Rawnie Tal'verda
Tal'Verda Aliit'buir
"Another one?"
Rawnie looked down at the dead uxi... or what was left of it. The carcass was torn open, entrails scattered for yards all around the clearing. The Tal'verda Alor bent over the ruined meat, touching the teeth and claw marks with one black gloved hand. The snow had not fallen since the night before last, but the cold had prevented the creature from decaying much in the time it was here.
"It's only been here a day at most," she said, "Keep your guard up. They might still be lurking. They never hunt alone..."
These bite marks were... huge. Just like the wolf that had attacked her and her brother that one time so long ago when they were out hunting with their father. In all this time, she had never found another one quite as large as that mother wolf. But she knew of course more had to be out there. And here was the evidence.
And so close to the village too...
"It's the third one this week," she heard someone say, "If this keeps up, they won't leave anything for us. This'll be a hard winter..."
Rawnie stood back up, hand holding her swollen belly for balance.
"Don't worry. I have an idea. Let's head back. We're not going to find anything today."
And she did have an idea. But she had to be careful how she presented it. Putting it bluntly, Clan tal'verda simply did not have the manpower, or the resources to launch a hunting party to take out the wolf pack that was killing their main source of food. They had to get help somehow, from outside the village. Much as it pained her to admit.
But she could not outright ask for help. That was the key. She had to protect her clans honor. Asking for help was a sign of weakness. So she had to disguise this hunt as a celebration.
So she sent out word that her clan would be hosting a great hunt for the elusive giant wolf. She had to pull out all her extra resources to throw a party as well. Anything to make this look intentional, anything to hide the fact that if this didn't work, her clan would be hurting come winter. But it was the only shot she had. With the baby on the way, she had to do something. She could not hunt this thing alone. It was either take the risk and possibly eliminate her clans greatest threat, or endure a very hard, very hungry winter.
"Will we have enough tihaar?" she asked, walking by where food and drink was already being set out on a long wooden table.
This was more food than her people ate all winter. Could they spare it? They'd had a slight surplus this past harvest season, and a lot of this would probably go bad before winters end anyway, but still, they could have sold the extra. Credits were a little tight right about now...
"If they don't drink too much," an older woman replied, "But we have wine, ale, beer. I think we'll be alright."
Rawnie nodded, pulling her thick fur cloak tighter around her. She wondered how her guests would feel about the cold up in the north? She hoped it wouldn't make them turn back. Actually, as of right then, the weather had been pleasant, all things considering. No snow for a few days. The wind was calm as well. And soon they would light a fire in the center of the village square.
The very pregnant mandalorian pushed a stray lock of white hair away from her face. She was... nervous. She could interact with her people just fine, but when it came to hosting strangers from other clans? She looked down at her shaking hands. Well. At least if she shivered in front of them, she could blame it on the cold.
Rawnie looked down at the dead uxi... or what was left of it. The carcass was torn open, entrails scattered for yards all around the clearing. The Tal'verda Alor bent over the ruined meat, touching the teeth and claw marks with one black gloved hand. The snow had not fallen since the night before last, but the cold had prevented the creature from decaying much in the time it was here.
"It's only been here a day at most," she said, "Keep your guard up. They might still be lurking. They never hunt alone..."
These bite marks were... huge. Just like the wolf that had attacked her and her brother that one time so long ago when they were out hunting with their father. In all this time, she had never found another one quite as large as that mother wolf. But she knew of course more had to be out there. And here was the evidence.
And so close to the village too...
"It's the third one this week," she heard someone say, "If this keeps up, they won't leave anything for us. This'll be a hard winter..."
Rawnie stood back up, hand holding her swollen belly for balance.
"Don't worry. I have an idea. Let's head back. We're not going to find anything today."
And she did have an idea. But she had to be careful how she presented it. Putting it bluntly, Clan tal'verda simply did not have the manpower, or the resources to launch a hunting party to take out the wolf pack that was killing their main source of food. They had to get help somehow, from outside the village. Much as it pained her to admit.
But she could not outright ask for help. That was the key. She had to protect her clans honor. Asking for help was a sign of weakness. So she had to disguise this hunt as a celebration.
So she sent out word that her clan would be hosting a great hunt for the elusive giant wolf. She had to pull out all her extra resources to throw a party as well. Anything to make this look intentional, anything to hide the fact that if this didn't work, her clan would be hurting come winter. But it was the only shot she had. With the baby on the way, she had to do something. She could not hunt this thing alone. It was either take the risk and possibly eliminate her clans greatest threat, or endure a very hard, very hungry winter.
"Will we have enough tihaar?" she asked, walking by where food and drink was already being set out on a long wooden table.
This was more food than her people ate all winter. Could they spare it? They'd had a slight surplus this past harvest season, and a lot of this would probably go bad before winters end anyway, but still, they could have sold the extra. Credits were a little tight right about now...
"If they don't drink too much," an older woman replied, "But we have wine, ale, beer. I think we'll be alright."
Rawnie nodded, pulling her thick fur cloak tighter around her. She wondered how her guests would feel about the cold up in the north? She hoped it wouldn't make them turn back. Actually, as of right then, the weather had been pleasant, all things considering. No snow for a few days. The wind was calm as well. And soon they would light a fire in the center of the village square.
The very pregnant mandalorian pushed a stray lock of white hair away from her face. She was... nervous. She could interact with her people just fine, but when it came to hosting strangers from other clans? She looked down at her shaking hands. Well. At least if she shivered in front of them, she could blame it on the cold.
