Private White Scar Hunt

[Siv Dragr]

H U N T
White Scar Post, Kestri
900 ABY
​

Tag: Sahan Dragr

"Get up."

Light streamed into Sahan's bedroom as Siv threw back the rough woolen curtains, letting in the morning rays of Kestri's sun peaking over the tops of the Cin'hastaal mountain range. The owner of the bedroom in question, Sahan Dragr, was still sprawled in his tunic and many blankets while Siv and the rest of the household -- mainly a twenty-odd crew of droids -- had been up and about for hours already, since before the dawn.

The Cin'haastal Sujyr functioned dually as the domain of Clan Dragr and a Karjr outpost. The side tower of the outpost was given over to the Clan, where their dwellings, armory, and mostly empty rooms. It was hard to occupy such a space when your 'Clan' had two, or three members -- and Volo Dragr only half counted, the man was more often off herding his Orbaks, or in some tavern between White Scar and Tor Valum -- but Siv had worked diligently to make it feel like a proper home. He remembered vestiges of Clan Dragr's old dwellings on Mandalore before it had been destroyed in the genocide, and over the twenty years, he had transformed into quite the decorator. A low Clan population did mean that every member had their own, large personal quarters, but privacy meant little when there were things to do.

"I've saddled two Orbaks, and your pack is already at the stable," he announced as he crossed the room to open the other set of blinds. "Volo told me the other night he saw Ji'yr Rekr tracks in the valley, so we're going to go check it out. Could be a couple of days, and a storm or two, so pack your furs," he said matter-of-factly before leaving the room to allow Sahan to get ready. The massive Ji'yr Rekr beast was rare to find on Kestri, and most warriors would hunt them out to challenge them as beasts worthy of a hunt. But a Ji'yr Rekr so close to White Scar threatened to ruin Volo's carefully cultivated herd of Orbaks, and so it was now up to the father and son Dragr duo to take care of the potential problem.

 

[Sahan Dragr]

Siv Dragr​

Spoiler: Equipment

ARMOR: Gar'gathr | Sahan Dragr's Personal Beskar'gam
WEAPONS: M.I. Augmented Beskad | M.I. Model 6 hybrid pistol | "O'dteyase" Modified Vora-Class Verpine Hand Cannon | M.I. Model 12 shatter rifle | Grulyr Cebatr Battle Staff
ITEMS: Gas Canisters (12) | Slugs (300) | Grulyr'bedtr CryoSlugs (1 Mag) | RB-02 "Salt" Rounds (1 Mag)

​

"Get up."

Sahan jumped up out of his sleep. As sometimes happened when he was awakened suddenly out of a dream, Sahan attempted to fly up into the air with his armor's flight system, only to crash to the floor, not having his armor on at all. Sahan shook his head clear and climbed to his feet. "Did I oversleep again? Stayed up too late testing my armor systems, I guess."

"I've saddled two Orbaks, and your pack is already at the stable," he announced as he crossed the room to open the other set of blinds. "Volo told me the other night he saw Ji'yr Rekr tracks in the valley, so we're going to go check it out. Could be a couple of days, and a storm or two, so pack your furs,"

"Ji'yr Rekr? The lion-wolf creatures? Cool. Haven't ever actually seen one up close." Sahan quickly made preparations, grabbing his gear, some fur cloaks, and making sure he had some extra gihaal rations in his belt. He'd be eating breakfast on the way.

Before too long, they were on the orbaks and headed off. Sahan absently twirled his whirled his battle staff - which would double as a walking stick - to the side and stifled a yawn. He would much rather be flying, but snowstorms on Kestri could be a bit much for jetpacks. "How far in the valley did Uncle Volo see the tracks?"

 

[Siv Dragr]

H U N T
​

Tag: Sahan Dragr

To his credit, Sahan took the sudden waking and assignment in stride. It was a trait that Siv admired in the young Mandalorian, one that Siv himself rarely possessed. Sahan possessed the optimism of youth that the genocide had robbed from Siv, and the older Mandalorian had only grown more cynical over time, although raising a child of his own had somewhat softened that edge.

Embarking on their journey had not taken long at all. Siv had already packed for the both of them; he grabbed a hot mug of bitter, yet stimulating caf from the tavern and made his way to the stables to mount his beast. With Sahan in tow, the two set out from White Scar Post along one of the many narrow tracks used to hunt or herd. The Obraks were pedantically slow, but sure of foot, which was reassuring with the often-fierce winds and poor conditions of the Cin'hastaal mountains.

