AKLESH (Under Strange Skies)

by Samuel Jarius Pettit

  The herd was made up of about a hundred Rasclaan. There were 12 teams of Aklesh hunters and it would take a whole hunting group to successfully bring down one Rasclaan. So, they were in no danger of over-hunting the creatures.

  Once the warriors had settled in at the first campsite, it was nearing midday. After a brief meeting of the leaders from each hunting group, six of the teams were sent up the ridge about three miles, where they would wait for their turn.

  The strategy worked like so: the first six teams would simultaneously charge the herd, who would detect them and start a run towards the other six teams up along the ridge farther away. During the initial part of the stampede the first six teams would have their chance to make a kill. They had the element of surprise going for them.

  Once the herd reached the checkpoint for the next group of warriors, the first six would back off and leave the running herd to the next six, who would then make their attempt. About three miles beyond that area was the Jujin Hills. When the herd reached them, the hunt was over.

  Tyro returned to his team, which was waiting eagerly.

  “We are in the second group,” he said.

  “Mount your rides, the hunt will begin in approximately two hours.”

  Kai, Cho and her brothers were a little disappointed. They had wanted to have first crack at the game, but they had also known that being in the second round was more likely. They were a lower-ranked hunting group. The ones with more kills always had first go during the hunt.

  Cho looked at Kai sympathetically as she climbed onto her noss. “Next year,” she said to him. “Next year we’ll be in the first group.”

  Kai smiled. “Next year,” he agreed, though in his heart he didn’t believe it. Not really.

  They rode out with the other six teams, heading to the checkpoint to await their chance at glory.

  ***

  Tyro’s group stood along the ridge with the other five teams. All were nervous and anxiously awaiting their turn. They had only just arrived at the spot when an unmistaken thundering sound could be heard coming from their right. It was the herd on the run. It had only been about an hour and a half. The hunt had started early.

  Tyro shot his companions a commanding look that told them very clearly, “We go now!” The other teams were scrambling as well to be ready as the stampede came into sight. Cho, Kai and the twins knew their instructions.

  Kai quickly got down from his noss and tied it to a nearby tree. He then climbed up onto Che’s noss and sat behind him, his arms wrapped about his friend’s waist.

  A tribesman from another hunting group saw this and laughed hard.

  “Are you just going along for the ride?” He elbowed some of his comrades, who joined in the taunt as well.

  “Tyro, it’s better if you use all of your team.

  That’s the idea anyway,” said another warrior who was large and a little on the weighty side. “But thanks for giving us the advantage.” Tyro’s team said nothing. They were prepared and the time it would take to retort would be precious time lost. There were those who were still scrambling to get their gear together. Tyro didn’t wait. He hollered a short percussive command and dug his heals into his steed. The four mounts and their riders shot down the ridge as the herd was just coming into sight. They would soon be followed by the other teams, so they had to make due with the lead they had while they had it. No one looked back.

  As the oncoming stampede approached, and since the beasts could telepathically sense danger, the idea was to get into a run along side the herd. This would be the principal method used by each group, the variations came into how they separated a Rasclaan from the mass of creatures and then executed a kill.

  Many used arrows and spears, which they shot and threw from alongside the herd. Most teams opted each year for bigger or better weapons. This could have varying effect. A simple arrow might impact a creature but would hardly slow it down. Used en masse, it had proven in the past to have greater effect, but that meant using more team members as archers and there was no guarantee they’d hit the target since the creature’s body spikes moved in a half circle motion on them as they ran and acted like a shield, deflecting such attacks. Spears would inflict greater damage to the creature and even pull one down, depending on where it was hit. But to get a clear shot of just one was very difficult, and to do so on a noss was next to impossible.

  The challenge had great difficulty, which made the kill so much more of a reward.

  Other teams were heading down the ridge and Tyro’s advantage would soon be limited. He bellowed his signal and shot up ahead, getting far in front of the oncoming storm. Chi and Che, with Kai holding on behind him, fell into a parallel gallop alongside the herd. Cho fell to the side, a good hundred or so yards away where she could see everything and not be in the way. Soon Tyro was far ahead, nowhere to be seen.

  Arrows started to fly from other teams, and looking across the large mass of animals, Kai could see motion of warriors riding as best as they could among the Rasclaan. The results wouldn’t be known till after the hunt was well over.

  He could make out a few of the hunters from moment to moment and was surprised when he recognized a few that were out of place.. They were from Vol’s team, who had been among the first groups at the initial start of the hunt. They were supposed to fall back at this point to make way for the other teams but had obviously decided to bend this rule.

  There was no time to cry foul.

  The thundering sound from the animals as they ran was deafening, and only the three of them on two steeds would be able to help their team. This is where their plan came into action.

  Tyro had come to understand that he had to work with his team’s unusual abilities, not force them to become like every other hunting group, which relied mostly on brute force.

