Hunting for food

Posted on Tue Jun 8th, 2021 @ 7:13am by Gregor [Tonelly]

Mission: Season 5: Episode 2: Operation Save Humanity
Location: HOME, adjacent tunnels and caverns
Timeline: MD -5 0456 (local)
726 words - 1.5 OF Standard Post Measure

The large Drellonian worm was busy feeding on the lichen in the southern plain cavern. It was nearly time for their mating season to begin. Once that happened, cows like this one would burrow away, and stay hidden until the bulls finished fighting for dominance.

He had learned to avoid the bulls during this time, the first season that he was in the caverns. He had nearly been eaten by the bull he would later name Dark Lord, because it was the only worm that was dark colored. And, ever since that first encounter, he had watched Dark Lord become, and remain the dominant bull for over twenty seasons.

As he quietly approached the cow, Gregor slowly started to lift his spear. He had to land his spear directly in the center eye. Anywhere else and she would alert the rest of the herd. Only a direct hit in her center eye would drop her, instantly dead.

Staying downwind of the cow, Gregor moved to get into position. His movements were painfully slow. He had been stalking this particular cow for nearly an hour. He would need at least ten more minutes, at this pace, to be in optimal position for a kill.

Time seemed to all but stop as Gregor got into position. He had to freeze several times when either the cow shifted position or another cow moved past further up the tunnel. Finally, after a long process, he was in position and ready. He just had to wait for the center eye to be opened. The Drellonian only opened it when it is about to move to another feeding patch. It used the eye to see in the near total darkness.

As soon as Gregor thought about how long the wait would be, the worm made a growling, groaning sound and the eye opened. Gregor launched his spear..and it landed true on target. The large animal huffed once and then dropped to the ground, dead.

Moving in on his kill, Gregor first pulled his spear out, two thirds of its length covered in gore. He then moved to the right side of the creature. After drawing a nasty looking dagger from a scabard on his back, he felt along the skin of the worm until he found the right spot. Thrusting his dagger into the soft tissue, he sliced a long gash and then peeled back the flesh, exposing the creature's still heart.

Gregor cut some more, his own body becoming covered in the creature's blood. Finally, he finished cutting the large organ loose. Cradling it in his arms, moved away and whistled.

Suddenly, the tunnal was a buzz on activity. His brother and sister Outkasts quickly moved in on the large carcass. They began to systematically take the beast apart and carrying the chunks back to HOME. This creature would feed his people for a full week, perhaps a little longer. Gregor, as the hunter, would eat the most prized piece, the heart. It was his right as the Alpha hunter.

In less than an hour, all that was left of the beast, was a wet smear on the ground. The Outkasts wasted nothing. It was a necessity to their survival underground.

As they had none of the technological advantages of the topsiders, the name given to those that still lived on the suface, they made do with what they found, stole and killed. The Outkasts that lived in HOME were one big family, sharing what they had with each other.

That, however, had not always been the case. In the beginning, before they had been united, they were little more than a ragged group of savages, foghting and killing amongst themselves. It wasn't until Gregor came to them, that things changed.

After challenging, and subsequently defeating the various chieftains, he brought all of his Outkast brothers and sisters together under one roof. He taught them that it would be better to work together in order to survive. As the topsiders but expelled their kind to the waistlands, and then began to hunt them, Gregor showed that they had to come together for safety and protection.

For the past thirty years, Gregor had lead his brothers and sisters successfully. He only hoped that his message to the stars would be answered by a friendly force.

***OFF***

Gregor
Outkast Leader
[NPC Tonelly]