After a few minutes of steady riding, Sahan finally spoke up, asking how far Volo had seen the tracks. "Down deep in the valley, by the Vurel Ford, where the herds like to graze. Said the tracks were fresh, too, though it's not typical to see a Ji'yr Rekr so low in the mountains." Or so close to White Scar, he thought. Creatures of the wilderness, the beasts seemed to have an unnatural ability to sense civilization and steer clear of it. A Ji'yr Rekr willingly venturing towards White Scar Post, which by Kestri standards was well-settled, was very atypical for the species. He flicked the reins, goading his mount to a faster trot as they crossed from precarious mountainside tracks into shallower, sloping lowlands with wider tracks.

 

[Sahan Dragr]

Spoiler: Equipment

ARMOR: Gar'gathr | Sahan Dragr's Personal Beskar'gam
WEAPONS: M.I. Augmented Beskad | M.I. Model 6 hybrid pistol | "O'dteyase" Modified Vora-Class Verpine Hand Cannon | M.I. Model 12 shatter rifle | Grulyr Cebatr Battle Staff
ITEMS: Gas Canisters (12) | Slugs (300) | Grulyr'bedtr CryoSlugs (1 Mag) | RB-02 "Salt" Rounds (1 Mag)

​

---

Vurel Ford. That would be quite a trek down the mountain, but the orbaks could handle it with ease, if perhaps not particularly swiftly. It made a little more sense for a predator like a Ji'yr Rekr to maybe try to go after orbaks, but it was still closer to White Scar than Sahan had ever heard of one getting. The fact that he'd never actually seen one said that much. That, and the fact that their numbers weren't supposed to be that high anyway. Still, with their ability to blend into the snow and their cleverness for a non-sentient creature, it wouldn't be unthinkable for one to try to stalk the orbak herds if it was desperate enough. And they had to find the creature before that happened.

As they trekked along, the wind began to pick up, blowing cold against Sahan's face. He put his helmet on, letting the temperature regulators kick in. It would also allow the two to communicate over the wind via comlink. <So, this other uncle I have... Obran? Any chance I'll get to meet him any time soon? I can't imagine what it must be like for him, returning to the Galaxy and having two decades pass without him knowing.> Still, it was nice to learn that another Dragr was indeed alive and kicking. For all Sahan's life, since Siv had adopted him, it had just been the three of them, or so they had thought.

---

TAGS: Siv Dragr​

 

[Siv Dragr]

H U N T
​

Tag: Sahan Dragr

Father and son both donned their helmets in near tandem as a winter storm began to blow in from the high mountain passes down into the valley as the orbaks continued to descend. Their beskar'gam would keep them warm, and the commlinks provided a means of communication where they wouldn't;t have to strain their voices to be heard over the wind.

Deeper in the Cin'haastal valley, trees began to appear, sturdy thick pines that could weather the cold with ease. They grew close to better withstand Kestri's subarctic temperatures, and as they began to head into the forest the trees conveniently blocked much of the wind, muffling the sounds of the storm around them. The silence in the forest was deafening, broken only by the muffled crunches of the orbak's hooves in the snow.

Siv did not expect Sahan to bring up Obran, not now, but he reminded himself that the young man must be brimming with curiosity. "It is hard to know what his ordeal must have been like unless he chooses to divulge." Which he hadn't done yet, Siv thought frowning. He'd only seen the man once or twice since his surprise appearance at Tor Valum, and sometimes he even forgot that his long-lost brother was home. "Last I heard, he was on Nar Shadda. It may be time to bring him home. White Scar didn't even exist before he vanished; twenty years is a long time to be missing." His biotrackers suddenly started picking up on something, and he reigned in his Orbak before dismounting. Off the path, some many paces away, it had picked up a tuft of fur. Alongside were prints in the snow.

And they were fresh.

"Sahan, your rifle," Siv said, turning to his son still on his own mount. Then he turned back around, and suddenly his world was a confusing mess of flesh and fur, pinning him to the ground.

