Chapter 11: Becoming a Ranger

It took a few weeks to get things sorted out. Almost half of the colony decided to stay in the home trees. I spent a lot of time in debriefings about what I knew of the Tron. Of course the colony had the job of cleaning up the mess I had made but they did not seem to mind. A month after the Cariss were taken away I was helping Mr Mabil up north.

We were watching and protecting a Lenolyn female as she gave birth. Several males had made threatening postures when we arrived but I walked straight to one, “we are here to help and protect.”

It snorted and turned its head until one large eye looked at me. It finally nodded and turned back to the distressed female. I moved around the edge smoothly with Mr Mabil until the ground began shaking. I stirred and turned to look at the female Lenolyn giving birth, “shit.”

Mr Mabil looked at me as I lifted the Tron rifle and started away from the birthing circle. I saw the head and shoulders of the Rex before it moved around the huge bush between us. It roared and lunged towards me and I lifted and fired the rifle through its mouth. I froze as its whole head shattered and the body dropped to the ground convulsing and twitching.

A male Lenolyn was suddenly at my shoulder and snorted before bumping me and turning to move back to the others. I watched it walk away and Mr Mabil chuckled, “you made a friend.”

I sighed, “now I need to skin this monster.”

He grinned before turning to go back to patrolling around the female. I hesitated before following and an hour later the new member of the Lenolyn clan was on her feet. After the small herd moved away I went back and started skinning the Rex as Mr Mabil watched. He helped carry the rolled up hide to the utility vehicle. We saw the scout ship landing at the colony as we headed back.

Mr Mabil helped carry the huge Rex hide. We used a hover cart and I started pulling it towards Mr Perry’s house. Three people were out in front Mr Perry, Mr Harris and a tall older woman in the uniform of a Ranger commander. She smiled, “hunting?”

I shook my head, “protecting a Lenolyn while it gave birth. I think we need to check their intelligence.”

She nodded and glanced at the others before looking at me, “actually I came to see you. I have reviewed your tests and your qualifications.”

She pulled a small case out and opened it to show the shiny emblem of a ranger, “welcome to the Rangers.”