Home on The Range

[Holister]

Greetings from Wyoming

Just checking in guys...Ol' Ben is still alive and kicking. Family is doing good to. Molly & Duke say hi.

Say hi Duke...

"WOOF"

Good boy duke... the classics never get old

So, did I miss anything? How's everybody doing?

[Ron Caliburn]

Well Ben, how's life out on the range treating you? Blissfully boring or has the excitement found you yet?

Still got that cage ready for the full moons?

[Holister]

Well, beleive it or not life has been treatin' us well out here in Wyoming. I finally got out of law enforcement, me and Kelly got married, we had a beauiful baby girl name Skylar a few months back. Molly's in school and doing good.Kid loves history and science. Life's been good.

I handyman jobs part time on the side and run a hardware store in town I bought with my pension. Yes I sell guns there, but common stuff, not like you Ron. A few shotguns, hunting rifles, and handguns.

As for me, well I am ok. For some reason nothing happened to me, I guess I got lucky, I am still a normal human being. Sorry to disappoint ya' Ron. Kelly is still, well, Kelly, but Skylar appears to be normal. The shaman says she may not show any signs until puberty. sigh Like I was lookin' forward to that nightmare anyway.

As for any supernatural stuff or parnormal troubles....so far only two to speak off. The first was some ghosts that needed to be put to rest. The other was some creature lurking in the ol' Donovon Mine up in the hills. Remind me to post those stories sometime.
But overall it has been quiet, peacful, and blissfully normal guys.

Well give Ei and Hannah my best Ron. Say hi to the others if you can. Now that I have internet access again, I will be in touch again more often. Duke too...

Well talk to ya'll again soon guys. Good lluck and happy hunting.

[GhostSpider]

I guess I got lucky, I am still a normal human being.

There is nothing normal about you Ben.

Glad to hear you guys are doing okay up there.

[Ron Caliburn]

I'm glad that you are still human Ben.

Congratulations on becoming a father.

I'll pass your words on to Wie when she gets back from her trip.

[Holister]

Much obliged fellas. Haven't heard from you in a dog's age GS, how the heck are ya?

Again I'm sorry, but its been busy, now that things have mellowed out a bit, I finally have a chance to sit an' chat with you fellas again.

By the way, anyone here every have to contend with what I believe might be a gargoyle? We have had some cattle mutilations near by that were obviously done with tooth and claw; big claws. Even managed to take one of the carcasses away without a trace.

The first one to say "alien abductions" is gonna get my size 11 boot up yer butt.

I only think it may be a gargoyle because ol' Cletuc at the General Store in town keeps goin' on bout some large bat living in the hills by RedRock Bluffs. Its been going on for about two weeks now, so far no people have been killed, but several head of cattle and a few sheep have been killed or taken.

Henry Bates who runs the ranch where the killings are taking place was hospitalized due to a heartattack, but I don't know if it is related.

Any ideas?

PS: No one here in town knows about you guys or my past, and I would prefer to keep it that way, for now anyhows.

Well thanks in advance, and keep up the good work guys.

[GhostSpider]

Gargoyles are tough Ben. My recommendation: use a rocket launcher and hope for the best.

As for how I've been, well...that's a long story.

[Holister]

A rocket launcher!!! Come on GS, I am not the freakin' national gaurd. If I am lucky I can scrounge up some home made pipe bombs. Sides' how hard can these things be? Oh yeah, I said " things ". Way I figure and from what Hennesy over at the airfield told me, there may be more than one, at least two from what I reckon. Possibly more.

The 4th was ok, not like last year. Parade here in town, huge fireworks display at night. I had one heck of a BBQ. We also had two human victims that night too. Same night Hennesy saw one while working the airfield, two teens were killed out by the crossroads at the same time 'bout 10 yards from their parked car.

Hennesy deffinitly said he saw what looked like a large bat. The forensics of the car and what was left of the boddies indicate an animal attack. Some sort of large animal with teeth and claws. Their saying it might have been a bear, cept the coroner says he ain't ever seen a bear attack like that before.

Maybe its ought time I dust off ol' Daisy for this one.

Anyhow I don't want to get anyone involved just yet. Kelly has enough of a time with Molly and Skylar. Right now its just me & Duke. There is this one guy named Winston I've gotten to be buddies with; ex-marine type. But he's one can shy of a six pack if ya' know what I mean.

Listen up, if I need any help with this one, I will be sure to send out an S.M.A. (Save My Ass). Until next time then.

[Grace]

If you've got the cash, I've got the solution to your delima.

[Holister]

Cash? Man I have a wife now, two kids, a dog, and two horses to take care of. I am lucky to stay one step ahead if ya'll know what I mean. I can't afford no Society merc coming' in here and shootin' up the place.

