Post by Regnier on Nov 9, 2010 4:21:23 GMT -5
Four miles from the nearest military installation it stood, chewing contentedly on the carcass of a local predator that had wandered into the territory it had recently claimed as its own after being released into the planet's habitat for a handful of young Mandalorians to hunt. Zakkeg were worthwhile prey. Of course, they'd been stupid about it, and hadn't respected the creature, and now one of the four was crippled, maybe permanently, and someone had to go out and clean up. Perhaps it was the quiet, perhaps it was because there was no one else out here, or perhaps it was because he could focus all of his attention to the hunt and not think about anything else, but whatever the reason, Raynes had been quick enough to volunteer, going so far as to pull rank to prevent anyone else from coming along. He wasn't out for glory or honor today, no, today he hunted to be alone to himself, and people, even Mandalorians, only tended to argue with him for so long.
So he lay, two miles further out from the beast he had gone to find several hours prior, just behind the crest of an embankment a few feet outside a treeline, the barrel of Tracyaat'ika, the massive H-TKT Anti-Material Rifle usually stored aboard his ship, extending a few feet over the embankment. He wasn't particularly trying to hide, only partially concealed by shadows cast by the trees and a large bush beside him, dressed only in simple, dark cargos and a grey shirt that clung to him like saran wrap, primarily because it was the largest shirt he could find. Most of the wildlife left him alone, as he'd been completely silent for nearly twenty minutes at this point, and only something reminiscent of a kath hound had attempted to jump him. Now they left him alone as well as he waited for the massive beast he had been tracking to come out into the open. All he'd done, really, was give the hounds a reason to go near the place the zakkeg had taken residence, and he knew the ornery creature would come calling to kick them off his turf.
Crack.
Unmoving, Raynes' eyes shifted slightly to trace the sound of a small twig snapping under pressure. A small, furry woodland creature half the size of his head with giant ears and big teeth climbed over a rock and crept towards the prone Mandalorian form, stopping a few feet from his face. "Any closer, and you're lunch, furball." It stopped, and gave him an inquiring look. Raynes glowered at it. It didn't move, he bared his teeth and growled. It back up on its hind legs and did the same. "Fine. You can stay. But I'm not moving, either, so deal with it, Jim."
A few minutes later, much to Raynes' chagrin, Jim circled around behind him, climbed onto his leg, and crawled up until coming to a stop on his shoulder blade. Any other day, and Te Naast would have probably just eaten the creature right then and there, live and unskinned, but right now, he wasn't about to let emotion break discipline. Not for a rodent. "You're pushing your luck, friend."
Returning his full attention to the reason he was out here, he continued to wait for his quarry to turn just a little bit either way so he could see something, anything other than its back. He didn't doubt Tracyaat'ika would punch through the back plate, but he didn't want to chance not hitting something vital without knowing exactly where the shot would go. Eventually, Jim curled up and fell asleep on Raynes' back, which only further made him want to just roll over and see what kind of reflexes the rodent had, but he remained motionless, albeit with a very, very displeased look on his face. In time, however, all thoughts of maiming small, furry creatures horribly were replaced by total focus as the zakkeg turned fully around and began surveying its surroundings, likely for any more of the pack to try and invade its territory again. Quickly, yet smoothly, Raynes adjusted a dial on the scope, paused, drew in a breath, and gently squeezed the trigger on the exhale.
It was a beautiful sound, really, if you valued such things, and most likely terrifying if you didn't, the massive boom of the exceedingly powerful slug-thrower that echoed for miles all around. Raynes was fairly certain he felt a claw dig through his leathery skin as Jim disappeared with blinding speed, most likely under the impression that the world was ending. Returning his eye to the scope with a certain two-fold satisfaction that he had not only just completed his hunt, but also permanently traumatized a small, furry rodent that had earned his ire. He watched, motionlessly, as the round traveled the distance, impacting its target just below the eye-socket a few seconds after being fired, as the mighty creature crumpled like any other lifeless corpse, as the hounds returned to feast on their fallen enemy shortly after in a bitter irony that held true in most aspects of life he had seen in his years. A few minutes later, Raynes drew in a slow, deep breath and sighed. It was time to leave. Then again, why not wait, take in the scenery for awhile longer? It was calming, and that was definitely something he needed as of late.
Crack.
Shifting his attention to the side again, Raynes wasn't sure if her should have been surprised or if he should respect the tiny creature's boldness. "Well, you're persistent, I'll give you that." Reaching into the small pack resting beside him, he pulled out a small bag of dried, and completely unidentifiable meat. It was rancor, according to Sasha, and though he didn't doubt she could bring one down, he did wonder where she had found one. He tore a piece off, before offering the other half to Jim. "Try it, it's carnivore."
