Shhhh we are hunting shatual (Azrael)

[Arla Ordo]

Ever since the very first time she had a dish of shatual she spent time learning how to make it, braise it just right, add the right about of vegetables and seasoning. Some of her attempts had turned out a little black and smoky bringing down several people with extinguishers thinking her apartment on fire.

She had sheepishly grinned at them and held up the smoking pot. It had not gone well. But she had finally found a way to make it in what they called a slow cooker. She could combine everything in one pot put the lid on, and let it go. All it needed later was salt and pepper, and a little garlic. She loved garlic! The dish itself had carrots, onions, celery and a very rich broth. Now the next time there was something to celebrate she could make this!

But then her neighbor had said that it should be roasted not cooked till it fell apart. But. She liked the dish that way. Well if she couldn’t cook it maybe she could provide it.

To ease her disappointment she took up hunting the shatual in the veshok forest. She had not realized how big they were until one passed her on the path it could only have been a buck massive, powerful, and yet graceful. It would almost be a shame to kill one. But it was food provided by the goddess or god that looked over yaim and she would proudly learn to accept what was offered. She spent time walking paths in the early morning where did they travel, where did they stop, did they run, and where they would bed down. She thought she was ready for her first hunt and she had asked [member="Azrael"] to come with her. She had failed to mention that it was her first. She laughed and prayed for a good day.

She had gotten a few looks when she said that she had asked Azrael to go with her, but she had not thought twice about it. Azrael was burc’ya, or ori’vod.

It was early still dark the fields were still covered in dew, and the cold that had set in around midnight was finally starting to warm. The lonely mists that hung over the fields were starting to life, it was the perfect time to walk into the forest, she had given Azrael the location earlier to meet her at. She waited in her camouflaged outfit, with her compound bow across her back. It had taken her weeks to learn to shoot it, and hit a target. Now it was time for the moving targets.

 

[Azrael]

Early morning fog laden the grounds on which the majestic and altogether tasty shatual dwelt in a thick forest with strange blackened trees on Mandalore. These forests had been home to hunts over many generations spanning thousands of years for the Mandalorian culture. Always careful, the Mandalorians never depleted their source of the herd, but only thinned them reasonably. Notably, the vod never hunted for sport - they always ate their kill, in respect to the animals that fed the clans. While a few heads would be mounted as trophies, the bulk of the meat was aged, cured, and eaten. There was a primal nature to the hunts, dating back to the first settlers of the Mandalorian people who had used nothing but crudely fashioned spears and knives to take down the beasts. Things had come a long way since that time, but some traditions remained. Rarely would the vode ever use any of their high powered rifles to down their prey. This had become one of the rights of passage for those entering into the culture, and especially as young children. This is where the Mandalorians first learned to track and to patiently wait for that perfect shot. A majority of the clans took to bounty hunting, which naturally stemmed from acts such as these.

Approaching the thick fog that stayed low, kissing the forest floor, and wrapping it's shrouded mist among the trees, Azrael breached the clouds on the forest floor, seeming to emanate from nothing with a creature at his behest, of whose look was both fearsome and predatory. The pale yellow hide of the Strill leashed for the moment bore it's fanged teeth and sniffed the ground in earnest. The beast was strong, but Azrael's bionic arm was taking charge of the pet, giving it some slack but keeping it rained in. The natural predators to their choice of game, the Strill was a stalwart companion to the Mando'ade, and often taken on these hunts for their continued prowess to track and capture. A half cloak worn only on occasion billowed in the early morning wind as he stepped forward towards the red-headed vod. While the Strill were notable hunters, they were quite domesticated with the iron clad warriors, and were comfortable to be in just about any vod's presence. The excited creature turned it's attention to Arla in seconds, nearly tackling the woman with glee and slathering it's jowls full of saliva on her armor. Four of it's six legs coming to lightly and playfully pounce on her. Strill's were lovable pets, despite their smell.

"Easy there bev." Azrael remarked, the creature's given name meaning 'spike' or 'needle' for obvious reasons. The sharp talons of it's six legs and the mouth full of pointed fangs not only indicated it's deadly ability, but also afforded it such a razor like name. "I think he likes you." Azrael offered with a soft chuckle while coming to draw to one knee, and trace his right gloved hand over the golden fur that covered's the beast's hide. Bev turned tail and nuzzled into the touch, offering a feint whimper of pleasure while licking it's gray tongue across portions of Azrael's armor. "I brought him to do some tracking for us, and they live for this - part of their nature." The Field Marshal expressed while scratching behind one of Bev's ears. "He's not mine. Got him on loan from Rel, an engineer over at Mandal Motors." Even when not the direct master of the beast, the Strill now a days were quite affectionate with the Mandalorians, and often would be used in hunts like this.

[member="Arla Balor"]

 

[Arla Ordo]

Arla could hear the rustling of grass even heavy with dew it made this shhh sound as someone or something approached this close to the forest wild strill could at any time sneak up on the unsuspecting. At first all she saw was the strill moving toward her, its yellow eyes gleamed as it moved the claws curling into the earth propelling itself forward. Arla held her breath she thought of Mirdala and missed her. But Verz was gone from her and with him went Mirdala. She would not think on that anymore she had shed enough tears over it she knew she had to move on, live life and not live in the past. Learning to hunt was part of moving on.

Lost in thought she looked down for just a moment and then she saw [member="Azrael"] was holding the leash as he broke through the heavy mists. He held tight to the leash of the strill OH its a pet she felt relief and awe all at once. Now she felt safer kneeling down to reach out to touch the the gold fur. Her fingers ran over him hearing Azrael use his name she nodded, "Bev, good name" it was an excellent name. "A tracker, excellent" Arla was fascinated by Bev and that she would let him touch her felt like such an honor. "Well he may not be yours but he's beautiful and I'm glad he likes me cause it would leave a nasty mark if he didn't"

Arla smiled and then stood up looking at Azrael, "I have been looking forward to this for some time, I only need enough for myself, I would like to give a portion to a family that lost members during the last invasion. The rest you can have, or donate to whoever needs it" Arla's needs were very simple, and she lived very simple. Learning the ways of the Mando'ade had given her a lot to think about. At first she had been unable to accept the free offerings of friendship, and help. But in time she had come to accept and give. The ability to give back had given her purpose. There were families even though the clans took care of their own some of the families still struggled. There were so many deaths in the battles they had endured the last few months that Arla felt a strong desire to help no matter what clan.

Rights of passage she had never endured perhaps this would prove to her at last that she belonged here, perhaps this would wipe away any lingering doubt she had. "Are you ready Azrael" It was not known how long this would take it would depend on the shatual and its ability to evade them, and then it would depend on their ability to make the shot.