeth sink
into the back of its thick neck, breaking the spine and silencing any
further cries.

"If'n 'twill nay bother you t'do so, then it couldn't hurt." Kassima
watches the spectacle in the Grounds with an approving expression. "She
couldn't *quite* resist the urge t'make it scream a bit, but that wasn't
too bad a kill, really... there are other ways t'do it too: a dragon could
also pick up a wherry and kill it, then settle t'feed, without any great
strain... now, some Weyrlings don't care for the sounds or scents or
emotions of the kill at first. There's nay shame in that--though you'd
likely get used to it in time--and if'n 'tis the case for you then you
should definitely instruct Braerith t'be quick about his kills. Likewise
if'n the sounds they make bother him, for that matter."

Lysseth> Braerith senses that Lysseth confirms with a rich salty rush of
adrenaline, satisfaction, and more than a hint of bloodlust, << The hunt is
a *much* better game. And food is never so good as when it is fresh. >>

Elauren snorts as she watches, her nose crinkling at the shrill scream, and
takes in Kassima's commentary on the kill. "Eh, I grew up on a farm, so
slaughter isn't so distant in my memory. I'll try to keep him focused so he
doesn't get clawed in the eye or some such," she says assuringly. Her gaze
shifts toward Braerith who rumbles approvingly at the sound effect.

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Braerith snuffles at the air as the scent of
fresh blood wafts his direction. <<You're right, it smells -good-.>>

In the Feeding Grounds, Lysseth makes short work of her first kill, perhaps
prompted by Kassima to do so: wings, pelt, feet, everything is devoured in
neat and efficient bites, and her many Turns of practice in this art allow
her to leave the bones stripped clean without having to dawdle over them
long. Her tail lashes once before she abandons the carcass to spring almost
directly towards a cluster of herdbeasts who'd begun to settle as she ate.
Again she targets the first creature to separate himself from the pack;
this time, she grabs at him with foreclaws, slamming him onto the ground on
his side. The hooves do indeed kick frantically, but she's landed to the
other side of him and is keeping him in place even as her left claws slash
across his throat and render his bellows into a series of wet gurgles.
Almost daintily, she opens a hole in his stomach, the better to snack on a
loop of intestine or two.

Lysseth> Braerith senses that Lysseth's thoughts are almost entirely
red-and-green now, ichor and blood alike flowing through her mind just as
they flow down her throat. << And it tastes even better. You saw what I did
with that herdbeast? That is what you should do. Make sure to stay away
from the hooves and keep it in place as best you can. Sitting on its
hindquarters may help with a particularly large one. Especially do not put
your eye near its feet until it is dead. >>

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Braerith silver streaks of anticipation jolt
through the blood-tinged rainbow his voice has become in hunger. <<Yes, I
watched. You killed fast, your rider can be content you listened to her
well.>>

Kassima mutters under her breath, "You're doing that *just* t'be
disgusting, lump. I know you." Not that the feeding dragon pays her any
heed at all. "Then you and he should do quite well in this. Being squeamish
wouldn't hurt him, but certes staying with him won't, either. Is he ready?
He knows what to do?"

Lysseth> Braerith senses that Lysseth agrees on a sigh, << The things I do
for my rider. There are times though when it is best to kill fast; if your
prey is fighting particularly hard, then it is better to do away with it
swiftly. Or if you are particularly hungry, you may wish to get on with
business rather than dawdle. >>

Elauren chortles as Kassima mutters to her lifemate. "Aye, his hunger's so
strong -I'm- almost ready to sink my teeth into some raw hindquarters." As
she said she would, the weyrling turns her gaze upon Braerith, her eyes
narrowing as she focuses upon him.

Kassima draws her eyes away from Lyss to let them focus on Braerith, too.
"Meat's much, much better properly cooked," she assures, with a wry note
lent by experience. "--Oh, and a'fore I'm forgetting. You do know the rules
on hunting outside of Telgar, aye? For when it becomes relevant?"