 

[Sahan Dragr]

Spoiler: Equipment

ARMOR: Gar'gathr | Sahan Dragr's Personal Beskar'gam
WEAPONS: M.I. Augmented Beskad | M.I. Model 6 hybrid pistol | "O'dteyase" Modified Vora-Class Verpine Hand Cannon | M.I. Model 12 shatter rifle | Grulyr Cebatr Battle Staff
ITEMS: Gas Canisters (12) | Slugs (300) | Grulyr'bedtr CryoSlugs (1 Mag) | RB-02 "Salt" Rounds (1 Mag)

​

---

"I sometimes forget White Scar is only about as old as I am. I don't remember it not being there." The two made their way down the mountainside. The trek was long and slow, with not a lot of conversation. Siv Dragr was not the most talkative man, generally only speaking when he needed to. It did not bother Sahan at all. Sahan could take silence as easily as conversation. Where Siv was more of an Earth type: solid, a bit stubborn, but always reliable. Sahan was more a Wind type, easily rolling and adapting to things around him. In that since, father and son were very different, but it simply worked for them.

Siv dismounted from his orbak. Sahan saw it too, prints and fur off in the snow. But something seemed off about it...

"Sahan, your rifle," Siv said, turning to his son still on his own mount. Then he turned back around, and suddenly his world was a confusing mess of flesh and fur, pinning him to the ground.

Suddenly realizing what was going on, Sahan quickly pulled his rifle, but the giant beast had already jumped out at Siv and caught him by surprise. This spooked the orbaks, causing the one Sahan was on to buck him off into the snow, rifle flying out of his hand.

Leaving Siv planted firmly in the snow from its weight, the white-furred beast sprung at Sahan's orbak, plunging it's sharp teeth into the animal's throat. It dragged the equine away and out of sight as Sahan climbed to his feet. "Blast, Uncle Volo's gonna kill me." He picked up the dropped rifle from the snow. "I think those things are cleverer than the logs say. That was most definitely a trap, and we fell for it." Luckily, there was a trail of orbak blood they could use to follow the beast.

---

TAGS: Siv Dragr​

 

[Siv Dragr]

H U N T
​

Tag: Sahan Dragr

Fortunately, Siv didn't seem to be an appetizing meal to the beast after it scraped a tooth against Siv's beskar. Pinning him down easily with one pay, it looked at the spooked orbaks and sprang, taking Sahan's mount down. Picking up the struggling orbak in its jaws, it began to bound off silently in the forest away from the Mandalorians.

"Blast, Uncle Volo's gonna kill me." He picked up the dropped rifle from the snow. "I think those things are cleverer than the logs say. That was most definitely a trap, and we fell for it."

He was certainly right about Volo, Siv thought grimly, picking himself off and dusting the snow from his shoulders. Apart from being startled, he was fine. Inertial dampers and beskar plating made the Mandalorian tough prey. And double-lucky for them, he had a lock on the bio-tracker after the beast had jumped him. "They're smarter than a common beast, but not smart enough," he replied. "Tie up the other orbak. We'll pursue in the air." With that he launched up through the canopy into the frigid night sky, confident his son would be following him shortly.

 

[Sahan Dragr]

Spoiler: Equipment

ARMOR: Besk'gathr | Sahan Dragr's Personal Beskar'gam
WEAPONS: M.I. Augmented Beskad | M.I. Model 6 hybrid pistol | "O'dteyase" Modified Vora-Class Verpine Hand Cannon | M.I. Model 12 shatter rifle | Grulyr Cebatr Battle Staff
ITEMS: Gas Canisters (12) | Slugs (300) | Grulyr'bedtr CryoSlugs (1 Mag) | RB-02 "Salt" Rounds (1 Mag)

​

---

<Sure, maybe not smart enough to keep from being hunted down, but it's still fascinatingly cleverer than expected,> Sahan said over the comlink as Siv took to the air with his jetpack. Sahan took the remaining orbak and tied it a tree branch. It would keep the beast from wandering off, but also allow it to break free with enough force, if another rekr came along. That wasn't likely, though the one hadn't been likely either. Not likely it would survive a rekr attack anyway, Sahan thought to himself. He patted the animal's muzzle above its tusks to comfort it. He then stepped away from it and took to the air to follow his buir.

