(Open. May turn into a series of threads with various winter and holiday themes)
Hauron Solus struggled to carry the heavy blaster rifle a little along with the weight of a jetpack. Kotii hadn't told his son the proper way to carry it at first but then showed him since the length of it exceeded the younger badger's height. "Why do I have to carry this?" The mikkian was still getting used to wearing armor. But his only other armament was a blurgg blaster pistol and that was nothing.
The Alor of House Solus on the other hand carried the sidearm that had helped with his early reputation as a bounty hunter and his own sniper blaster. Presently the two badgers were marching to a greater altitude. "You need to get used to the weight. Be glad the clan has the resources to spare." Kotii turned to look at the foundling as they walked. The man had told him things could get dangerous and be unpleasant. Still, the stubborn kid had said yes without hesitation, his mind made up. Now Hauron did his best to straighten up and pull the carbine across his chest in a sling.
"Why aren't we flying there?" Hauron asked curiously. "Wouldn't it just be faster to have landed nearby in the ship or taken an air speeder?" Enduring the cold and the climb were not something he was enjoying it seemed. Kotii couldn't blame him. "Dragons, Hauron. You don't fly around dragons unless you have a death wish." The warning about the apex predators sunk in as even he didn't want to risk tempting a dragon in flight.
Kotii had taken up a private contract under his Bounty Hunter's Guild alias, Black Hand. The Mining Guild was in need of some special hunting expertise as one of their precious diamond mines was at risk of shutting down. The culprit being a ferociously territorial arkanian dragon that has recently taken up residence. The client thinks that it may be a male getting closer to a female in a neighboring area that had previously existed in harmony.
"So...the big blasters are for the dragon?" The armored mikkian continued to ask questions as they approached a wintery village. "They're for what ever is needed." He explained, keeping in mind the jetpack missile in his suit. The normal pair of dart launchers had been replaced as they served little use for Kotii's current mission purposes. "But why bring the jetpacks if we're not going to use them?" The weight of the propulsion devices were also something the young badger wasn't used to. "Hope that we don't need to use them. They're so that if it grabs you and flies up and then drops you, you won't die." Dragons were not idiots. In fact they were intelligent enough to trick hunters frequently. The man was not going to ignore the majesty and respect they demanded in equal parts. Their primal ferocity was only matched by their cunning.
Kotii gestured towards one of the snow covered buildings with numerous blinking lights. "Let's get inside. There should be others meeting us. This'll be the last place before heading into the wilderness." Kotii watched the boy's stay confident and wanting to remain. The structure they entered looked almost ramshackle but sturdy enough cantina to withstand the turbulent altitude. The business inside was a bar of sorts though one without a band playing presently though an outdated holoprojector was playing Life Day commercials with thematic jingles. At least it was warm.