Dale Thacker Aurthor

Tag: nature

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                I give all my good byes to Tom and Sue, I truly hated leaving them, at least I know they will be safe. It would be nice to live in paradise and not worried about being killed. But North Mountain, has always been home, there is no place like home. It’s a little before dark as I head out. I don’t want to cross the county line, until after. The back country road, divides the counties.  It’s a moonless and starless night, but bears are nocturnal and I can see just fine.

                It’s now pitch-black outside, as I cross the county line, I saw a truck go down the road with a dog box on it, just before I crossed the road. I need to make good time so I can cross over Stone Coal Gap Road, at least 2 hours before daylight preferably longer than 2 hours. It has been snowing here, making travelling a little slower, I already know I won’t make it the whole distance. I decided I would just spend the day at Tom’s old den, when I get there, I was having going have to stop there, to get what all Tom had left me anyway. Upon entering, I was remembering, when I first met Tom, and he was sitting there waiting to die. All the emotions, good and bad, were flowing though me. The marijuana had changed Toms life, but he was able to get off of it. Then during chase season, when we turned the tables on the dogs. We just left them stranded up the tree. Best part of that day was without a doubt, meeting Sue. I was as determined she would be Toms, as she was, that she would be mine. A little trickery, and she fell for Tom. I’m just so blessed to have them both in my life. They have giving me a purpose in life, since I have no mate. Without them in my life now, what would my life be like?

                I don’t even know what Tom had left for me, but I’m about to find out. I hope there is some food for me here. I,m now be getting hungry, after that trip back here in the snow. I started to look around the den, and there is a whole yearling, he left for me, also in the cupboard, there were 6 strawberry rhubarb pies, I was in heaven now, thanks Sue. As I was preparing the deer backstrap, I was just thinking tomorrow is Saturday, and all the hunters will be out. I need to just stay put here, until tomorrow night, as though there is no hunting on Sunday, it will be safer for myself, Lucy, James, and Sophia. It would be reckless of me leaving scent going up to our den. So, I have Toms den all to myself, until after dark tomorrow night. I have all I need inside of the den, So I don’t need to go outside. The good thing is, it is continuing to snow; it’s hiding my track so, the hunters and hounds can’t track me here. As I’m preparing the backstrap, there is porridge, collard greens, and several pounds of bacon. I put the collard greens and bacon on to cook, but decided to leave the porridge until morning. The den is smelling, as if Sue was here cooking. I’m going to miss those two. Ever since meeting Tom I have had a purpose in life, I’m just hoping that doesn’t change now; with the loss of Oliver. But even though James, will be in our same den this winter, I consider myself as the boar of the den now, that Oliver is dead.

                Supper is done and I dig in, everything is delicious for the main course, I had popped 1 of the strawberry rhubarb pies in the oven to warm up. Heated it taste almost as good, as when Sue pulls one straight out of the oven. This den just brings back so many great memories, and some that wasn’t so great, when I first met Tom. I still get sad thinking about him sitting right here, stating he was waiting to die. I have 5 more strawberry pies; I should I eat them all I’m thinking.

                The next morning, I go to the entrance of the den, boy this is one hell of a doozie of a storm, there is almost 3 feet of snow, and it is still coming down. I knew it would be a week or 2, before anyone would be hunting, so I decided to go ahead and head to the Sophia’s den. It’s been a week now, since I’ve been there.  I cooked breakfast; I’m having the rest of the bacon and porridge it’s so delicious, well there’s pies left so I dig in to them. I guess now is as good a time as any to head home to our den. I grab rest of the food and start towards the den. This storm is a storm to remember, as I’m trekking my way to the den, it’s a whiteout blizzard condition. It’s a good thing bear has a good sense of direction, or I’d never find our den. It’s very slow going, my plan is to get to Stone Coal Gap, before I start hunting for deer, then If I kill one or 2, I can get the belongings that Tom left me to the den, and then myself and James can come back for the deer.

