HarvestHunt

by Viola Grace

  "This is your hunt belt. It has two stunners, some gas spray in case you find something nasty and two emergency knives as well as skin sealant.

  "The final belt combines the two. It is good for travelling to and from your assignment, just in case."

  Her eyes pricked with tears. "Thank you. That is exceptionally thoughtful."

  Mala's companion took her back and laughed. "Well, we know that Ecros can't carry anything."

  "I am Ashlin, who would you be?"

  "I am Isabi, also Shade, also Mala's husband. Rumble, can you make some more of that powder so that we can get going? The twins have been getting aggressively mobile lately." He hoisted his wife and placed her in front of the food carts.

  Rumble pulverized the remaining three rocks, each chunk exploding into minute particles under his focus.

  Isabi used the suction tool to collect the dust and by the time the area was clean, Mala had consumed the entire contents of the food carts.

  Ashlin was amazed. "How did she do that?"

  "She is an amazing woman and her talent is molecular manipulation of inanimate objects."

  Ecros nodded as he helped Ashlin put on one of the belts. "And she can manipulate Shade without any trouble at all."

  The other male scowled at him, but Shade gave a rueful shrug.

  Zenina and Rolland had watched the entire process with amused smiles. Zenina came up to Ashlin and took her by the hand. "You look lovely and dangerous. A wonderful combination."

  She felt her skin harden again at the contact with the planet's avatar. "Now, how do I look?"

  Ecros finished with the belts and grinned up at her. "Amazing."

  She gave Zenina and Rolland hugs, thanking them for the materials. Mala got the same squeeze while Isabi received a cautious handshake. It was time for dinner and unlike Mala, she hadn't had time to eat.

  As a group, without Mala and Isabi, they returned to the dining hall and they were halfway through dessert when Kaylee got a call.

  "Yes, Tobar, what is it?"

  "We have had a distress call from Endin."

  She smiled at the people around her and spoke through the com unit built into her suit. "Well, we have filed our personnel request with them. They know we have her and have dropped the charges."

  "It isn't Hunter. They have lost a party of hunters and had to wait until the communication ban was over. The migration is starting and there is a group of five who disappeared on the second day of their hunt."

  A cold fear ran through Ashlin. She whispered to Ecros. "They don't have long to live if the migration has started."

  Haunt was all business as she heard the particulars and got the contact names. Ashlin winced as the name of Bollik was mentioned.

  "We will dispatch Hunter and Rumble. They will be there within twelve hours."

  Rumble got to his feet and Hunter mimicked him. She looked down at her tray and smiled. "See? Eating dessert first is never a bad idea."

  The table laughed and Haunt got to her feet, leading them to shuttle bay one. "The Dawning Saru is prepped and ready. You will go to Endin, meet with Bollik and then mount a rescue. After you find the missing men, in whatever condition you find them, you return them to the city and get your butts back here. Are we clear?"

  Hunter nodded, "Yes, Haunt."

  Rumble nodded, "Yes, Haunt."

  "Then go, have a good rescue and bring me back a t-shirt." Haunt waved them to the shuttle and dropped through the floor, no more than a memory and a scent in the air.

  Chapter Eight

  Going home was surreal. In only a few short days, her life had turned upside down and inside out. Rumble had had to do the flying. She had paid attention to his instruction but was glad that he was available for the task.

  When they landed in the spaceport of the city, a group of hunters were waiting for them.

  She was still in her stellar mode when she exited the shuttle and walked toward Bollik with Rumble behind her.

  "You sent out a distress call?"

  He bowed to her, his grey skin paler than normal. "Yes, Guardsman. We have lost five hunters in the forest and with the migration starting, we need some help finding them. Four men and a boy went into the forest two days ago and we lost contact with them."

  Her body wanted to revert, but she held the stellar colouration. "Do you know which direction they went and what they were following?"

  "A simple hunting party, Guardsman. They went due east."

  She looked around and watched their expressions as she resumed her normal appearance. "We will find them, Bollik."

  "Ashlin Offrey, we thought you were gone." He seemed to have forgotten that he shot her in the back. It was likely that with his penchant for target fixation that he hadn't even seen her.

  She gestured to her clothing. "I am gone. I am no longer an occupant of Endin. Call me Hunter, because that is why I am here. This is Rumble. You may recognize his other shape. How did the hunt go?"

  She started to walk and she could feel Rumble's amusement behind her.

  "It was successful."

  "Really? It must have picked up after I rescued the Kalordan and got shot in the back by you."

  He felt sick. "That was you?"

  "And Rumble. You might want to apologize for trying to kill him."

  The flurry of apologies rained over Rumble as they walked to the eastern gate.

  "We need some water packs and a med kit. I also need shirts worn by every man and child missing."

  One of Bollik's followers sprinted off and met them at the gate.

  "Who led the hunting party?"

  "Nev."

  She closed her eyes. Of course it was Bollik's cousin Nev. No one else would be dumb enough to look for an animal in the place where a shuttle had rescued it. Wait a moment.

  "You didn't tell anyone about the shuttle, did you?" She turned and lifted Bollik in the air with one hand. She had always been afraid to show her strength to them before, but her people could not stop her now.

