Preparations
#14 of Dragon Hunter Saga
Lina proved to be just as good at fishing as she had informed us she was. The first day we camped she showed most of the camp how to make various fishing items. A few nets that could be tossed from a boat or the shore as well as some fishing traps that larger fish would swim into and not be able to swim out of. A few fishing poles for the sea side, as well as a few lobster traps. If we caught any lobsters they'd be eaten the day we caught them the fish themselves would be skinned and gutted then immersed into brine in barrels stored in the main wagon.
Lina also showed everyone how to build drying racks for fish as well, better used when the air temperature was lower as it slowed down the decay rate. Lina also showed the children how to dig for clams and which shore plants tasted good with freshly grilled fish. It seemed like she was trying to make as many memories with the group as she could before she went back to the village.
The second day we could see the gryphons slowly returning from their funeral over the ocean, while they did not approach our camp I did see some of them gathering and communicating. I asked Cheshire about it that afternoon and his only reply was, "they're deciding who comes with." I personally thought it was an odd way to word it, but I don't know much of gryphonic lifestyle.
The third day Swiftfoot approached the camp alone and Cheshire as well as Lina and I went to meet with him. Cheshire changes his head to the eagle head and starts communicating to Swiftfoot, after a few minutes the two of them stop and I take my chance to greet the gryphon. "Greeting Swiftfoot, and welcome to our camp." The gryphon slowly lowers his head in response and then turns to look at Lina. Lina, {Swiftfoot wishes for you to give him a good reason the people of the village should be allowed to fish here safely. As he is aware that they are the ones who killed his people.} A twinkle appears in Cheshire's eye as he regards Lina, {besides baked goods gryphons love a good debate.}
Lina comes up with a quick response, "Sir Swiftfoot. If you would be so kind as to come into our camp for a short time while I collect my thoughts to answer you properly, it would do me honor. I would like to ask Hunter Gwen to arrange refreshments for you?" Swiftfoot slowly lowers his head again in agreement and Lina leads Swiftfoot and Cheshire off to the gathering area while I locate Harriet. {Alberich, please try to keep the children off Swiftfoot I do not know how he's react to human children climbing all over him.}
I could hear a mental chuckle from Alberich, {it's not a concern. Like most other intelligent species they love children, and not for eating. Take a look}, I glance over to where the group had headed off to and saw some of the children climbing all over the gryphon leader already. And all Swiftfoot was doing was dangling his tail in the face of one of the infants a nearby mother was holding. {Alright, so is there any species I do need to be concerned with when it comes to children}? I ask Alberich in disbelief as I watch the children playing with the proud looking gryphon. I hear Alberich's 'voice' go deathly serious, {you of all people already know the answer to that Gwen}. I mentally sigh in agreement as the only species of intelligent being that might harm a child was the dragon species.
I locate Harriet and explain what was going on and she smiles, "oh I figured that one out this morning when I had three sets of eyes watching me like I was dinner as I baked this morning. Those two little ones are so cute, I think I do have a few small cakes left as well as an assortment of cookies. I would probably suggest a portion of that deer Jose got this morning as I don't know how often the gryphons get to have red meats. You might want to let Lina know that, might make a nice 'thank you' gift when they come fishing." Without seeing my reply Harriet wanders off talking to herself about portions. I chuckle to myself at how amusing some of the people we have picked up have become.
Harriet who had been a Master Gardener, and had lost her family. Now had a huge family that she would die to protect, she took over; by her own choice. The position of head cook while we travel having the most experience with wild edibles that is probably the best bet any way. Jake, who while didn't want to be in charge isn't that bad at dividing up tasks among the people. Even the twins are now acting like more normal children, well as normal as a Hunter child can be.
I recall something Granite told me back then.
April 2029
The normal sunny weather of Arizona had turned stormy a few days before and I was wearing a rain poncho from the supply on the base and I notice Granite looking a bit deflated. "I like most Dragons prefer sunny weather Hunter, I am not ill. I fear our reawakinging has probably affected a great deal in this world besides geography." He gave me a thoughtful look, "you do know the troubles you had as a child were due to your blood lines. Your parents never had problems due to how diluted their bloodlines were, less than half blooded Hunter and you don't get all of the abilities or troubles of your kind. Now that being said, do you recall one of your parents complaining about a sibling of theirs who had problems adjusting. Yet they were good athletes and good at learning?"
