The Path of Control
Loud noises. Smells of excitement. We’re going outside.
Gorsh walked freely around the ship, taking comfort in its gray wall, white ceilings and black floors. This was his home and his master was here. These facts were all Gorsh needed to be happy. Gorsh walked back to his room and found Melsh and Gleesha pacing. They too could sense the excitement.
Who knew what would await them outside? New air with new scents. New blood to smell and new prey to hunt. More opportunity to be praised by his master and Gorsh savored those chances to please more than the wonderful food Ric-Lam fed him.
Gorsh fiercely protected his master, as was his duty, trusted Ric-Lam with his life, and knew that Ric-Lam felt the same.
Melsh and Gleesha became loud with excitement, as did Gorsh as they heard the footsteps of the masters approaching. Their door opened to find Ric-Lam, Va-Dol, and Le-Tor waiting with smiles on their faces.
“Come!” yelled Ric-Lam. “Join us in another hunt!”
Gorsh and his companions followed in lock step behind their master to the platform. Gorsh felt a tingle envelope his body as the scene changed from the familiarity of his ship to these new surroundings. He was disoriented for a moment as dozens of new scents assaulted him.
Crops. Soil. Warm air. Kersh people. Strangers. Excitement. Fear.
He watched as Rena-Kam gave orders to his master. Ric-Lam lad him away from Melsh and Gleesha and the others in the hunting party.
“Gorsh! Find strangers!” he yelled.
The master said more but Gorsh was already running towards the outsiders. He could smell their foul stench through the sweet smell of the grain; a pungent mix of lilac, elderberries and fear. This outsider was very afraid.
Gorsh quickened his pace, as the scent grew stronger. His stomach growled and his mouth watered for tonight he knew he would feast. He could sense his master was too far behind him. He slowed until Ric-Lam was in view.
“Gorsh, go!” He heard his master call. He followed the order instantly. His stomach now burned with hunger. Food. Prey. Eat. Must eat. The stench of the outsider was easy to follow. A new scent wafted in the air. Small prey. Tiny footsteps. Fresh meat for an easy meal. Gorsh’s stomach growled again. He was drooling.
The instinct to kill the small prey and eat was almost too much for him. Fight the instinct. Control it. Feed later. Make the master proud. Gorsh never stopped running toward the outsiders as his mind fought his urge to find and kill the small prey. He heard the footfalls of his master getting closer. Gorsh shook the thoughts of the small prey from his mind and ran full speed toward the outsiders.
A loud noise stopped him in his tracks. Smoke. Fire. Burning flesh. Blood. A scream from one the masters. Anger in the air. Rage. More fear from the outsiders.
Gorsh could feel the fury from his master, Ric-Lam and together they followed the trail of the outsider. They caught up with him in a clearing. Melsh, Gleesha and their masters were already holding 3 outsiders. Gorsh bit into the leg of the outsider they were chasing and tore off a lump of flesh. The outsider fell to the ground and Ric-Lam kicked him. In the clearing Va-Dol and Le-Tor each held one outsider while a third was crying on the ground. The master dragged him near to the other outsiders.
Gorsh could see Va-Dol pulling out the eye of the intruder he held. The stench of fear dominated the air. The intruder showed no control in front of the masters and screamed loudly. Soon the intruder fell silent. The blood, bone and flesh were very tempting and Gorsh’s stomach growled again. Food. Hunger. Eat. Melsh ran over and began tearing at the flesh of the fallen intruder. Gorsh stood his ground and made sure his master was protected.
The outsider held by Le-Tor pulled out a shiny object and hurt the master’s hand. The outsider ran but Le-Tor caught him and cut off his legs. He dragged him back to their original spot in the clearing. The outsider screamed like the other and soon Le-Tor cut off his head. Before the body hit the ground, Gleesha was feasting upon it.
So hungry. Must eat. Kill. Prey. Food. Eat. Control. Gorsh fought back his pangs of hungers and maintained his position. He growled menacingly at the 2 outsiders he was guarding.
The one outsider Gorsh had tracked pushed up onto his master. Gorsh’s legs muscled instantly tensed and were poised to attack when his master yelled, “Stay!” The outsider spoke to the master and pointed to the other outsider. The master cut the outsider and pulled out his heart. He then laid it at the feet of the other outsider.
Fresh Meat. So hungry. Eat now. No. Keep control. Gorsh drooled openly over the one outsider still alive. He waited.
Rena-Kam entered the clearing and each master spoke to him. Rena-Kam came over and patted Gorsh and said, “Good Gorsh.” in his ear. Gorsh moved away from the outsider as Rena-Kam spoke. The outsider cried and answered Rena-Kam.
Hunger. Food. Prey. Eat. Wait more.
Rena-Kam cut the outsider slowly. Blood poured from him and tasty flesh clung to the knife. So hungry. After Rena-Kam spoke to the masters, Ric-Lam approached Gorsh with a very approving look. “Good Gorsh! Eat!”
As soon as the words left his master’s mouth, the hunger exploded within Gorsh and he voraciously feasted on the remains of the outsiders. Food! Eat!
The master patted Gorsh again and then took away the remains of outsiders. They all walked to a city with new scents wafting in the breeze.
Excitement. Food. Happiness. Young ones.
Gleesha and Melsh lapped up some scraps of food from the ground but Gorsh never wavered from following his master.
The masters stopped by a platform and put the outsiders on it. Gorsh could sense the air was still with respect for another man who spoke to all. All remained quiet while this man spoke.
After the man finished, Rena-Kam and his master approached. They patted him, scratched behind his ears and gave him special food treats. Gorsh was happy to have pleased his master. He ate slowly as Gleesha and Melsh watched with hunger in their eyes.