Too bad Bert or Fate ain't round no more. This would be right up their alley. Maybe if you would settle for a home cooked meal, a place to bunk down for your stay, and a six pack of Back Rabbits we could arrange something.

Meanwhiles, where the heck is everyone? I hope all you fellas are doin' ok. Well hope to here from ya'l soon.

[Grace]

I can't afford no Society merc coming' in here and shootin' up the place.

Shoot up the place? Merc?

You, Mr. Holister are laboring under a couple of misconceptions.

First of all, I have never nor ever shall 'shot up a place'. I am not some Redneck yahoo with his daddies best shotgun out on a Friday night. I use precisely the tools required to do a job with little to no collateral damage. I have a proffessional image to keep up, afterall.

As for this 'merc' thing, just to clarify: Merc's are soldiers for hire that generally fight in wars. I am no soldier of any kind. And while I may start or end a war, I wouldn't fight in one.

When it comes to payment, I am learning that there are many on these boards with restricted cash flow problems. But there are many with talents or connections that may otherwise be useful to me. Alternative means of payment may be negotiated.

(To those who have been asking, no, I do not do pro-bono work. That Hallway Monster caper was strictly personal.)

Although I suspect you may simply be one of those folks who, for ethical reasons believe the monster hunting should be done by those who can, for no other reason than they can. And I can respect that.

I'm certain this Gargoyle(s?) of yours will stick to cattle, simply costing locals money... as opposed to other sorts of costs.

I wonder, do these things eat horses?

Look on the bright side, it could mean one or two less mouths to feed.

But hey, at least you'll still have your ethics and my respect.

[GhostSpider]

I'd do it for the meal.

And the beer of course.

Not to mention being able to hang with an old friend for a time.

[Grace]

I'd do it for the meal.

And the beer of course.

Not to mention being able to hang with an old friend for a time.

I can't beat those prices.

[Holister]

Well guys its official. We are now up to four human casulties. Whatever these things are, they have gone and taken a likin' to human flesh & blood. The medical examiner confirms that saliva found in the victims' wounds is similar to that of, and I quote - genus kioptera; bats.

They are dismissing it as tampered evidence to animal contamination. Figures.

Me and Duke have been looking for these things for days now, well nights actually. The other night on the full moon, Kelly got into a scrape with one of them. She says she remembers a large bat like creature and tearing its wings to shreads before a second creature came and forced Kelly to back off.

Both me and her also heard this high pitched chirping or clicking. I did some askin' and it turns out it is called echo-location. Bats use it to find their prey. So maybe these things are some sort of oversized bats???

I still haven't found their lair yet, and I and seriously beginnin' to think there maybe a small group of half a dozen or more of these things. So any help would be appreciated guys, if you ain't busy to help out an old buddy.

Thanks in Advance

[GhostSpider]

Send me a picture via e-mail and I can be there ASAP.

Also, sounds like your not dealing with gargoyles. More like some sort of giant bat. It'll be fun, no matter what we see.

[Hannah]

Hi Ben,

I'm so happy to hear you and Kelly got married. You two seemed so in sync with each other. I hope I can get out to visit and meet Skylar.

I hope you're careful with those bat things, I know a few people would miss you, including me.

Hannah.

PS: Sorry I didn't reply sooner, we don't have Internet out at the camp.

[Holister]

Greetin's from Wyoming.

Sorry bout not replyin' back sooner but its been one thing after another. By the time we dealt with those bats, the bad weather took out my broadcast dish. Had to wait until last week to get another to replace it.

Well, bout those bats, that is what they were after all. A roost of 20 - 30 very large bats. The biggest was like 7 feet long with nearly a 20 foot wingspan. Damenst things, organized, and viscious. Had a nest with over a dozen babies. The big one did have a tag on it or something that. Looked old. We got rid of em' all though.

Anyway I hear ya'll celebratin' Wei' birthday or somethin' like that. Well then Happy Birthday I reckon. The family and I will send out a gift as soon we can guys.

Well, I hear thunder again, best be loggin' off for now. But expect to be hearin' from me again real soon fellas.

Holister over & out.

[Clarity]

_____Hi, Mr. Holister! It’s good to hear from you. How is Molly and Kelly and you?

[Shang Li]

It is a pleasure to hear from you again my friend, it has been far too long. I am glad to hear all seems well with you, I am not entirely sure why, but the news did make me smile.

If we ever do manage to meet again, there will be a good deal of catching up to do, I am certain.

[Eilonwy Solstice]

Ben. It’s great to hear from you. Yes, Hannah got a small party going on for me on my return from California. The company was even better than the cake she and Sarah made for me. Things are pretty good here, all things considered. There is one thing troubling me, however, if you could pm me. It’s nothing serious, but I’d still like to clear it up.