  Tyro

  had

  given

  Kai

  very

  specific

  instructions. Although he knew he was putting his friend in extreme danger, the young team member had volunteered for the job. That had been his plan and that was why Cho had backed into an observational stance. In an unprecedented move, she was taking over leadership of the hunt. The Rasclaan were telepathic and sensed intention of those around them. Tyro had instructed the twins and Kai to keep their minds blank. Kai had one command only he was to listen for. The twins would only do what Cho told them telepathically while she kept pace from a distance. Tyro waited up ahead for his time to act.

  The one to your immediate right, with the broken spike on its right haunch. He’s weaker than the rest. NOW!

  Cho sent this message to her brothers, who acted according to the plan and pulled along side of the massive creature. It couldn’t veer to the other side since more of its kind blocked its path. Kai’s heart leapt into his throat as he heard the creature snort.

  It snapped its jaws towards the unwelcome riders.

  This nearly knocked Chi off his animal but he was able to recover and keep on, only falling behind for a moment.

  Kai focused on keeping his mind clear and waited for the signal. The animal was so close he could reach out and touch it. The creature was made up almost entirely of powerful muscle, and the strength coming from the creature nearly took one’s breath away.

  In previous hunts they had not even been able to get this close to the Rasclaan. Whatever happened from this point on, they had already achieved more than they expected.

  The words leapt out of the twins as soon as the signal came into their minds from Cho.

  “NOW, KAI!” they shouted simultaneously.

  The young Aklesh didn’t think but literally leapt into action. He threw himself off of Che’s noss and grabbed hold of the long white mane with both hands, swinging himself with marginal grace onto the creature.

  This move had been unexpected and the creature reacted accordingly, slowing its pace slightly to try and buck the unwanted rider. Kai’s fingers tightened like vices into the huge mane of the an
imal and his legs gripped hard. He had been lucky on the jump and hadn’t been impaled by the spikes that were now dangerously near his own flesh.

  Fear gripped him. His father had been run through by one of these creatures during the hunt. He didn’t want the same thing to happen to him. He bore down and buried his face into the rising and falling muscles on the Rasclaan.

  This distraction of the creature had given the twins the window they needed.

  Flank! came the instructions from their sister, and obediently Che came to the opposite side of the animal which was now focused on Kai firmly attached to its back while Chi stayed on the other side.

  Steer!

  Slowly, the twins began to guide the snarling animal away from the running herd. They were doing their best, but soon their nosses would fatigue and they would not be able to keep up the pace.

  Although Kai was being bumped around like a sack of vegetables, he realized the problem as well. He had to do something to help them. From the corner of his eye he saw the cracked tusk on the creature’s right side, which gave him an idea. He was taking a good beating just from riding the animal, but he knew that if it paid off, any injury would be nothing compared to the victory.

  In an instant he let go his right hand and grabbed the bony spike. Once secure he grabbed the one on his left with his other hand. It worked his arms hard as the movement corresponded with its powerful front haunches. Then, with all the energy and weight he could muster, he leaned hard to the right.

  The result was more dramatic and wild than he had intended. The creature took a severe turn to the right and seemed to buckle a bit. This also threw Kai pretty hard and almost made him lose his grip.

  But they were successfully able to pull the beast away from the herd.

  Now they only had to run it a little farther.

  The twins kept pace with the creature but gave it a respectful distance since it was snarling and snapping at them every moment it was not trying to throw Kai, who hung on for dear life.

  They sped on towards a rocky outcropping a hundred yards away. From behind it came Tyro on his noss, blazing a path straight towards them. His spear was raised menacingly in the air. In moments he would be right on top of them. The twins kept the monster on its path and just as Tyro reached them, Kai pulled hard on the two tusks in his grip.

  The creature reared onto its back haunches and its fearsome cry echoed through the plains.

  “Now!” shouted the twins simultaneously as they received the command from Cho, who had been charging behind them.

  Tyro thrust his spear with all his massive strength, and it flew with deadly accuracy, slamming into the neck of the creature with a sickening crunch.

  The weapon went completely through, skewering the animal. The spearhead itself shot up past Kai, barely missing his head and spattering him with the Rasclaan’s blood.

  Kai fell back and off the creature, hitting the white, grass plain with a hard thud that knocked the wind out of him.

  The monster was making horrible gurgling noises as it flung itself about, moments from death. The heavy spear stuck up through its body at an odd angle and the creature was losing a lot of blood, which stained the white fur of its mane with crimson. Tyro and the twins had cleared back and let the huge creature thrash as it was going to in its dying throngs.

  Kai felt a hand upon him as he labored to get up from the ground. Cho had finally caught up with them and had immediately gone to her fallen friend. With her assistance he was able to sit up, knowing he was going to hurt later.

  Kai looked up from the ground to see the majestic animal rear up one more time then collapse in a heap. The young warrior felt a pang of sadness for the Rasclaan that had fought so hard against them. But, the feeling was soon replaced with one of great pride. They had succeeded in doing to impossible.

  They had made a kill in the great hunt.

  CHAPTER 22

  Among the tribe the big shock hadn’t been that two Rasclaans were brought down during the great hunt, but rather who had taken them down.

