Beef-It's What's For Dinner
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 10th December 2011
Characters: Sarban, Aivorn
Description: The steward and the Master Beastcrafter have a discussion about the Hold's herds.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 5, day 11 of Turn 6
"I have an idea of how to increase the number of the hold's herdbeasts," Aivorn said to the Steward. Being the master beastcrafter, all the hold's beasts were his responsibility to some degree, although his passion was runners.
"Oh? What's that?" He was all ears since they needed food to cover the Hold's growth after the gather.
"You know those western hills? They haven't been used for anything but random ovine grazing for the last decade or so. We could move a herd there and let them multiply in peace for a turn or two. The region is fertile and there's good grass," Aivorn explained his idea.
"Would we have the canines and such to protect them from the felines and wild whers?" That was always a concern in the Southern wilds.
"I have now. The hold's population has grown and it's time to grow the beastherds too. We haven't been able to use those hills because they are farther away and it was easier to protect herds closer to home," Aivorn said. The feline problem had been the reason why those hills had been emptied in the first place, a long time ago.
Nodding his head, Sarban started to think about it. "So the herds we send up there will be purely beef herds then?" Easier to justify that, than sending breeding stock so far out of mind.
"Yes, I don't think anyone would want to go there to milk the dairy beasts," Aivorn grinned. "With a few of the tougher bulls protecting the cows."
"I tell you what. Let's send up about a third of what we're thinking. See how they do after a few sevendays. Make sure they don't get attacked or anything. If that works, then we can put the rest up." Sarban had had a few reports, though he didn't know whether or not they were credible.
"All right," Aivorn agreed. "There's not been any serious reports of wild felines lately, just some single sightings. A suitably temperamental bull can take care of a single feline. It's the pack that's the most dangerous."
"Mmhmm..those females stick together when they're having babies. And the season's coming if I'm right." He looked over at the other man to see if he remembered correctly.
Aivorn nodded, affirming it.
"Feck, well we'll get the wherhandlers to be on the extra patrol and all that with Zandan. It's been good having more than one watchwher so we can have one on each wall." Sarban definitely liked more security after that fire at Red Rush. They had kept some of the men on after the Gather.
"Aye," Aivorn agreed. "I can talk with the wherhandler."
"Was there anything else?" He tried to rack his brain if there was anything he forgot.
Aivorn just shrugged. He couldn't think of anything they would have missed.
"If we do have an outbreak of feline issues, we're going to send the boys out to hunt. We could use some of those hides certainly." And the meat, even if it was lean meat.
"Aye," Aivorn nodded. "It's been a while since we last hunted felines."
Last updated on the January 12th 2012