[Mkguild] Hunting the Ice Age part 10

[cokane8116 at aol.com]

    “The basic plan is the same,” Paul explained.“We’ll chase him into the trap. First the mounted group will locate him andsteer him towards the trap. As he gets closer the wolves will join the chase.When he gets to the hill don’t get too close. When he goes over the top he’llhopefully tumble down to the bottom. At that point everyone closes in to finishhim off.”    “One of the humans will have a high-poweredhunting rifle in case things go wrong,” Paul added. “And he will also administerthe killing shot. No need for the animal to suffer.”    The group all nodded in agreement.    “Philip and Sasha are doing fine,” Kristensaid. “They’re airlifting Philip to the hospital in Bangor. The cats will bestaying here in the infirmary. Cindy threw up on the flight in but at leastmanaged to aim it out the door. Much to the relief of the flight crew.”  ***************     Kristen came over to Jonathan. “We’re goingto get you more involved,” she explained. “We’ll have you with the rest of thepack. Please try and not get killed.”    “It would be great for the ratings!”Nicholas commented.    “Oh anything for the ratings,” Jonathancommented sarcastically. “But hopefully dying isn’t in the script.”    “No. Dying isn’t in the script.”    “But has the mammoth read the script?”Jonathan asked.    “Next time I meet him; I’ll ask.”  *****************     Everyone retired for the evening to thewarmth and safety of the village. Room was found inside for all, including thehorses and elk who got a larger hut/stable for themselves. They all needed agood night’s sleep for the work tomorrow.    Jonathan decided against sleeping in a groupwith the rest of the wolves and went to share a hut with his television crew. Thebed was good sized but consisted of a low wooden frame piled high with blanketsand pillows. It was large enough for all four of them.    He spent several minutes re arraigning thepillows, blankets and sheets into a comfortable little nest. He resisted the temptationto walk around in a circle several times and just settled down to sleep.  *******************     Morning came early. Too early. Jonathanslowly stood up slowly as pain shot through him. Everything seemed to hurt orwas stiff and sore or all at once.    Thankfully Justine was a trainedveterinarian and the Smilodon had given him some pain killers. The pill helpedtake the hard edge off the pain.    Breakfast included hot coffee which tasteddifferently when Jonathan lapped it from the bowl. Breakfast was mostly meat(of course) but well cooked.    It took a while to find a suitable location.Ironically it was only a short way from the site of the first ambush. The hillrose up gently on one side and dropped off fairly steeply on the other.    Helle went to a large rock nearby andscratched complex symbols on it with her claws. She then started chanting andsinging in a voice that was surprisingly soft and smooth for a leopard.    After several minutes of chant somethingstepped out of the rock. It was vaguely humanoid and seemed to be made of solidstone it had come from.    She spoke to it for a moment in a languageno one but them seemed to understand. She made some digging motions and pointedto the hillside.    The stone creature nodded slowly and set towork. It’s massive hands scooped huge gouges out of the hillside. Tossing the half-frozenearth off to one side. At the base of the hill it dug a deep pit. In a fewminutes it did work that would have taken them weeks.    Helle bowed her head in respect and saidsomething in that strange language. The stone creature bowed in response. Itstepped into the rock it had come from and vanished.    While that was going on a group cut downsome branches and sharped both ends.     Buckets of water were hauled from a localstream and splashed onto the slope. It was hardly a death slide but it did makethe slope all the more hazardous. At the bottom a dozen stakes sprouted. Theirsharpened ends pointed uphill.    “I think we’re ready,” Kristen commented.  *************     “Stick together,” Galina said. “Remember thepack is strong together.” All four of the wolves were waiting several milesfrom the hill. The horse and elk and their riders were off chasing the mammoth.Hopefully in the direction of where the wolves waited.    “We are pack!”    “We are STRONG!” She howled loudly. A loud,wailing howl.    Jonathan and the other wolves tilted theirheads back and joined in. The sound echoing endlessly in the woods. Warning allthat the wolves were here and were hungry. Telling all that this was theirterritory and their prey.  ***********
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