Free Hunting (The Nine) by Viola Grace Page B

for Nik’s use. She wore it every moment of every day.
    Whistling, she dried her hair and picked out clothing to take with her during her next jaunt. She was going to need a few changes of clothing and far more knives from what she had seen of the Wilders.
    Tomorrow was going to be a fun day.
     
    Four men looked at her with surprise. One was huge and silvery grey, one was smaller but of the same species, and two had the ferocious countenance of the Wilders.
    She smiled brightly and said, “May I please see anything you brought with you?”
    They blinked.
    “I am Niika Baker, your guide and master hunter of Gaia. Please, your supplies?”
    Bemused, they opened their packs, and she rifled through them as quickly as possible. “Fine. What are you seeking in the wilds of Gaia?”
    One of the Wilders spoke. “I am Morro, this is Tidae, and we are biologists in search of some protein species that can be easily propagated in captivity.”
    She nodded. “How many people are you feeding?”
    Tidae cleared his throat. “Fifteen hundred? They need an animal-based protein at least once per week. Grown protein only gets us so far, and it has a detrimental effect on our instincts.”
    Niika nodded, a list of species beginning to form in her mind. “Fine. I can show you a few things that may suit you. Do you have a measurement of the facility you would keep them in? I am assuming that you want them to be self-propagating.”
    Morro cocked his head, “Not necessarily. We can butcher and store the larger animals quite easily.”
    She nodded. “Very well. There are a few species I will point out not to touch, but other than that, I can find some likely herds that could use some culling. Stompers are especially easy to harvest if you don’t mind dealing with huge swaths of flesh.”
    Morro and Tidae looked at each other and nodded. “That will be a good start. We have records from our ancestors, and I was wondering if the same species still run free here. I will show you when we camp for the night.”
    The taller of the two grey men stepped forward and bowed low. “Miss Baker. I am Cavos vi Whyaner of the Stone people, this is my companion, Trusk er Vasku. We are historians in search of one of our ancient homes. I have heard that certain Gaians have a knack for locating the homes we once called our own.”
    She shrugged. “Fine. Where do you want me to take you?”
    They all huddled around a map of the area, and finally, Cavos circled one spot about fifty miles in circumference. “In here, I believe. What do you think?”
    She closed her eyes and reached out to press her hand on top of his. His city, she was looking for his city. His hand moved with hers to the north, and when she opened her eyes, the point on the map was glowing with red ferocity. She dug her finger to the precise spot. “There. That is where we will start the search. It is rich in plains and forest animals as well as some of the more esoteric plants that are probably on your list. We have to go in by skimmer. It will take too long otherwise, and with that crevice there, we would never be able to hike it.”
    The Wilders looked disappointed, but Morro nodded in agreement after he and Tidae shared heated looks. It was all that Niika needed to get things going.
    In ten minutes, the flight was registered, the gear was stowed and Niika was ready to give her companions the final word. “Gentlemen. We are going into the wild areas of Gaia. Only one word matters there. Mine. If you do not like to take orders, stay here. I will get you in and out alive and in one piece. This is your final chance.”
    The men looked at each other and filed into the skimmer, taking seats and strapping in.
    Grinning, Nik jumped in and took the pilot station. “Let’s get this party started.”
    She fired up the engines, checked the backup power cells and lifted off, taking them to the area that glowed red in her mind. There was nothing else for it, she had begun a hunt, and she had to