  One of his followers looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean, Ashlin?"

  Rumble corrected him, "Hunter."

  She held Bollik by his neck and his feet were kicking in mid-air. "I mean that Bollik and his party saw a shuttle come down and lift off the beast that he was hunting and the whiney bugger shot me in the back with a needler in the process. If not for the medical team and the emergency care I received, I would be dead or paralyzed now.

  "If he had told Nev or anyone else that the beast had escaped, the hunt would have been cancelled, so that leaves me wondering, what did he kill and pass off as the beast?"

  "Hunter!" Rumble's tone was sharp.

  Sighing, she dropped Bollik to his ass on the ground and took the shirts from the runner. "Thank you."

  She inhaled, memorizing each scent and passed the shirts to Rumble.

  He finished scenting the shirts and handed them back to the men, "When I shift, get on my back. We will move faster that way."

  "Right." She strapped the water bags and the med kit across her body. "Okay, open the gate. Give us a day and then call the Sector Guard if we don't show."

  Two of the men were interrogating Bollik and the men in his hunting party were edging away from the gathering.

  Hunter stretched and prepared herself. This was not going to be fun.

  Rumble shifted into the form of the giant lion and she clambered up onto his back. "Open the gate, Syril. And let us in when we get back."

  "Will do, Ashlin. Go find them."

  She wove her hands into the mane of her partner and reached to him with her mind. This time, they stuck and tangled but communication began immediately. Any time you are ready, Rumble.

  You can speak this way?

  Since we are partners, I have decided that a mental link is not a bad thing. The barrier is coming down, now go.

  Hang on. My gait will be a little rough.

  He wasn't exaggerating. Giant leaps through the foliage and the scents of wilder
ness that she knew so well. The scent of Endin was thick in the air but not the ones they needed.

  Her teeth were jolted until she learned to rock on him as he moved. The sexual suggestions kept flickering through her mind and after several minutes, she realized that he was sending the lewd images into her head.

  Mind on the job, Rumble.

  Spoilsport.

  You know it. Their scent leads to the left.

  How do you know that?

  I have enhanced my nose for this purpose. I can smell everything including that herd of Vsar beasts coming toward us. We have two hours before they get here, so let's not tarry.

  Tarry, what a fancy word for dragging your ass, I get it, put on the speed. He increased his speed and they were soon zeroing in on the trail.

  There. Nev and his brethren went…underground. She groaned. They must have backtracked her path through the caverns.

  You had better get on two feet for this, Rumble. It is going to be less fun than the last time.

  Last time you gave me brain surgery.

  Exactly.

  He shuddered and she was astride Rumble. He was breathing heavily but otherwise fine.

  The cavern that she had entered a lifetime ago beckoned and the scent of frightened Endin was heavy near the door. "They didn't want to go in here."

  "Something chased or forced them." Rumble nodded and examined the tracks. "Something very large. What kind of predators do you have?"

  "The worst ones are sky-born predators following the herds. They shouldn't have arrived early though." This was beyond confusing.

  She looked around and noted a claw mark on the stone, "This isn't right."

  "We can rescue first and figure it out later."

  He moved to enter the cave and she stopped him.

  "Perhaps you don't want to be the first one through the door. They were hunting you after all."

  He grimaced and waved for her to precede him. "Why are we speaking out loud when your mind is still in mine?"

  "Because if you were hunting something and had been chased into the dark by a large predator, would you shoot at something large coming through the darkness?"

  "Excellent point. After you, Hunter."

  She followed the scent for an hour and finally smelled the stink of fear and urine that marked the gathering of hunters.

  "Nev! Nev, are you there?"

  She waited then called again. "Nev, are you there? Are any of the men with you injured?"

  Finally, a child's voice came through the darkness, "They are all asleep."

  "Tonyo, it's Ashlin Offrey. I have been sent to get you home."

  The sobbing from the child was genuine, but something seemed off. She waved at Rumble to stay back and went toward the voice with her night vision on high. Stay here in case this is an ambush.

  You really think they could do that?

  No, but I didn't think Bollik would shoot me in the back either.

  Good point. Staying back.

  She found the lad sitting next to his father and a quick close-quarters sniff told her why the men were out cold. "Tonyo, did they eat berries?"

  "Yes, but father said I was too young. They went to sleep and stayed that way."

  She groaned. Come on out. We need to start slapping these idiots or dragging them to the entrance, but they can't walk out of here on their own.

  Why not?

  They are stoned. It's a berry that ripens in time with the migration. Nev is a huge fan of it, but again, the berries shouldn't have been ripe yet. The council is going to have to look into this.

  Why?

  If the avians are arriving early and the berries are ripe early, then something is up on Endin. Planets shift.

  True.

  "Okay, Tonyo. We are going to lead you out of here and we will bring your father and his buddies as well. Once we are in the first chamber, we will figure out what to do."

  She could see him groping around and was surprised when he hugged her. "Thank you."

  When he backed off, she handed him the water skin. "Take what you need."

  He sipped slowly and closed the bag as he handed it back. She shifted her tail out and was relieved that her armoured suit allowed the tail to emerge.