In the Feeding Grounds, Braerith springs into the air, his wing swooping
down with a mighty first-push to carry him aloft. Since the herd is already
is chaos from Lysseth's attack, Braerith uses this confusion to his
advantage, circling in on a group of younger beasts who've been seperated
from the rest of their herd. His form now daunting, not playful, he
descends upon a fearfully bleating beast, the black shadow growing over the
wretched creature as it's doom nears. First a taunt to one side, and then
to the other, Braerith toys with the young beast for a few more seconds
before lunging downward at the beasts side. Braerith's full weight is
slammed into the beast as talons impale through it's sides in his landing.
Hooves kick out as a last defense towards the blue hunter, and a jab
successfully meets the dragons side. Snarling in response, Braerith's other
forefooot reaches towards the hinderquaters as Lysseth advised, and he
frees his other impaled hand from the beasts side. Now freed, they tear
into the throat and Braerith begins to drain the blood from the beast once
it's gone limp.

Kassima winces at the sight and sound of hoof-on-dragon impact. "He's all
right? I can't advise nay t'taunt the beasts, nay when Lysseth certes does
when she's nay trying t'demonstrate efficiency, but that might be something
he'd better save 'til after he's had more practice."

"I'll say, though I do fancy my roast on the rare side," Elauren begins.
She cringes, just the slightest as she watches, however, and there's even a
look of suprised amusement at the sound of the snarl. "I never knew he had
that in him," she drawls. "Shells, a bit more gory than watching a wherry
beheaded by an axe, but I guess I'll get used to it." A hard swallow
follows, and she takes a moment to recoup before answering. "Lessee,
huntin' outside the Weyr. Can't hunt on any of the farming cotholds unless
you're invited. Hunting in the wild is allowed though, ain't it?"

Elauren adds. "He's alright. I reckon it was too weak by the time the claws
sunk in to really get a good footing to kick hard."

Lysseth> Braerith senses that Lysseth's mind sparkles approval, much of the
ruddiness now drained with her second kill reduced to a pile of bones at
her feet. << You did well, though you should try to stay on the side of the
animal where the hooves are not if you can. And you do not need to drain
the blood away unless you are hunting for a different purpose than to eat!
The meat will not taste so well if it is bloodless. But overall that is an
excellent first kill. >>

In the Feeding Grounds, A squeeky, ripping noise comes from beneath
Braerith's maw, the distinct sound of flesh being ripped from the bone.

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Braerith's mindvoice is a sedated whirlpool of
liquified hues as the edge of his hunger subsides. <<That was easy. And fun
too. But my next hunt will be better and more cautious now that I have felt
the hoove.>>

Kassima chuckles low in her throat. "Wait until he first chases a female,
or first meets Thread; even the sweetest dragon in the world can become
rather snarly. If'n you need t'turn away," she adds quickly, "then don't
feel ashamed, just do it; 'tis better that way than t'keep watching if'n it
really starts t'bother you. For what 'tis worth, you do get used to it.
Hunting in the wild's generally all right, though if'n you're nay dead
*certain* the land's cleared for hunting then you may want t'check back
with someone at the Weyr first--better safe than sorry where livestock's
concerned. Less a problem with wherries. Remember t'never, ever let him eat
from the animal pastures besides this one; the Weyrherder keeps her good
stock there. Don't hunt at another Weyr without permission either. And if'n
you do hunt on Hold land, permission or nay, make sure you ask which
animals to avoid if'n they don't specifically tell you. Fish are generally
fair game wherever you are."

Lysseth> Braerith senses that Lysseth glimmers blue-green at him. << It is
well. You are free to hunt here now whenever you have the hunger, so long
as you do not eat more than you need. >>

"I got me a tough stomach. I can handle it. It's my Auntie Liddy's
Peppermint Tonic, you know. I swear by the stuff--keeps you strong in mind
and body. And not to mention makes yer breath smell mighty fine." Elauren
replies reassuringly. As if testing her at that very moment, Brearith
slurples on the entrails and blood he's just freed from the beasts abdomen.
Her lips twitch in response. "Aww, stop teasin' on me like that!" she insists.

Kimbrith lifts her wings slightly, and curls her tail around her body as
she watches the show, obviously been put on for her particular amusement.

Kassima slants a grin over towards Kimbrith as she quips to Elauren,
"'Twill never cease t'be amazed by the powers of peppermint. Faranth, but
he's a little sadist!" She's evidently amused, though, and the term sounds
more affectionate than insulting. However odd that may be. "At least now
you can stop having t'prepare food for him. And someday you'll even get
t'stop dealing with the *other* end of it, too."

Elauren chuckles, tossing her head back in laughter.

[Editor's Note:  Elauren had to go at this point, so the scene ends.]