Day 4
Cave in the Mountain of the Hot Springs.

Bohoc looked up from the warm pool.  He'd just been thinking about food, and
there it was walking straight towards him!  With a swift downward beat of
his wings, he launched himself towards the prey.

His jaws snapped around the horse with a satisfying chunk.  He was surprised
by a momentary dizziness....

****
"Chohouka!"  The strange Nomad yelled out, his hand swiftly moving to draw
his blade.

Andahar's was swifter, and his sword point was leveled at the scout's neck
before the man's sword had been pulled loose.   "Bohoc is my dragon."

The clear threat of the blade at his throat and the burning in Andahar's
eyes told Kelasha that he was better off with his life then trying to avenge
the death of his horse.

Kelasha backed off slowly, shaking his head to clear the dripping water from
his eyes.  He looked at the man in front of him and recognized the double
swords.  "My apology young chief...but Chohouka!"  His eyes slid towards the
dragon who was happily sharing his meal with the three other dragons.

<*Bohoc!*>  Andahar took a moment to scold his soul-mate, <How am I going to
afford another horse??  That wasn't some stray!  How could you?*>

<I'm sorry, my rider, but we were hungry....>  Bohoc said, though his
mind-tone was anything but apologetic.  In fact he was rather oddly gleeful.
<Oh, all right!  I will replace horse.>

Andahar's eyes refocused on the bewildered and fearful man before him.
"Bohoc is sorry for eating horse -- he will replace.  I am Andahar of
Anavasha, rider of dragon Bohoc, and myself and other two are dragonrider
from Cleft Warren, Trevor rider of Trissana and Ankara rider of Eness,
joined to Ivee.  We come with open hand and open heart."  Andahar launched
into the formal greeting.

Hearing the familiar words, even spoken with that odd dialect, seemed to
relax the man who in turn offered his greeting,  "Kelasha scout for
Aloniqua.  Welcome to tribe land, come be guest."

Ankara gasped when he said the name of his tribe, but the three riders
followed the nomad around the hot spring.  At the far end of the cave, right
where the light from the cut openings in the cave walls no longer reached,
they found some unlit torches and a banked fire.

Blowing expertly on the fire and adding some kindling brought a bright blaze
which he used to light two torches.  He handed one to Ankara... assuming
that she was the young chief's servant.  Ankara accepted the torch as
Kelasha led the way around a bend and through a narrow tunnel, followed by
Andahar.

Trevor beckoned Ankara to precede him and they stood for a moment, each
motioning the other to go first.

"Ankara... if you don't go we will lose our guide!"  Trevor finally said,
half-laughing in exasperation.  She smiled and acquiesced, moving swiftly to
catch up with the two men who had gone on without them.

At the end of the tunnel there was another sharp bend and then they found
themselves standing in a huge cavern -- which also had the same rectangular
openings carved out near the ceiling to let in light and air.

Kelasha extinguished his torch and placed it among the other waiting
torches.

The three dragonriders followed in amazement.  The cavern was filled with an
amazing assortment of items... bundles, sacks, and vessels of all shapes and
sizes.  These items seemed to be stored here.  As they passed them Andahar
could smell spices and other rich odors -- were these for food storage?
They passed reams of cloth -- many as brightly and richly colored as some of
the best that Ankara had displayed.

Andahar turned and looked at the young woman.  Her eyes were as large as
saucers as she looked around the cavern.

****
TAG Gabby... does this look familiar?  I know she left her tribe when she
was 8... but?

****
Bohoc/Amar

The hunger inside didn't abate, but what did he expect?  The horse had been
rather thin.  He growled and surprised himself at the intensity of his
feelings.  He had a desire to fly straight back to Cleft... now why would he
do that and leave Andahar and Trissana here?

He shook his head, as if trying to clear it.

<Bohoc?  Is there something wrong?>  Triss nuzzled him, gently.

<Just hungry,>  He growled again.

<Yes, that horse didn't have much meat on it,>  Triss agreed.

Bohoc/Amar puffed himself up, <You will not go hungry!  I can hunt for all
of us!>  Suddenly he was overcome by the need to find a herd of animals.  He
could almost taste them, as that deep hunger crawled through him.  It had
been a long time since it had consumed something -- again the odd thought
made him pull back a bit -- hadn't he eaten only that morning?

