Branding

It was a hand or two at least of the most back breaking .. spine twisting ... sweaty-dirty-bloody-burnt hair moments in the year of a Tuchuk. The days were hot and bright. The dust was heavy and clung to everything .. because everything was either covered in sweat-urine or blood. The scents were pungent .. even to a Tuchuk's experienced nose. The work made even the best rider's muscles scream in agony. Men were short tempered the kaiila were worse. The bosk .. a close third on bad attitude.

There was my herd .. which was extensive in itself. Not only had I tended them well .. but my time as Ubar had increased their numbers. Pacu and Salukaii's which were over half the size of mine. Trayu's which was at least a third of my own. There were Aunt's few hundred head .. and even Aod had a few she asked me to see to. A man named .. Euro ... had recently lost his leg in a run in with a bosk. He had no family other than those he himself cared for so I and the men in his Or showed up to do his branding for him. Each man had their own bosk .. and then pitched in to help those with larger herds. Even at a neck breaking pace .. it would take a few days to separate the herds from the bulk of bosk .. and then get to branding.

There were fights .. a lot of fights. In the separation of the herds sometimes things got heated ... "my she bosk had twins" .. "well no that is my calf and it goes with this she bosk that is mine." Men with loose branding irons that did not always pay attention to the she bosk's brand. To them it was only a little like stealing .. to the owner ... it was a lot like stealing. There were fights born of short tempers .. misunderstandings that never got a chance to be examined before testosterone and adrenaline took over. For those not involved it provided welcomed entertainment in the middle of the day .. a chance to grab a bota of water and offer a few wagers.

The Healers were kept busy .. there were exponentially more cuts-gouges-slices-broken bones-deep bruising- and twisted appendages. The Leather workers were hot on the Healer's trail for having more work. Not a day went by that I did not tear-rip or puncture my clothing or gear. Every loop-braid- and stitch was put to the ultimate test of endurance. Those better prepared and more experienced helped pick up the slack of those that were not. Though usually if the difference was born on anything but youth .. there were harsh lessons involved that would discourage further slack.

I spent most of my time sleeping near the fires that burned constantly out in the herds. There was just not enough time to return to my wagon .. to wash or visit with others. I did make it in a few times .. a few moments here and there ... that soon blended into the fury and blur of the branding season.