Sahan could fly significantly faster than Siv due to having more flight systems than just a back-mounted jetpack, but the howling wind still made it a little difficult. It gave him the thought that maybe he could make his own systems to integrate into armor that would allow for greater maneuverability. He'd have to look into it. But that could come later. Eventually, he caught up to the older Dragr. They should catch up to the predatorial beast soon, and it would lead them right to its lair.

---

TAGS: Siv Dragr​

 

[Siv Dragr]

H U N T
​

Tag: Sahan Dragr

Flying was significantly faster than riding, albeit much harder in the middle of a storm. Much colder, too. Siv's beskar'gam was working overtime to keep him from freezing to death, but his armor had been passed down through Clan Dragr for centuries. If it hadn't broken by now, it wasn't about to suddenly give up.

<Sure, maybe not smart enough to keep from being hunted down, but it's still fascinatingly cleverer than expected,>

Siv grunted in affirmation back over the comms, the closest Sahan would get to an actual reply. He sometimes felt guilty that he wasn't the conversationalist his son was. A lifetime of primarily solitude had made him a man of few words on most occasions, especially in the field. He admired Sahan's fascination with the creature, something that Siv couldn't quite say he shared. He held respect towards the native Kestri beasts, but rarely did they occupy his mind. Unless they were being pests; which this one definitely was.

The bio-signature lock guided the two Mandalorians through the storm, up a sloping canopy of forest trees until they reached a cliffside clearing. Siv touched down on the snow, his jetpack sputtering in the frigid winds. In front of them lay the jagged mouth of a cave, dark and ominous and utterly unwelcoming. And it was where the bio-signature lock was leading them to. Siv drew his pistol, and turned on his helmet-mounted glowrod, waiting for his son to form up. This time, he wouldn't go venturing off alone.

 

[Sahan Dragr]

Spoiler: Equipment

ARMOR: Besk'gathr | Sahan Dragr's Personal Beskar'gam
WEAPONS: M.I. Augmented Beskad | M.I. Model 6 hybrid pistol | "O'dteyase" Modified Vora-Class Verpine Hand Cannon | M.I. Model 12 shatter rifle | Grulyr Cebatr Battle Staff
ITEMS: Gas Canisters (12) | Slugs (300) | Grulyr'bedtr CryoSlugs (1 Mag) | RB-02 "Salt" Rounds (1 Mag)

​

---

Sahan landed quietly beside Siv. He unholstered the rifle, noddingly silently to his father, as they moved cautiously into the cave. Instead of a glowrod, Sahan activated his HUD's night vision. It got him to thinking that he really ought to upgrade that further with new features. Still, it was good enough for now. Using his flight systems to make himself very light and move quietly, sound bafflers and auditory dampeners keeping the thrusters silent.

They made their way through the cave tunnel. They came across a cavern with branching paths, but it was obvious by the blood trail which one was the correct path. The tunnel was long and fairly narrow, almost as if it had actually been dug by the rekr itself. Sahan considered it a good possibility, though he really didn't know too much about the animal species itself.

At last, they made it to the entrance to another chamber. Their HUDs showed them what lay directly ahead: the rekr beast was chowing down on the orbak, slicing the flesh with its razor horns and tearing out large chunks with its sharp teeth. Sahan raised the rifle but didn't shoot. His buir was the more experienced hunter, so Sahan would follow his command instead of rushing in like a fool.

---

TAGS: Siv Dragr​

 

[Siv Dragr]

H U N T
​

Tag: Sahan Dragr

They wordlessly ventured into the cave, combing through its many chambers. Siv didn't have a healthy relationship with Kestri caves, though admittedly the last one had technically been on its moon. At least there were no tunneling exogorths to worry about here. Just one very angry, very large, and very dangerous Ji'yr Rekr.

As they ventured into the main chamber, they came upon the Rekr tearing chunks of flesh off of the Orbak's corpse, Siv's light shining directly on the massive beast. Sahan raised his blaster, poised perfectly to fire, but stopped short of pulling the trigger. It was a mistake. Startled by the light, the beast looked up at the two introduced, growled, and in a movement that was too swift and fluid to anticipate lept and pounced at the Mandalorians. Siv instantly rolled to the side, but the Rekr wasn't even going for him; it was going for his son. Trying to keep the beast away, he fired his blaster pistol at it, but the Rekr was already on top of the younger Mandalorian.