                I finally made it to the road, and there are 5 deer right on the edge of the road. It was the easiest kills I have ever made. It was more like hunting possums, I walked over to them, and 1 big swipe they were dead. I guess myself and James will be making several trips to the road. Yes, I did kill all 5 of the deer, a bear must eat and get fat, this time of the year. I take everything Tom left me to the den it, doesn’t look like anyone is home, I also see no tracks outside of the den in snow. I go inside, and I find everyone safe and sound, taking bear naps. Sophia is the first one to wake up, she said I did not expect you back, this is the storm of the century. I figured you would stay with Tom and Sue, at least until the storm was over. I tell her I needed to be here, now that I’m the boar of the den. I tell her how I got 5 deer laying down at the road, I am going to wake James up to help me, to go and get them back to the den. Then I showed her the 4 strawberry rhubarb pies that Sue had left me. She said that’s amazing they each can have one for supper tonight. Then she says James knew the storm was coming, so he had killed 3 deer prior to the storm. Also, you know your sister, she fished all the time before the storm, we were trying to be prepared. So, we have plenty to eat until time to go into hibernation. I was pleasantly surprised, that everyone had prepared for the storm and hibernation.

                I wake James and Lucy, they were very glad to see me, and Lucy said I wasn’t expecting you back during this storm. I tell them, that being the boar of the den, I had to make my way back to the den, come hell or high water, well snow. James tells me he had killed the 3 deer, and Lucy had caught 10 baskets of fish. I tell James, let’s go and get the 5 deer laying down on the road. Lucy said, she would go also. 3 bears walking in all this snow, looked like a snow plow went down off this mountain. We each grab a deer and took to the den. Once there Lucy said, her and James would go and get the last 2. She said just sit here and relax, with Sophia; you have already had a long day.

                Sophia was asking how Tom and Sue were doing. I tell her that they were ready to move to a new county, that doesn’t allow bear hunting, when I got to their den. They were moving due, to both their neighbors was killed, the same day that Oliver was killed.  We took a nap and were ready to go to their new county come dark. It was a long night getting their belongings there. We spent the night in a very small shelter. I found them a den on our first full day there, but I didn’t find until almost dark. So, it was several hours after dark before I got back, to the small shelter, that they spent their 1st night in. We stayed in the small shelter the 2nd night, then, the next day they moved all their stuff to the den. Tom and Sue were extremely happy with their new den. They both wanted me to stay, but I told them I knew they was safe, and I had to get back to y’all, since I was the boar of the den now.

                James and Lucy are back now, and we all clean and bag the deer to put in the freezer. While we are doing this, Sophia starts cooking some fresh backstraps, smashed taters, and put on 4 loaves of sourdough bread. Sophia has this den smelling wonderful. She finishes cooking about same time, that all the deer is in the freezer. We had a feast and after the feast Sopia tells Lucy, go and look in the oven, at what Sue had sent us for dessert. She said OMG, it’s her famous strawberry rhubarb pie. The smell when she opened the oven was delicious. Everyone enjoyed their own strawberry Rhubarb pie. Could it get any better than this? What does the rest of this winter and kill season hold for us? Will we all survive rest of this kill season? How long will this snow storm of the century snow last? So many questions but so few answers!

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  • Chapter 5 / Spring Time

    Spring Time

    It’s now spring time and the weather is beautiful, there is a slight crispness to the early morning air. The trees are no longer bare, they have different shades of green showing up everywhere. These fresh new growth leaves are so delicious Ben says to Lucy. Yes, the leave is delicious, but yum these flowers are so sweet and delicious.  They are enjoying all the fresh leaves and flowers, then Lucy happens to find a honey bee hive. She tells me to come over that she found some deliciousness. I come over and she has already dug in, the bees are all over her in a swarm. Fortunately, bees don’t have the same effect on bears as humans. They are more of an annoyance for them, then a true pain in the ass. I said, save me some, she said it’s a very large hive it’s plenty for all. They eat to their heart content, Lucy said, we will go get a large container, we will take all the deliciousness back to the den. They were cautious, not to harm the bees, so they can start producing more honey for them.

    As we get back to our den, Sophia is so happy seeing that we have 10 gallons of honey and honeycomb. We tell her we probably ate a gallon a piece. She said y’all will probably be sick, from that much honey. She was right we both just felt blah, the rest of the day. Sophia places the honey, in smaller containers to keep for future use. She has some frozen berries, so she made four large cobblers, with some of the honey, and fried us some possum for supper tonight. She had collected some morel’s mushrooms that were so delicious with the possum.

    The next day Sophia says let’s go visit Angel, and her family, she wants to take her some of our deliciousness’s, she had a gallon can of honey, she filled up for them. Lucy and myself are overjoyed; it’s been a couple weeks since we have seen James and Luna. Lucy and myself decided we would take them a basket of fish, so we grab the basket and head down to the stream. The pools were loaded with native trout, it only took us less than a half hour, and our basket was overflowing. We took the basket back to our den, and cleaned all the fish, and placed them in a large bag to take to Angel.