But the other two dragons also chimed in... a sudden wave of hunger came
from the very large dragon.  (Yes, I know, you are hungry Eness) Ivee calmed
her larger sister, (I am hungry, too.)

This was all that Bohoc/Amar needed to hear, and he pulled himself out of
the soothing warm water and out of the cave.

The storm had not reached full intensity yet, but it was close.  The dark
clouds billowed across the sky, pulled and torn by the buffeting winds.  It
was not safe to fly in weather like this, but Bohoc/Amar were driven by the
desire to hunt and kill and consume.  The need was so powerful that nothing,
not even Andahar's shocked summons could call them back.

The dark-green dragon launched into the wind, beating his wings fast to keep
from being smashed into the wall of the cliff.  He rose with the updraft,
and dashed through the sheets of rain.  He knew instinctively that the herd
animals would be gathered together, probably in a sheltered area.  He
scanned for such a place and was not disappointed when he saw the animals he
sought.  Yes, they were all together in the shadow of the cliff, protected
in part by a natural overhang.

The puny humans that guarded the beasts would be no match for him!  He
bugled his triumph as he dove for the nearest, plumpest ram.  He thrilled as
his claws grasped the animal cleanly.  His powerful wings lifted him away
before the humans could even react to his attack.  In a short time he had
returned with his prize.

<This is only your appetizer!>  He called out as he deposited the ram in
front of the waiting females before heading back out.

The storm was exhilarating!  Why should he cower in a cave when he could fly
against the wind?  The lightening and thunder roared around him, and his
voice sounded out to mingle with the rumble.  He flew hard, his eyes
searching for prey.  He spotted a herd of wild horses and he dove towards
them.

As he reached for one he remembered Andahar's words... he needed to replace
the horse he'd eaten.  What a challenge to catch a horse on the run without
damaging it!  The first he was not as careful as he wished and it squealed
as one claw ripped its side.  He decided that one would have to be eaten.
He crushed it in his claws and left it on a pinnacle to retrieve later.

The next also met with a similar fate, and was laid next to the first.

The third was a beautiful roan mare.  Perfect!  He dove for it, coming in
from slightly in front and to the side.  He grasped it in his claws, closing
them around its chest.  The mare bucked and kicked, but he had her!  He rose
for a moment and then teleported, to appear right above the area where
Andahar's mind told him that he had recently exited the cave on the other
side.

<*Bohoc!!  What are you doing??*>  Andahar's mind-voice called out in
surprise as the villagers scattered in alarm.  <*How could you teleport in
here without mental lock on image!?*>

<I always wanted to try that!>  Bohoc snorted half in disgust and half in
delight at the villagers' reactions.  He spotted some pens and gently
deposited the mare inside them, showing off his amazing control.  <I could
SEE where you were, my rider!>

Andahar just stared in amazement.  What was wrong with Bohoc?  He wasn't
normally this reckless!  But he had made good on the horse, much to
everyone's surprise, especially Kelasha's.

Bohoc/Amar rose on the downbeat of his powerful wings, setting anything that
wasn't nailed down flying through the air.  Thankfully only the dragonriders
were still standing under him when he did that maneuver, and though they
yelled at Bohoc/Amar, the dragon just teleported out of the village.

He gathered the dead horses and returned to the cave where the other dragons
still lounged in the pool of the hot spring.  He was exhausted, but
satisfied.  It had been difficult battling those strong winds, especially on
the return flight carrying the two dead horses.

When the young green dragon deposited the two horses, the other dragons were
elated.  Triss, however, had to ask, <*They weren't their horses now, were
they?*>

<*The horses?  No... The HORSES were WILD horses.*>  He chuckled, thinking
of the ram.

Triss regarded him oddly... but then shrugged and enjoyed the choicest part
of the horse that they shared.  She nuzzled him in appreciation and suddenly
she felt rather lightheaded and disoriented....

****
TAG John!

****
NRPG:  The dragonriders are in the village.  I assume that the chief will
probably address Andahar first in Nomadese and insist on their staying at
least overnight as his guest in the village.  Gabby, John... you can pick it
up from here as you wish.

****

Respectfully submitted by
Arlene Jacobs
AKA Andahar of Anavasha, rider of Bohoc of Cleft Warren.



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