-----
Disassembled anti-material rifle laying spread across a cloth beside a small campfire not twenty feet from the remains of a nearly headless zakkeg. After cutting off the beast's ear, he returned to the rifle, stopping as he passed the fire to check the skinned and gutted corpse of some small rodent roasting above it on a spit. Satisfied that it wasn't yet quite done, he returned to Tracyaat'ika and continued cleaning it.
So he lay, two miles further out from the beast he had gone to find several hours prior, just behind the crest of an embankment a few feet outside a treeline, the barrel of Tracyaat'ika, the massive H-TKT Anti-Material Rifle usually stored aboard his ship, extending a few feet over the embankment. He wasn't particularly trying to hide, only partially concealed by shadows cast by the trees and a large bush beside him, dressed only in simple, dark cargos and a grey shirt that clung to him like saran wrap, primarily because it was the largest shirt he could find. Most of the wildlife left him alone, as he'd been completely silent for nearly twenty minutes at this point, and only something reminiscent of a kath hound had attempted to jump him. Now they left him alone as well as he waited for the massive beast he had been tracking to come out into the open. All he'd done, really, was give the hounds a reason to go near the place the zakkeg had taken residence, and he knew the ornery creature would come calling to kick them off his turf.
Crack.
Unmoving, Raynes' eyes shifted slightly to trace the sound of a small twig snapping under pressure. A small, furry woodland creature half the size of his head with giant ears and big teeth climbed over a rock and crept towards the prone Mandalorian form, stopping a few feet from his face. "Any closer, and you're lunch, furball." It stopped, and gave him an inquiring look. Raynes glowered at it. It didn't move, he bared his teeth and growled. It back up on its hind legs and did the same. "Fine. You can stay. But I'm not moving, either, so deal with it, Jim."
A few minutes later, much to Raynes' chagrin, Jim circled around behind him, climbed onto his leg, and crawled up until coming to a stop on his shoulder blade. Any other day, and Te Naast would have probably just eaten the creature right then and there, live and unskinned, but right now, he wasn't about to let emotion break discipline. Not for a rodent. "You're pushing your luck, friend."
Returning his full attention to the reason he was out here, he continued to wait for his quarry to turn just a little bit either way so he could see something, anything other than its back. He didn't doubt Tracyaat'ika would punch through the back plate, but he didn't want to chance not hitting something vital without knowing exactly where the shot would go. Eventually, Jim curled up and fell asleep on Raynes' back, which only further made him want to just roll over and see what kind of reflexes the rodent had, but he remained motionless, albeit with a very, very displeased look on his face. In time, however, all thoughts of maiming small, furry creatures horribly were replaced by total focus as the zakkeg turned fully around and began surveying its surroundings, likely for any more of the pack to try and invade its territory again. Quickly, yet smoothly, Raynes adjusted a dial on the scope, paused, drew in a breath, and gently squeezed the trigger on the exhale.
It was a beautiful sound, really, if you valued such things, and most likely terrifying if you didn't, the massive boom of the exceedingly powerful slug-thrower that echoed for miles all around. Raynes was fairly certain he felt a claw dig through his leathery skin as Jim disappeared with blinding speed, most likely under the impression that the world was ending. Returning his eye to the scope with a certain two-fold satisfaction that he had not only just completed his hunt, but also permanently traumatized a small, furry rodent that had earned his ire. He watched, motionlessly, as the round traveled the distance, impacting its target just below the eye-socket a few seconds after being fired, as the mighty creature crumpled like any other lifeless corpse, as the hounds returned to feast on their fallen enemy shortly after in a bitter irony that held true in most aspects of life he had seen in his years. A few minutes later, Raynes drew in a slow, deep breath and sighed. It was time to leave. Then again, why not wait, take in the scenery for awhile longer? It was calming, and that was definitely something he needed as of late.
Crack.
Shifting his attention to the side again, Raynes wasn't sure if her should have been surprised or if he should respect the tiny creature's boldness. "Well, you're persistent, I'll give you that." Reaching into the small pack resting beside him, he pulled out a small bag of dried, and completely unidentifiable meat. It was rancor, according to Sasha, and though he didn't doubt she could bring one down, he did wonder where she had found one. He tore a piece off, before offering the other half to Jim. "Try it, it's carnivore."
-----
Disassembled anti-material rifle laying spread across a cloth beside a small campfire not twenty feet from the remains of a nearly headless zakkeg. After cutting off the beast's ear, he returned to the rifle, stopping as he passed the fire to check the skinned and gutted corpse of some small rodent roasting above it on a spit. Satisfied that it wasn't yet quite done, he returned to Tracyaat'ika and continued cleaning it.