 

[Sahan Dragr]

Spoiler: Equipment

ARMOR: Besk'gathr | Sahan Dragr's Personal Beskar'gam
WEAPONS: M.I. Augmented Beskad | M.I. Model 6 hybrid pistol | "O'dteyase" Modified Vora-Class Verpine Hand Cannon | M.I. Model 12 shatter rifle | Grulyr Cebatr Battle Staff
ITEMS: Gas Canisters (12) | Slugs (300) | Grulyr'bedtr CryoSlugs (1 Mag) | RB-02 "Salt" Rounds (1 Mag)

​

---

Sometimes Sahan placed a little too trust in his buir, when he needed to think for himself and trust his own judgement. It wasn't often, but it did happen. This was one such time. The glow rod on Siv's helmet had startled the rekr beast. And, of course, the first target it chose was the one not directly blinding it with light. The beast charged Sahan, knocking him to the ground with its weight, the rifle once again flying from his grip.

On sheer, instinct, Sahan engaged his armor's microthrusters, propelling him feet first along the ground out from underneath the large lion-wolf. As he did, he activated the vibroblade in his left vambrace and slashed at the beast's haunches. It would wound the creature, but it wouldn't take it down. It would take a lot more than that.

Spinning in the air, Sahan landed and faced the beast. He'd also dropped his battle staff from his back in the slide, but he still had O'dteyase. And now the beast was in between him and Siv, and it was limping slightly.

---

TAGS: Siv Dragr​

 

[Siv Dragr]

H U N T
​

Tag: Sahan Dragr

Sahan managed to survive the attack, injuring the Rekr while managing to escape mostly unharmed. Siv was glad to see that twenty-something years of training and parenting wouldn't go to waste over one out-of-the-ordinary hunting trip. The beast was clearly injured, limping, but remained between father and son, blocking either two. Siv's light still shone, and as the beast turned towards him it shone in its eyes once more. Growling, aggravated even further, it began to move towards Siv albeit hindered by its injured forepaw.

Siv began to back up but was stopped by a cave wall. No running here. He drew his knife, readying himself for a close-up tangle with the beast. The Ji'yr Rekr pounced and slammed him against the wall, trying to crush his head between its powerful jaws. Siv was quicker, dodging the bite and slipping under its paws. He tried to stab the beast but it was quicker, batting him aside with a powerful blow from its front legs. "Shoot the fethin' thing!" He shouted at his son, sliding backward as he drew his own blaster to let loose several bolts at its eyes.

 

[Sahan Dragr]

Spoiler: Equipment

ARMOR: Besk'gathr | Sahan Dragr's Personal Beskar'gam
WEAPONS: M.I. Augmented Beskad | M.I. Model 6 hybrid pistol | "O'dteyase" Modified Vora-Class Verpine Hand Cannon | M.I. Model 12 shatter rifle | Grulyr Cebatr Battle Staff
ITEMS: Gas Canisters (12) | Slugs (300) | Grulyr'bedtr CryoSlugs (1 Mag) | RB-02 "Salt" Rounds (1 Mag)

​

---

"Shoot the fethin' thing!"

Sahan couldn't get to his rifle, so he swiftly drew O'dteyase and fired several slugs at the beast, the verpine rounds hitting it faster than it could react. The beast roared and charged Sahan, which he had anticipated. Sahan charged the beast himself, which was simply something the creature had not expected. Sahan activated the grappling line from his left vambrace around the rekr's forelegs, tripping it. As it crashed to the cavern floor, Sahan dove close, slashing the beast's throat with the vambrace vibroblade and whipping the slack part of the grapple line around its neck, pulling it tight into where he had slashed it. He flew toward the ceiling, using the thrusters for leverage. The massive beast thrashed, blood spilling all over, but Sahan held on with all his might.

---

TAGS: Siv Dragr​

 

[Siv Dragr]

H U N T
​

Tag: Sahan Dragr

Siv watched as his son flailed against the beast. He tripped the beast with his grappling line before flying up, using the grappling line and his force to try and choke the Ji'yr Rekr. To that end, Siv fired his own grappling line at the hind of the beast. The cord wrapped itself around the back legs of the beast before contracting. Siv pulled hard backward, using his jetpack thrust to add further force to his inadequate strength.

