My phone rang just about the time I was heading to the house for lunch. "Hello."
"Hey Lia, its Stan." The voice on the other end said.
"What's up Stan?" I asked sitting down on a bale of hay.
"My wife went out early this morning. Both her and the mare we got not long ago, headed towards the Ant people ruins in the valley." His voice wavered. "I was calling to see if you could head that way? I am getting a few people together to go have a look." His words were heavy with worry.
"Yes of course, I will grab some things and saddle up." I thought to add, " I will bring Chief I see if he can wind something."
"Thank you Lia!" He had said just before hanging up.
I looked up at Warrior's stall. He was standing there looking at me. "Who is missing?" He asked.
"Mackie, Stan's wife." I spoke. "You ready for a hunt?"
"Always my friend. Adventure is my middle name." He chuckled.
I laughed out right at that. That was a very true statement. Adventure and trouble were both his middle names. "I need to go get the med kit and a pistol. Plus wake up Chief if he isn't already up."
I headed back to the house. There I picked up the medical kit, canteen, pistol, and the Pendleton blanket. Walking into the living room, I seen that Chief wasn't next to the fire. Looking around the room at the sparse colorfully done furniture. Going threw that room to the sliding glass door, on the back porch I looked to find him laying in the sun. "Whoop!" I yipped, it was my call for his attention. He lifted his head and sat up to look back at me.
"We got a job." I sent him the message.
"Ah, what are we doing?" He stretched both front and back legs.
"Mackie is missing. She went on a ride to the Ant people ruins." I spoke while I packed the things in the saddle bag.
Chief said no more. He walked in the house and waited for me to head to the barn. Throwing the saddle bag over my shoulder, I hooked the holster to my 9mm on my belt and added a few magazines. Chief looked at me then to add. "Your rifle too." He knew that my hubs had got me a case that hooks to the saddle for my birthday. We lived in the wild, kinda like living in Alaska. But instead of massive bears and animals that wanted to kill you, there were cats in various sizes, snakes, feral dog packs, wolves and so much more. Not to mention, the humans who had decided to try to kill and steal.
Grabbing the rifle and its case, Chief and I headed back to the barn. Saddling up Warrior, adding the saddle bag, blanket and the rifle. I swung a leg onto Warrior. "Alright guys, lets do this." I spoke to them both.
"Well at least you brought the rifle this time." The Livestock guardian dog said with sass.
I rolled my eyes, this dog so much like my man. "Great observation, keep an eye on the place. We will be back in a bit."
Warrior and I took off toward the gate that lead out to the ruins. Chief keeping step along side. Getting through the gate, we crested the top of the hill. "Chief go on ahead and see what your nose says."
Chief nodded "I will strike if I smell something."