Just Another Day

Food was becoming an increasingly delicious topic for Shanku as the earliest of harvests came at the end of spring, although she found herself trying to compliment her salads with as much grain and heavy items as possible because they were just too light for her level of activity. There were only so many beets, nettles, and carrots she could eat before screaming. Spring began to intensify until summer was around the bend and it was time to take a much deserved break from all the hard work from the beginning of the year. As the longest day of the year arrived, so did the full blooms of the wisteria, and the start of the summer games.

Shanku eagerly awaited the solstice celebration as that's when the Scissortail guard would evaluate hopeful young cubs. Many other professions also wagered on prospective apprentices, and eventually the Wisteria Festival had become known as the "hysteria festival" as sub-adults worked themselves half to death in hopes of getting a good master.

"I don't remember it being this hectic last year," Shanku commented to Katari as they walked up to the shrine, each carrying a small package.

"Last year we didn't have to compete," Katari remarked.

"Precisely what kind of apprenticeship can a hunter get?" Shanku asked.

"Long, big game hunts," Katari replied. "Until now, the most I've been able to do is get a deer about every month or so. If I can prove my skills out in the games, I might can get selected by a master that will teach me how to get larger creatures, like minocentaur and huge hogs. Which is why I, like many others, am going to leave an offering at the shrine and hope the forest blesses my endeavors."

"Why would the forest bless you to kill some of its denizens?" Shanku asked with a raised eyebrow.

"We don't just idly take, you know," Katari replied. "Being a hunter has a lot of responsibility. We have to show respect to our kills, dress them the right way, leave certain parts behind to feed the scavengers who help maintain the population's health, knowing when to take a creature or let it be, and help keep the living healthy by giving them good food and helping the injured ones, or killing the ones too injured to continue. Otherwise, they may spread diseases or attract very unwelcome scavengers. Being able to take the largest challenges isn't just about a big trophy and proof of strength, it also shows you've learned how to do your job exceptionally well."

"Fancy shepherds," Shanku teased.

"Shepherds don't have as much risk of getting gored or mauled," Katari said flatly.

"Depends on what you shepherd," Shanku said. "Cattle have a habit of it, including minocentaur."

Katari groaned. "You never give in on anything."

"And what warrior would I be if I did?" Shanku grinned.

"A wise one. Even warriors know when a retreat is recommended."

"You got me on that one," Shanku shrugged. "You win."

"What did you choose to leave as an offering?" Katari asked.

"Something I'm not tired of eating," Shanku said with resignation. "I don't suppose it'd been nice if I left a beet stew considering how much I dislike it right now."

"It smells good," Katari commented.

"It's mushroom bread, slathered in fat, salt, and cheese. It's a bit of a test of willpower not to devour it before getting to the shrine. What did you bring?"

"Something hard for me to resist too. A good slab of cured ham."

"Maybe the forest will at least grant us a minimum of a passing glance then!" Shanku giggled.

The shrine at the top of the hill was already laden with many wrapped parcels, each smelling as delicious as the next one. Shanku gulped nervously and placed hers on a free patch of ground.

"A passing glance may be too much to ask," Katari murmured. Each bowed their head a moment with their hands pressed together before them, begging a silent prayer for good favour at the games before they began to make their way back to the Scissortail den. Tomorrow would decide the fates of many nervous cubs.