I take a moment to think before answering, "yes the uncle of mine who took Arthur out hunting with him every year. It annoyed my brother that he wouldn't bring me as well, it was as if he thought I didn't know anything." Granite nods his head, "I am not surprised due to his sibling not feeling the pull of your bloodline he felt that maybe you would not either. I imagine your mother tried to make you a 'proper young lady'?"
I snort in response, "yes she did. It didn't work very well, She'd dress me in dresses. Then I would go and ruin them by climbing in trees. I did wind up the expert shot in the archery club at the school I attended, not to mention I was taking multiple foreign language classes; seeing as how I excelled in them." Granite nods his head again, "from my observations of Hunters they all possess the ability to learn new languages easily. Which is why you need to know this, you most likely over time find children who are Hunters. To let them have a normal childhood of any kind you need to make sure their Hunter instincts are also satisfied."
I give Granite a questioning look and he responds. "You know how you are with languages, make sure their minds are kept active always learning. Also they'll need better weapons training than you ever had, and if you don't mind me saying. If you ever wind up with an Arms Master, I pity the work they will have bringing you up to proper ability."
I nod my head fully aware that my fighting ability was more instinct than actual ability, He continues. "Also try to get them to at least try to learn things that maybe you didn't care for learning. I have noticed Hunters do tend toward specialties, you probably had your brother survived would have been his researcher. As you have a more 'learned' personality than you say he had."
April 2030
I start wandering over to where Swiftfoot now was covered with infants, {Alberich. Can you do me an immense favor?} I feel a surprised emotion from Alberich, {but of course Gwen. What is it you ask of me?} I look over to where I see Shadow giving the twins some basic knife fighting lessons. {Can you try to teach the twins some languages they do not already know? Hunters have an innate ability towards learning anything, but seem to be able to learn languages well.} I sense a pause from Alberich as he considered, {well all things considered how about starting with more humanoid languages? I can start with the common for of the elvan language.} I let him know I agree to the idea as I continue closer to the child covered gryphon.
I had to admit he did look quite pleased with the children covering him, even the one who was tugging at his feathers. I sit on the ground against one of the crates from one of the carts and I look at Swiftfoot. "As I see you are enjoying yourself Swiftfoot I would suggest before having your 'debate' with Lina the children leave in case you become a bit heated. I would not wish the children to become scared of you from how your voice may sound if you became agitated."
Swiftfoot's feathers droop when I make my suggestion and Cheshire chuckles at me. {Good idea, while Mauve and Lance know how loud they are the infants might start crying if he is at full volume. You also reminded him of the fact that humans are still learning what their people are.} The mothers who had been standing nearby giggling over the children all became quiet as well. They then sheepishly each took their children away from Swiftfoot. {You also reprimanded those annoyingly chattering women who were hoping for a long break, good}. I shrug, {well that was my intent as they really needed to learn that in this new world you were responsible for your own children. To many people from the old world got use to the concept of making someone else be responsible for their children when ever they didn't want to deal with them.}
Harriet then comes forward with a group of the women from the food preparation area carrying more food than Harriet had implied. She gave me a smirk as she set a plate of fresh flat breads in front of me. "Well I figured this was a good a time as any to prepare lunch for the camp." She turns to Swiftfoot, "I hope the meal meets with your satisfaction Sir. Please ask Hunter Gwen for what you wish to have and she can get it for you. Lina stated she will wait till after your meal to converse with you." Harriet then shoos her workers off and round up the children to feed them and I see Alberich head our way.
{Sneaky woman Harriet is, remind me to not play chess with her. As I am certain Lina did not suggest all of this}. He grabs a flat bread and starts chewing it, Cheshire waits for SwiftFoot to respond. When Swiftfoot spoke Cheshire translated, {seems he would like to try a little of everything provided. Suggestion however, place a flatbread in that large empty bowl she left. Then add some of that roasted venison as well as broth and vegetables. Then on the platter next to it a few of the cookies a few slices of bread and quote "some of those yummy smelling little things", he meant the cakes}. I stifle a chuckles aware the gryphon was trying to be polite by trying everything.