    The next morning, we get up and have breakfast. Then grab all the fish, we are headed to see our friends. I’m very excited it’s going to be such a great day. Oliver tells us to go ahead of him, he would be following, he is going to try to get a deer, to bring to Angels family. I asked if I could stay back with him, so he could teach me, to be a big game hunter. Oliver was happy I wanted to stay with him, and participate on the hunt. Bear country is steep, Oliver tells me he has found if he runs a deer up into the steepness, he can catch the deer at the rock cliffs.

    We find 2 yearlings, he pointed at which direction, we should start this entrapment of these 2 yearlings. He said he would be right behind me, but this was my hunt. Oliver, I’m afraid they will get away from me. Oliver then said that’s why it’s called hunting. There has been a many deer that have outsmarted me, said Oliver. I take the lead; the deer is headed straight up to the steep rocks. One of the deer cuts to the right, Oliver said he would take the one to the right. I continued chasing mine. He got up to the rocks, I swiped at the deer with my paw. It didn’t kill it, I swiped again, then I bite her in her head, with my jaws the deer was now dead. A few minutes later, Oliver comes over to me, he congratulated me on my first big game kill. I said, Well guess we will take these deer to Angel. Oliver then said we only have 1 deer; he said, his deer had gotten away from him. I was surprised that Oliver didn’t get his deer, but that’s hunting, I guess.

    Upon entering Angels den Sophia, Angel, James, Luna, and lucy was sitting around talking. Angel said she was so glad they had come over, we have been a little down, y’all have given us the pickup we needed. She said that Samuel and Maverick had come by a few days ago, they had taking some of her food. They didn’t rummage and tear anything up, they only said a couple cuss words. She said it was the most pleasant meeting; they have had with them for the past year. But it sucks they took some of our food. Ben speaks up, look here Angel I got this here yearling doe, for y’all all by myself. Sophia said What son I’m so proud of you on your first deer kill.

    Ben spoke up and said all us cubs, will go out hunting and find some game for y’all. Lucy, Luna, and James were all for this. Let’s go to possum holler says James. Once out of the den Luna says, I know where there are several yearling deer. Ben, you got your first deer, maybe we all can go and try to get a deer or 2. All the cubs were happy about this. Luna said Hey Ben you come with me, over to next holler and James and Lucy can go into this holler. Ok sounds good James speaks up, I’ve never killed a deer, tell me Ben how you did it. Ben says just get down below the deer, then try to run them up to the steep part of the mountains. When they get up to the rocks, they will have a hard time getting though them, that when you go in for the kill. James says that sounds easy enough. So, James and Lucy go down into the holler, before long they see a yearling, the chase is on. They pursue it all the way up to the rocks. James gives it a powerful blow knocking it down, he tells Lucy to go in for the kill. She goes in and bites the head of the yearling; the deer is dead. Lucy tells James how strong and awesome he is. Lucy, as she is telling James this, is looking at James all google-eyed.

    The two of them begin dragging the deer back to the den. They both are laughing and giggling and acting very differently, from the way they usually do. James ends up telling Lucy that she is a special bear, he is glad they have come to be such good friends. Lucy tells James, hey why don’t you come over to my den sometime, I have this special place to fish, the native trout is so much fun to catch, and is a delicacy. Fresh sushi is the bomb she said. James was all for this, as his parts of the woods, have good big game and small game hunting but no place to fish.  

    Ben and Luna over in their holler, they see 2 yearlings, Ben says I’ll take the one on the left, you try to get the one on the right. Luna says I don’t think I can do this. Ben says you got this I know you can do it. Just remember to get in below the yearling, then chase it up into the rocks, then you can go in for the kill. She said OK if you know I can do it, I can do it. We head down in the holler, we get below the 2 yearling deer, then the chase is on, Luna is fast, she is catching up with her deer, even before she gets to the rocks, with a big smack of her paw, she breaks the deer neck and the deer is dead. Ben is now chasing his up into the rocks, with a blow to the head, his deer is dead also. They begin to drag both deer’s back to the den. This was such a good day, Luna says I don’t feel depressed any more. You showing me I’m stronger than I thought I was, means so much to me. They begin to hear James and lucy in front of them. They are just giggling and laughing, they were not acting their normal selves. Luna tells Ben she thinks they may be falling in love, the way they are acting. She says she loves reading romance novels.

