about leading a predator to them if they injured but didn't kill an animal. “A wounded animal isn't a quiet one. It'll thrash about, make noise and it's damn dangerous. Not to be toyed with,” Bert said shaking his head. “They'll leave a blood trail. The smell will be picked up by anything in the area, mark my words,” he said brandishing a bowie knife he'd been sharpening. “The airborne scavengers will be on it first; they'll lead others to the kill.”
John nodded. He'd been scared off one kill already. It worried him, Heather, Eric, and Bert. Making a kill was only the easy part. Once they made the kill, they couldn't lower their guard as they slaughtered the animal.
“Keep your knife sharp, but if you can avoid using it, do so. You've only got what we've brought over with us. So find a flint tool and use that. We'll have to make cave man tools and use them. Cutting up an animal is a bitch; it takes a sharp blade,” Bert said then grimaced. “It'll take time to slaughter something in the field. You really need to get the guts out quick or they'll swell with gases and ruin the meat,” he said. He looked over to Heather who nodded. His red haired wife didn't talk much, but she nodded grimly in support of his position.
“Look, all predators are opportunists. They will all scavenge if they can, after all, free meal right?” John said. Both nodded. “I ran into that with bears back in Alaska all the time. Sometimes a shot or loud noise scared them off,” he said.
“But we can't afford to waste even a single shot,” Heather murmured. Bert nodded.
“So, we have to get in, finish the kill, then drag the animal out,” Eric said.
“Easier said than done my friend. What if he falls in a ravine? Or in a creek?” Bert asked. “And if you do get it roped off, my problem is dragging the kill back to us,” Bert said, pointing downward with his knife. “That in my book is something I'd consider a bad thing,” he said. Ross, Heather and Bull nodded grimly.
“A vehicle?” Eric asked. “Small one to get around in the bush?” He frowned thoughtfully.
John shook his head. “I've got the snowmobile, a couple quads, and I know others do too. We've got the trucks and stuff. What we don't have are the resources though. We're low on fuel for one. I brought fuel but it's diesel. And it's for me. Once it's gone, it's gone. There aren't any refineries or local gas stations around. We've got to figure something else out.”
“Something long term. There is no way we can haul back a ton of meat in the bush,” Bert said. “And don't even think about using one of Adam's horses. Horses hate the smell of blood.”
“Right. The dogs maybe,” John suggested. Bert shrugged.
They were worried about being in the territory of predators and other animals, but no one had a solution to the problem, nor to the question of just what the animals would do or how they would react. Even the alien animals were questionable. There was little frame of reference beyond generalities to go on, and Bert warned them not to trust even that too far. There was some concern expressed over the predator's overlapping territories.
“Some animals can share a range, but they'll kill each other's young. Cheetah, leopards, lions...others...” Bert said.
“Do we have a list of animals we've found here so far? Where they were spotted?” Heather asked quietly.
They went over a map pointing out where some animals were spotted and when.
The meeting broke up near lunch. Everyone went to work on individual chores or to check on their families. John went to check his animals and then spot checked the growing fortress base.
The outside palisade wall of earth and trees formed what looked like a frontier fort, but it was quickly evolving into a fortress of stone as they added rock and cement. Within the walls they used local materials to form crude tepees, crowded campers, tents, sheds, tin structures, and vehicles to sleep in until better
John nodded. He'd been scared off one kill already. It worried him, Heather, Eric, and Bert. Making a kill was only the easy part. Once they made the kill, they couldn't lower their guard as they slaughtered the animal.
“Keep your knife sharp, but if you can avoid using it, do so. You've only got what we've brought over with us. So find a flint tool and use that. We'll have to make cave man tools and use them. Cutting up an animal is a bitch; it takes a sharp blade,” Bert said then grimaced. “It'll take time to slaughter something in the field. You really need to get the guts out quick or they'll swell with gases and ruin the meat,” he said. He looked over to Heather who nodded. His red haired wife didn't talk much, but she nodded grimly in support of his position.
“Look, all predators are opportunists. They will all scavenge if they can, after all, free meal right?” John said. Both nodded. “I ran into that with bears back in Alaska all the time. Sometimes a shot or loud noise scared them off,” he said.
“But we can't afford to waste even a single shot,” Heather murmured. Bert nodded.
“So, we have to get in, finish the kill, then drag the animal out,” Eric said.
“Easier said than done my friend. What if he falls in a ravine? Or in a creek?” Bert asked. “And if you do get it roped off, my problem is dragging the kill back to us,” Bert said, pointing downward with his knife. “That in my book is something I'd consider a bad thing,” he said. Ross, Heather and Bull nodded grimly.
“A vehicle?” Eric asked. “Small one to get around in the bush?” He frowned thoughtfully.
John shook his head. “I've got the snowmobile, a couple quads, and I know others do too. We've got the trucks and stuff. What we don't have are the resources though. We're low on fuel for one. I brought fuel but it's diesel. And it's for me. Once it's gone, it's gone. There aren't any refineries or local gas stations around. We've got to figure something else out.”
“Something long term. There is no way we can haul back a ton of meat in the bush,” Bert said. “And don't even think about using one of Adam's horses. Horses hate the smell of blood.”
“Right. The dogs maybe,” John suggested. Bert shrugged.
They were worried about being in the territory of predators and other animals, but no one had a solution to the problem, nor to the question of just what the animals would do or how they would react. Even the alien animals were questionable. There was little frame of reference beyond generalities to go on, and Bert warned them not to trust even that too far. There was some concern expressed over the predator's overlapping territories.
“Some animals can share a range, but they'll kill each other's young. Cheetah, leopards, lions...others...” Bert said.
“Do we have a list of animals we've found here so far? Where they were spotted?” Heather asked quietly.
They went over a map pointing out where some animals were spotted and when.
The meeting broke up near lunch. Everyone went to work on individual chores or to check on their families. John went to check his animals and then spot checked the growing fortress base.
The outside palisade wall of earth and trees formed what looked like a frontier fort, but it was quickly evolving into a fortress of stone as they added rock and cement. Within the walls they used local materials to form crude tepees, crowded campers, tents, sheds, tin structures, and vehicles to sleep in until better
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