  She slapped at the boy's father, shaking him until he woke. "Get on your feet. We are getting you out of here."

  He nodded blearily and got to his feet, swaying in place. The other three, including Nev did the same.

  "Hunter, lead the way and let me bring up the rear. I can catch them if they fall."

  "The berries make them obedient and sluggish."

  "Excellent. I will take full advantage of it and drive them like sheep." He chuckled.

  Tonyo asked, "Who is that?"

  "He is my partner, Rumble."

  "That is a weird name."

  "He is a weird guy." She chuckled. "Now for the odd part. Tonyo, take my tail and hold it tight. Your dad will put his hand on your shoulder and we will walk in a little train out of the cavern."

  "What about the monster? There was a flying monster."

  "It is gone and I am more than a match for any monster." She smiled that the child didn't question her having a tail. Everyone in the city knew she was different, but it was a little odd to learn that children expected anything from her.

  Rumble organized the men and created the living chain by tying their belts together in a link. Each tied to the man in front of him.

  She led the way through the rocks with Tonyo tugging at her tail and she sharpened her hearing when a light whistling came to her attention. It was coming from the men and only signalled when they moved.

  She asked Rumble. Do you hear that?

  Barely, but it is there. What is it?

  Check the men. It only goes off when we move.

  Rumble announced that they were having a break. With twenty meters left to go, she stood with Tonyo while Rumble examined the men by having them stumble back and forth. It's on Nev.

  "Nev, did anyone give you any new equipment for the hunt?"

  The man grinned foolishly. "Bollik gave me a new gun and a light, but the light doesn't work."

  It came to her in a rush. "Nev, are you still engaged to Mini?"

  "Yup, we get married next week. Bollik gave me a bunch of berries for celebration. Do you want one? I think I still have some."

  She sighed. "No, I don't need any of the berries. They don't work on me anyway."

  "Oh, right. You are a little unusual."

  She was impressed that he could string together a sentence, but that was why Mini was marrying Nev and not Bollik. And why the hunt master had tried to kill his cousin.

  "Nev, show Rumble the light that doesn't work, would you?"

  She waited and as Rumble took the box, the sound rang out again, beyond Endin hearing. A predator screeched at the entrance and the men froze.

  "Bollik's gift is calling the predator off its flight path. Rumble will destroy it and we will be on our way."

  Rumble, can you repel a predator?

  I have never used it as beast repellent, but there is a first time for everything.

  He moved around the men and went to the entrance of the cavern. She felt the pulse and heard the squawk of the bird and then Rumble returned. She could see the white expanse of his teeth in the darkness.

  Yes, I can repel a beasty. I will add it to my resume.

  Bravo. My hero. Now, let's round up these drunks and force march them through the forest.

  We don't need to do that. We can call the shuttle via the remote.

  What remote?

  The one I slipped into your kit belt. It has one big button and will bring the ship to the largest landable area in our vicinity.

  You could have told me.

  Then it wouldn't have been a surprise.

  She groped around in her belt until she found the small box with one button. She pressed it and a reassuring chirp and flashing light went off.

  The nearest landing site is north
bound about five hundred metres.

  Okay, the shuttle should be here within ten minutes. Let's get walking.

  Rumble organized the men again, Hunter handed her tail to Tonyo and with his father holding his shoulders, they marched out into the light.

  She blinked rapidly to adjust her eyes and smiled down at Tonyo who turned in fear and clung to his father. Her claws, ears, slitted eyes and flared nose were still part of her and she sighed, leading the way with her body, no longer by touch.

  I think you look beautiful.

  Thank you. But I thought I had made a friend.

  With all of the Guardsmen eating out of the palm of your hand, you have enough friends for now. Pace yourself.

  She smiled and set out leading the men to the most likely landing site with her tail lashing and her suit gleaming in the sun.

  A growl got her attention and she turned toward the beast approaching her. Six legs, scales, poisoned fangs and a lashing tongue, the Uro was angry at their presence when so many herds were out in the woods.

  Let me take it.

  It is poisonous. I know what to do. She removed the two palm stunners and ran toward the creature, bouncing off the neighbouring trees to place herself precisely on his back.

  Rumble was moving the living train through the woods as she held onto the bucking Uro. When it lowered its head, she struck, jamming the stunners into it where the scales were thinnest. The lizard jerked and went down heavily, rolling slightly. She leapt free just in time to keep her leg from getting pinned under the beast.

  You would think you had done that before.

  Once or twice. Are the men ready?

  Yes, and we can see the shuttle. I promise to wait.

  She chuckled and ran, bounding and swinging her way through the thick vegetation. As she arrived in the clearing, the Dawning Saru was setting down and she could hear the approaching herd.

  A full sprint had her inside the shuttle before the door was fully open and she waited in the navigator seat for Rumble to herd the men and boy into the ship. The moment that they were all in, she sealed the door and charged up the thrusters, lifting them off the surface in time to allow the herd free rein underneath them.

  "I got us up. You are going to have to get us back to the city. This is all I know." She shrugged and grinned as he took in the expansive herd of huge animals trampling everything in their path.