  The hunters had come into the keep with their kills just as the sun was setting. There had been much murmuring as people gathered around the whole area, off both main balconies and anywhere anyone could stick out a head, to see the processional of warriors and their tribute.

  At this point in the day, Gar had finished his work with Hatha and was helping Seema and the rest of those who had remained at the keep to prepare the evening meal. It was being held off until the hunters came back. Several of the keep’s better cooks had already eaten so that when whatever kill arrived, they would be able to start the preparations to serve it at the great feast the next day.

  Gar hadn’t understood why so many people were needed to prepare the animal till he actually saw them approaching, each one being carried by eight warriors on both sides. He was quite impressed at how massive the beasts were. They would certainly be enough the feed a tribe. Gar had been told they were the centerpieces of the whole feast.

  And since this tribe was frugal, no part of the animal was going to go to waste.

  There was much cheering as the warriors entered.

  Gar kept an eye out for his favorite team. He turned to Seema, who was standing at his side.

  “Is it always like this?” he yelled over the din.

  “No,” she said. “Sometimes there’s only one kill, sometimes there’s tragedy.” Gar knew what she was referring to. It had been explained that there were times when people did not return from the hunt and that it was a very dangerous undertaking.

  “But more than one is very rare,” she continued.

  “It’s a sign of prosperity for the tribe.” The two of them kept their eyes peeled and eventually he saw Kai, Tyro, Cho and the twins walking behind the great bodies, smiling and waving to the crowds who were elated by the day’s offerings. The hunters seemed as worked up as the people and were enjoying the attention being lavished upon them.

  The second Gar’s eyes met Kai’s, he knew what had happened. The surge of feeling he received said it all.

  Gar then turned and looked at Seema. who was in turn looking at her husband, for Gar had no better word for who Tyro was to her. She had tears running down her cheeks and a broad smile she tried to hide beneath her hand. She knew what had happened as well.

  “They did it,” she said to Gar, though not looking at him. “They really did it.”

  Considering the amount of noise going on around them, he was surprised he could even hear her.

  “You doubted them?” he leaned over and asked her.

  “Never,” she said, her heart full and happy. “Oh, never.”

  In short order the animals were taken away from the warriors, who were then led to evening meal with their families and friends, who were waiting for them. The tired hunters would be wanting food and rest after their great adventures, but first they had to put up with the telling stories of how everything had happened.

  The Aklesh warriors were greeting their loved ones all around them as Tyro and Kai approached.

  Seema did not wait when she saw her joined and rushed into his arms, kissing him passionately. Of course, Tyro responded in kind.

  Kai and Gar looked to each other and started to reach out instinctively, then both stepped back awkwardly. A moment of strangeness hung between them.

  Gar could feel the energy of excitement and adrenalin vibrating from Kai.

  “Proud of yourself, huh?” teased Gar, to break the tension.

  Kai responded with a broad smile that split his face from ear to ear. Suddenly he let out a whoop and threw his arms around Gar, lifting him into the air easily and swinging him around in his excitement.

  Gar had always noticed how strong Kai was, but this was the first time he felt his arms around him.

  His muscles were firm and the surprise of Kai’s effortless strength took his breath away for a moment. As he put Gar down, the prince could feel the heat in his own body rise, a feeling that had become all too
familiar recently. The young Aklesh was breathing hard as well and they both stared at each other. They were surrounded by celebration but all of that seemed to fade. Gar could only hear the sound of his own breathing as he worked to bring his emotions under control. It was as if they were feeding off each other’s mutual energy, which came from different places but added to what the other one was feeling. Gar knew that Kai must be able feel his attraction, his lust.

  But the native only stared at him with bright glistening eyes, an expression of elation written all over his face.

  “I’ll take that as a ‘yes’ then,” Gar said.

  Soon after, they were all taking their meal up on the first platform. Tyro and Kai were relating the whole story for the third time to Seema, Tilo, Gar and several others who were leaning in to hear.

  Although they were probably famished, neither of them had really touched their food in the excitement of relating every gory detail. As people passed there was much congratulating and hearty slaps on the back.

  Everyone was amazed that the underdog of the hunting groups had pulled off a kill.

  Gar, at one point, snuck a glance over to Vol’s group. Although many of them partook of the meal and welcomed refreshment, their exuberance was not as great. Vol herself sat sullenly and looked as if she had just eaten something incredibly sour. He had been told that her team had not made a kill.

  The other mark had actually gone to an older hunting group who had made kills in the past. Their triumph was not unexpected, although they were partying as well as anyone. But the real excitement was centered on Tyro and his group.

  The meal stretched on as night rolled in and the central fires blazed high into the starlit skies. Gar wondered that if this was the meal before the feast, what kind of party must the actual feast itself be?

  After a while a drink concoction was brought forth from a large vat. It was soon spread around to the warriors and then the rest of the tribe took part.

  Gar noticed that as the wooden cups were being passed around, only the adults drank. Finally a cup came to him.