With the two Mandalorians pulling in different directions, the beast collapsed out from under it, Sahan's cord choking the last bit of life from the massive apex predator. The large corpse flopped undignified to the side. Siv stood up. "Could've been worse," he commented in between heavy breaths. Suddenly, a small mewing from a dark recess within the cave caught his attention. He gave Sahan a look, before nodding his helmet in its direction. Sahan could take care of whatever it was; Siv had enough surprises for one hunting trip.

 

[Sahan Dragr]

Spoiler: Equipment

ARMOR: Besk'gathr | Sahan Dragr's Personal Beskar'gam
WEAPONS: M.I. Augmented Beskad | M.I. Model 6 hybrid pistol | "O'dteyase" Modified Vora-Class Verpine Hand Cannon | M.I. Model 12 shatter rifle | Grulyr Cebatr Battle Staff
ITEMS: Gas Canisters (12) | Slugs (300) | Grulyr'bedtr CryoSlugs (1 Mag) | RB-02 "Salt" Rounds (1 Mag)

​

---

With his buir wrangling the beast from the other side, they were finally able to bring the behemoth down. Blood pooled around the cavern floor from the large gash in its throat as it thudded heavily to the ground.

"Could've been worse,"

"Aye," Sahan replied. "A win is a win, though it's unfortunate we lost an Orbak."

From deeper within the cave came a whimpering noise, now audible without the roaring of the giant rekr. Sahan nodded to in response to Siv and went to check it out, having a good idea already what the noise was. Sure enough, he was met with a heartbreaking sight. Upon what seemed to be the hide of a dragon bear lay the corpses of a littler of rekr pups, one just barely still clinging to life in the freezing cave. The poor thing didn't even have its eyes open yet. It whimpered more as Sahan picked it up, noting how frail and thin it looked, especially compared to the monstrocity that had been the mother.

Sahan carried the small pup back to the larger chamber. He grabbed one of the blankets from the fallen Orbak that had still been strapped to it and wrapped the pup in it. The whimpering quieted as it got a bit warmer. "Littermates were all dead," he explained to Siv. "I'm guessing the mother was having trouble finding suitable prey this close to the Post to provide enough milk to keep them warm and healthy. I'll take her back to the Post and get her some warm milk. Maybe I can train her. She gets big enough, she can keep the other predators away from the Post without us having to hunt them down. There's so few of the creatures as it is. I'll also bring back some men to collect the corpses of all the beasts. No point in letting any meat or hide go to waist."

What Sahan had left unsaid was that he was keeping himself busy so he would not have to be the one to report to Volo that one of his precious Orbaks had been killed. He rubbed the small bundle in his arms as they made their way out of the caves. Ji'yr rekr had snow-white fur, so Sahan figured a derivative would make a good name. "How about Ciri? Short for Cin'ciri."

---

TAGS: Siv Dragr​

 

[Siv Dragr]

H U N T
​

Tag: Sahan Dragr

Siv was not genuinely surprised by many things, but his adopted son walking towards him holding a Ji'yr Rekr cub was one of the few things that could. He removed his own helmet slowly, allowing himself to breathe the crisp cold air free of his armor's enviro filter. He put a tentative hand on its forehead, scuffing its fur with almost an instinctive paternal instinct. The cub mewled in protest at his touch. Wrapped in the makeshift blanket, Siv was transported in his mind back twenty years ago. His eyes glassed over, lost in distant memory. This scene felt very familiar.

"How about Ciri? Short for Cin'ciri."

The suggestion snapped Siv back to the present. He gave a soft smile, ruffling the fur of the cub a bit more. It was soft. The cub was cute, odd for something that could grow to be so fearsome. "It's not a bad one," he admitted. "Never heard of a Ji'yr Rekr being tamed. But that just means you'll be the first." He sighed as he holstered his pistol. He had a blood stain on the leather underpadding of his gauntlet. A few more encounters like these and he'd be due for a staining next time he did armor maintenance. "I'll let Volo know his little problem is over," he stated. "Make sure to keep the skull as a trophy. You've earned it."

He reached into his belt for a small transponder beacon, located it, and took it out. He stepped up to a wall behind Sahan and planted it firmly against the rock, activating its transponder with a press of a button. Now they would be able to locate the cave for body retrieval when they came back. Or rather, when Sahan came back; Siv was overdue for a drink.

The small task done, he turned and began to make for the cave entrance. "Let's go home."

END​