The Hunters
By Lonelyrider

James decides to provide for his family using his pet boar's rooting skills to hunt mushrooms in the forest that borders his lands.

Story Highlights:
Provider
Pet boar
HMOFA
Muscle
Man
Human
Beast mastery
Abundance
Success
Harvest

"Admiral, here boy. That's a good pig, Admiral. Will you help me find fresh mushrooms for Lonely & the kids today, Ad? I promise you a hearty share of the spoils if you're willing." James chortled happily as his huge tusked pet oinked and licked him in a friendly greeting. James was still sad that he'd lost his prized Akita a few years ago, who had been a gift from his now wife. His pet wild boar, Admiral, had grown utterly huge and was still with him due to the animal's longer lifespan. James harnessed his fighting pet & grasped the handle jutting up from Admiral's harness, letting the boar lead him at a fast amble across the lightly snowed ground of the couple's big backyard and towards the treeline thousands of feet away. Once there, James let Admiral lead him about as the boar sniffed and dug, hunting for the kinds of mushrooms he knew his master loved, knowing that James would reward him once he produced the prize. Admiral kept sniffing and led James to the base of a mossy oak, digging with his snout and tusks, and James knelt with a pleased utterance to discover a big patch of young edible mushrooms his pet his found. James quickly fed a big handful to a now very happy Admiral and collected almost all of the rest into his big sack he carried, leaving a few of the mushrooms for the forest animals to eat.
"Good boy! Go, again." James ordered softly, & his pet responded fast, obediently tracking another patch. This time Admiral oinked looking up at a tree, and James spotted his pet had smelled a bunch of tree mushrooms and he gathered them, leaving two behind. "Oh man boy, this is gonna be good, Lonely and the kids will love these. Man, I love shrooms! Oh, they smell so darn good. More boy, get me a few more." James ordered, feeding Admiral one of the big tree mushrooms, and the boar led him for a longer time now, as this section of the forest was bare. Admiral stopped at James's marked property line in the woods and gave a squeal, motioning with his head towards a massive patch of freshly plump mushrooms on the other side; these belonged to James's neighbor.
"Ahh...shit. So tempting, boy! Actually, I have an idea. Stay, please. Good boy." James gathered most of the huge patch of fungi into his sack and tossed a few big shrooms to Admiral, who gobbled them happily. To the tree above the fungus patch James tied a fat little sack of gold, and to that, affixed a tiny bright kerchief from his waistcoat pocket, to catch his neighbor's eye.
"I know Mr Dickson hunts pheasants, so my hope is he will be out here and spot this. There, payment for a fine crop." James mused happily, standing proudly with his hands rested on his hips as he surveyed his solution. James patted his pet fondly and made kissing sounds, and now the huge brutish boar trotted at his master's side as they were finished with their quest, James's sack being full of fresh edible fungi. The full sack feeling light in his massive burly arm, James trekked with his tamed swine back to his own manor and stable, patting Admiral and praising him as his groom came out to care for Admiral and James's numerous other animals.
"Ahh, good evening, sir. I've just fed and groomed the horses and ponies, & now it's Admiral and StormFeather's turns. Here you are." Alfred the groom placed a big bone with meat still on it on a dish for the boar, which he went to and started to eat, James handed his lighter burden to his old groom and took the man's heavier one; a side of beef for James's fearsome gryphon mount, whom had also been a fine present from James's love.
"Oh, thank you, sir." Alfred said as James swung the heavy beef side and impaled it on the sharp stake kept in StormFeather's paddock, greeting the sharp-witted and beautiful beast with a head pat and baby-talk as StormFeather bid hello to his rider before savagely tearing into the fresh meat James had just skewered for the gryphon to consume.
"Thank you Al, you take such good care of my babies. Well, my outdoor babies!" James teased with a guffaw, holding his toned stomach.
"Ahh sir, yes, you have other staff for the indoor ones. Here you are, we know how fond of these you get."
"Please, take some." James held out a few mushrooms in his big palm to his groom.
"Well...okay, just a few. Thank you, milord. I'm going to go prep Admiral's bath for when he's done eating. I'll make sure the beasts are settled in snug for the night."
James thanked his groom warmly again and went to greet his horse, who had whinnied a hello to him with his head out from his stable stall. James kissed the draft stallion's face fondly and got a lick on his own before saying a loving goodnight with an affectionate pat, and James carried the fat sack into his manor and slipped off his boots, out of respect for his wife's domicile and his staff. James hefted the sack into the kitchen and greeted his anthro wolf chef, who curiously went through it, seeing what his master had brought him; sometimes James's wife did the same using the market, and Chef Clancy enjoyed that that despite their money the two each liked to help provide in such a way.
"Fine specimens. Any thing in mind, or shall I surprise you, sir?" Chef Clancy asked.
"Hmm...can you do mushroom pizza for the kids, Lonely and I would enjoy anything you came up with, chef." James requested in his usual warm, friendly tone.
"Yes, I think the kids would enjoy that idea. For you and Lady LightningSword, I shall prepare a roast goose with mushroom gravy and stuffing for the main course. The pizza I'll make large and very mild, with lots of...these ones, yes. Excuse me, milord, I must get started on that right away."
"Thank you, Chef Clancy!" James pressed a few gold and silver coins into the wolf's hands, and the canid smiled, pleased.
"It is my pleasure to cook for your family, my lord. Bernadette, start by chopping these mushrooms, please! Seperate them by variety. I must begin the rest." Chef Clancy clapped loudly, signalling roders to his assistant, and James retreated with a humble and grateful bow and nod from the kitchen, in a grand mood with himself as he proudly strode to find his family as their dinner he'd helped secure was being readied for the night.






Photography/fine art credits supplied by & ty to: https://unsplash.com/photos/u5HYXoijOJ0