While SwiftFoot made short work of his food I grabbed a flatbread before Alberich and Cheshire could eat them all and added some wilted greens, fresh wild onions, and a little of the roasted venison. After the least two days of just eating fish it was a welcome change. Jose had actually gotten three deer when he went out in the early hours and most of the meat was being smoked for the trip across the land bridge.
After about an hour SwiftFoot had eaten his fill of mostly the sweets, and after a sound that almost sounds like a belch Cheshire says. He wants to thank Harriet for making a remarkable meal and says if she ever wants to live with an Aerie, she would be welcome at theirs. I nod my head chuckling again and see Lina come forward from behind the tents to stand opposite SwiftFoot who eyes her in amusement. {Am I right in guessing no matter what he's going to allow them to fish}? I hear Cheshire chuckle in my mind, {you are right. However the point here is to make the humans see the gryphons as equals, SwiftFoot does enjoy a heated debate though.}
Lina steels herself and starts talking, "Sir SwiftFoot. Aside from maybe paying you for keeping an eye out for trouble if we are allowed to fish here there is no real benefit to your people for us to come here. It is possible that we could pay you in meat on the hoof as I imagine you eat a great deal of fish living where you do. Perhaps we could even see if anyone in the village has any skills in baking and we could bring you breads and sweets. Though I can say if the village ever got to the point of fishing larger fishes or animals we could leave you a portion as well." I watch SwiftFoot open his beak as if surprised, {well she took the wind out his sails Gwen. He did not expect blunt honesty from her as you can tell}. I slightly nod my head as I am sure no other human noticed the look on SwiftFoot's face, I guess reading expressions are another Hunter talent.
SwiftFoot stands up suddenly and Lina looks worried, he squawks a bit then takes off and flies back to his home. {Lina no worries, he agreed to what you said. He was surprised and had no way to counter anything you said to him. He also said he would love to chat with you if you ever learned their tongue after you have had a few ales}. Cheshire chuckles at the look on Lina's face, she had dropped her mouth open and Cheshire changes his head back to a cat's head and says. "I'd close that unless you are trying to catch flies, you impressed him. Be ready for him to attempt to teach you how to understand gryphonic, he really wants to debate you when you can't be prepared." Lina closes her mouth slowly then starts laughing, "well I better pick it up quickly then for him." She then heads off to prepare her pack to head back to the village.
Cheshire turns to me, "SwiftFoot has stated that he will send the group coming with us in three more days. So we have time to prepare more food for ourselves, he did say it was possible to fish off the land bridge but we might not want to stop at any point for more than a night."
I get up slowly from the ground and start picking up trays, "I think I agree with that sentiment. Without trees growing on the land bridge as yet it wouldn't be safe to stay in one spot too long on it." Alberich wanders off to where the twins were with Shadow to start teaching them Elvan, and I return the trays to Harriet by the food prep area. Jake was there with Brehea discussing the supply status, I notice Jessica standing behind Brehea. Jake looks over to me, "so do we know anything as yet of when we are heading across?" I nod my head, "in three days our guard group will arrive to give us more preparation time. Why is Jessica here?" Brehea looks to the girl and smiles, "the child wished to know the best way to record history. I told her the best way was to experience it, and since I tend to get involved in a lot she's hanging around me to witness everything. I'm keeping all her records in a safe place don't you worry Hunter."
I look over to Jessica and say, "good idea. Though I suggest you take copious notes on the land bridge as I will request traders to add to it if they traverse the bridge later on so we might see how it changes over time. Think you can do that?" Jessica looks excited to be given an important task and nods her head not speaking I hope from the excitement. I turn to Brehea, "make sure she has enough writing utensils. One of the children might be willing to surrender a feather or two if you need a quill, I think they will be molting once or twice before they can fly. However Brehea I expect you to make a point to have someone collect all their molted feathers in case we ever need to replace any for them." Brehea makes a note in her ledger while nodding her head.
She then looks over her list, "well I think we'll be alright if we keep on bringing in at least as much as we are right now. I'll keep the dried veggies back for the trip over the bridge, we'll just have to eat the fresh greens only before we go across. Based on my math to have 'just enough' to get across we'd only need one day of good hunting and fishing. However it's always good to have more just in case problems arise along the way."