AHuntersDream by Viola Grace Page B

didn’t you come to me then?”
    Iris sighed. “I could see the location that I found you in and an aura of danger but nothing solid. I didn’t see you, but when they asked me to look for you, I went straight to the spot of my dreams and there you were.”
    The young woman blinked. “Oh. Thank you for heeding your dreams.”
    “It is my job. Now, we are entering an open area and there is at least one other beltharo in the area. The rhesh are going to run and you are going to have to hang onto the saddle ridge with all of your might. We are going to move fast.”
    Galria looked nervous, but when she nodded, Iris sighed and shifted in her saddle.
    Teddi’s four ears swivelled as he took in what she was about to do. He jerked his wide head at Torth and the other beast perked up and they both rippled into their running postures.
    The fur of the rhesh sleeked back and they crouched low.
    “Here we go.”
    She nudged Teddi lightly with her heels and both beasts leapt forward. The howl of the beltharo was unmistakable and while she crouched over her beast’s neck, Iris prepared her bolt gun.
    The moment that they cleared the woods and entered the open space of the grassland, the beltharo broke from cover.
    It was fast, scaly, clawed and wore a crest of feathers that showed it to be a female and probably very hungry.
    Iris sighed at the necessity of wounding the animal, but as it gained on them, there was no choice. Teddi ran flat out across the plain, his muscles bunching and extending with every great leap.
    Iris turned in her saddle and took aim at the bounding predator. Timing the shot with the cadence of Teddi and the beltharo, the bolt flew free and lodged in the female’s crest, paralyzing her instantly. She couldn’t even howl.
    As the huge animal skidded to a halt, Iris pulled Teddi to a halt, bringing Torth in with him.
    “Why aren’t we going?” Galria was terrified.
    “I cannot leave her wounded. I either kill her or remove the bolt. No hunter leaves an animal defenceless and injured.” Iris turned Teddi back toward the beltharo and they walked up to the locked predator.
    Iris dismounted and moved swiftly to the scaly head. At the base of the crest, where she had fired her bolt, was the nerve centre of the animal. “Don’t speak of what you are about to see. It would not go well for you.”
    Iris charged up her psychic knives and plunged them into the beast’s brain, causing it to black out.
    The moment that the animal was completely still beneath her, she retracted her knives and worked the bolt out of its skull, pressing the hole closed with her fist.
    When Iris turned and wiped her bloody hand on her trousers, she saw Galria’s appalled expression.
    “Yes, that is right. You were saved by a morinial. Now, I will get you home and you need never speak of it again.”
    Galria’s lips pressed closed and she straightened in her saddle.
    Iris fought her amusement and regained her own mount. With a low hum to Teddi, they regained their speed and continued their way through the forest and to the roads that would help Galria get home.
    Her family was relieved to see her and Iris was handed a small bag of coins. Galria’s father nodded. “Thank you, hunter.”
    Iris inclined her head in response. “It is what I do.”
    The moment Galria was clear of the rhesh, Iris wheeled her beasts and galloped into the sunset. There was no sense waiting to be invited to the party. Now that Galria knew what she was, there was no way that the invitation would ever appear.
    With the coins in her vest next to her skin, she returned to her home. It had been a long day and she really needed a good night’s sleep. Who knew what dreams the next day would bring?

Chapter Two
    Her mother interrupted Iris’s morning tea. “Iris, did you really kill two beltharo yesterday?”
    Iris sipped and blinked at her mother. “Did you really substitute low fat for all of Father’s cream?”
    Ravon Markee blinked in shock. “How did you