    The cubs get back to the den and shows Angel and Oliver the 3 deer, Oliver and Angel was so surprised. I thought y’all was going small game hunting. Ben says they were, but Luna thought she knew where some yearling deer was, since I knew how to big game hunt now. They decided it was time; they all try to do some big game hunting. Ben tells Lucy that he had heard, her and James laughing, and giggling, unlike he had ever heard them before. She began to blush and says yeah, they had fun together today.

    Oliver said, well it is time to head back to our den, James speaks up and said, Y’all stayed last time you were here, you know y’all always welcome, y’all might as well stay. Oliver says, he didn’t want to wear out their welcome. Angel said that could never happen. Well ok, if you sure it’s no bother. Lucy yells out thank y’all, I didn’t want to go home tonight.

    The next morning after having breakfast, we tell Angel goodbye. James and Luna are going to our den for the day. James was looking forward to spending some time with Lucy, he wanted to learn how to fish with her. As they are walking back to the den, James and Lucy are going at a slower pace, they have this love sick giggle. Ben tells Sophia, that is just sickening. Sophia says well one day you will understand.

    Once back at the den, everyone goes in except for Lucy and James. Lucy says this path here that goes to the stream; would you like to go down to the stream with me. Yes, I’m looking forward to it, says James. They walking down to stream side by side. This is the deep pool I’ve been telling you about, that’s loaded with native trout, are you ready to learn to fish now James. James states you know I’m a little tired right now, can we just sit here on the banks for a while, before we start fishing. Lucy said yes, that sounds like a perfect plan.

    As they set there and telling each other stories, holding paws, and giving bear kisses, by rubbing each other’s noses. They tell stories and are just laughing and giggling. Then Lucy was telling about how Oliver, had taught Ben to deer hunt, and how much he looks up to his dad [Oliver]. At this point James gets quiet and is a little withdrawn. I asked if he was ok, he said no he misses his dad [George]. I felt totally horrible, and was at a loss for words. James said it was ok; it wasn’t anything she had done; and that he has these moments. He said just hold me tight that will make me feel better. They gave each other a huge bear hug and just held onto each other.

    After we talked, we were getting hungry, and we decided it’s time to go fishing. Lucy dives in the pool and comes out, with an 8-inch native trout. Here James, is some of the best sushi, you have ever eaten. He said, it will be the first sushi, that I have ever eaten. James takes a bite and says yummy, but that is just an appetizer. Well, come on in, it’s easy just dive in, then swat at the fish with your paws, your claws will catch and hang onto the trout, as you swat at them. His first try was a beautiful 10-inch trout. Wow that’s fun James said. They fished and ate for over 30 minutes. James says this is so much fun, but I couldn’t eat another trout if I had to. Lucy says well let’s head back to the den.

    At the den Lucy and James are telling to Oliver and Sophia about how much fun they had fishing, down at the stream. They tell how they had just sat there and talked prior to fishing. Then Lucy says that she had mentioned to James, about you Oliver, and how you taught Ben to hunt deer, and how he had gotten quiet. James explained how much he misses his dad at times. Sophia asks for Lucy and Luna to come in the kitchen, to help her for a few minutes.

    While the girls were in with Sophia. Ben and James begin to play some games. Oliver goes in where the boys are playing and says to Ben and James looks like y’all are having the best time playing together. He says it almost like y’all are brothers. Oliver said when I was young bear, my best friend and I, we became blood brothers. He goes on to say, that they had made a small cut on their paws, then held their paws together and they bleed into each other. James says I would love to be your blood brother Ben, as James agrees. After becoming Blood brothers James is telling Oliver, thanks as he is talking to him, he says you know since we are brothers, that would almost make you, my dad. Oliver says you know I would love that. James says, me too.

    James and Luna spend the night, with their new family, the next morning, Ben and Lucy walks them home. James is singing in the woods, I haven’t been this happy since losing my dad. It’s all because of you Lucy and your family. Y’all are the best, I just feel at my best when I’m with you Lucy. Thanks for walking me home, I can’t hardly wait until I see you again. Well James, you make me smile, I’m the happiest when I’m with you. What you think about us being boar cub friend and sow cub friends. With that she said nothing, she just gave James a big bear kiss by rubbing noses. Ben and Lucy then walk back to their den. Ben says I guess Y’all are becoming a thing. Yes, I believe we are brother. How about you and Luna. Ben says we are just friends I do like her but just as friends. Well sis I’m happy you and James have hit it off so well.

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