In this part we will see what happens when Thomas and his friends are introduce to proper hunting procedures while supplying enough food for the homestead. At the same time learn the proper use of firearms, where and when is it proper and not proper to handle any firearms no matter who it may be.

I do not Own any part of Thomas the tank engine & Friends. They are owned by the Following

Thomas & Friends

By the Rev. W Awdry

Developed by Britt Alcroft

Owned by Mattel

Original Characters belong to Pinkninjaprime and blackboard26

Nature of the hunt, gun safety.

Autumn has finally arrived on the Island of Sodor, Thomas is still enjoying life on his homestead while attending NW High school as he still works as a part time fireman to his engine shell. Since the middle of summer, he and his girlfriend and former fellow steam engine, Rosie Vulcan had to learn everything about living as humans, not only how to act in front of the older generations of the human world but to also learn how to get along with others while learning from their friends from school. Their school friends Cassey Tallshally Alisa Rose Jones, David Scott King, Jessy Braer, Jon Paul Dastson, and the Lundwiski twins Sonny and Sydney have help Thomas and his friends on how to adjust with others with safe ways of handling life's pressures while continue to attend school until finally they reached graduation day four years from now. However, since their friends and last sister Ariel have become humans also have brought an important issue he knows that need addressing. The importance of providing enough food and space for every one of his friends to find comfort and be kept well fed. When he and Rosie owned the homestead, it was him and Rosie alone, and since then new structures were built in case more of his friends have also managed to find themselves away from their engine sides and starting walking among the humans they use to take along the lines to and from anywhere along the railway lines all over Sodor. There are also other structures over sodor that are also accommodating the placement of the engines when they also become humans since Thomas and Rosie have such a limited space to house many of their friends while attending school, work, and tending to issues on the homestead. Thomas was taking his break from working on his engines side shunting goods trains together for the afternoon, during this time Edward and Rosie had approached him to talk about what to do now there are a lot of mouths to feed on the homestead.

Edward. "Hello Thomas, still thinking on how to keep everyone feed on the homestead?"

Thomas. "Of course, Edward, since some of our friends on the island have become human, and started to live on the homestead, have me worried about how to keep them fed, while supplying enough for everyone. We are a very hungry bunch when it comes to the meals Rosie and Emily prepare every night when we come home. I do feel sorry you Rosie and the Emily as well, you both make good food for everyone and we all love you for that." Then leans over to give Rosie a kiss on the cheek for her lovely ideas for great meals every night. "Makes me wonder if we have enough to feed everyone before winter hits."

Rosie. "Do not worry Thomas, I have since checked on our cold storage in the Dining hall house where we cook the food for everyone to enjoy. And may have enough food to last until the middle of next spring."

Thomas. "Still with trout and salmon still in season we should have another try and fill our freezers with another round of fresh fish to put away until we can find another source to fill our freezers to keep everyone fed."

Edward. "Are you sure we could not bring down another one of our animals to take out before winter hits?"

Thomas. "I am sure Edward, our two beef heifers are not due to have their calves until December, the one cow we keep at home is still feeding her yearling calf until next spring and the other is also expecting a calf in January. All the chickens are still young enough to lay our eggs, and the new pen is only there for roosting chickens and roosters have yet to start breeding yet until spring time. The turkey is not ready to slaughter yet have one more month until he is ready to take out for Christmas. The only thing I could think of is learning how to hunt for our needed meat for the winter."

Rosie. "Do you even know how to hunt Thomas? I did not know you have any heart of knowing how to take an animal from the wilds of Sodor."

Thomas. "I don't, that is why I need to ask a respected local Game Warden to see how to earn the privilege of hunting for our needed wild game for our needed meat for our homestead."

Edward. "Have you checked to see who might help us to find the needed game animals for our living needs?"

Thomas. "I have asked for Cassey and his dad to make contact with a local warden, to help educate us on how to properly take down an appropriately sized animal, for us to take down and use it for our needs and not just for food alone."

Edward. "Are you going to include everyone on our homestead to join this hunters club you are suggesting Thomas?"

Thomas. "Of course, not Edward, I know some of our friends are not going to like the idea of hunting any of the wild creatures in our Sudrian Forest, but we do need another form of food source to fill up our freezers to make sure everyone on the homestead have a well-earned meal after working on the homestead, or here at the railway yards. Only those who I do believe can benefit on stocking on the game and enjoying roughing the great outdoors will surely want to prove what is called a man hood, but then again not everyone who is on the homestead is a man, so we will wait and see who else would want to take part in hunting for our needed meat supply."

Rosie. "Would it be alright if I can be some help while on these hunting trips Thomas? I am sure with you men out looking for that game animal to hunt, someone has to stay behind and keep the camp occupied for when everyone returns."

Thomas. Just smiled of the idea for Rosie to come along for the hunt and leaned over and kissed her for the idea for the women to joining in on the hunting party. "That sounds like a good idea Rosie. Are you sure you want to venture with us on a hunt? It could mean time in the wild outdoors of Sodor, who know what it will be like camping under the stars at night."

Rosie smiles of what can happen under the stars in the wilds of Sodor. (Speaking seductively) "When we are alone in the dark at night Thomas then we can find out how wild the night can be." That really got Thomas's attention about getting with Rosie while out camping under the Sudrian stary night sky. Then both came together for a bit of kissing before Thomas decided to stop before getting too aroused to stop.

Thomas. "Whoa now my lady, we still have a couple of hours before we can call it a night now." Then Signaled to everyone time for the last two hours of work before heading back to the homestead to meet up with their School friends after work.

As Thomas Rosie and Edward continue to finish their work on the railway, not too far away from the , homestead Thomas's School friends Cassey, David and Cassey's father Maxwell had arrived and greeted Ariel, Gordon and Oliver at the dining hall of the homestead to discuss on the topics of hunting respectfully and responsibly to maintain a healthy herd of deer and hare population on the island of Sodor when certain seasons are opened for hunting for these majestic animals to use as a food source.

Ariel. "Hello, Cassey, David Mr. Tallshally welcome to our dining hall, please make yourselves at home while we wait for my brother Thomas, his Girlfriend Rosie and Edward to return from the railway yard for the night."

Maxwell. "Thank you, Ariel, this is a nice dining hall. I never known that human engines can have a huge appetite after working on the railway or on their respective jobs."

Gordon. "Not everyone here has a job Mr. Tallshalley, My brother Scott has no job now. The most who have a job is me who just starting to stoke coal into a firebox, but it is to a shunting engine like Stanley and he is still on the tracks. James is starting out as a porter for now since none of us can travel too far from the stations to take our trains until we are legal age. Henry is now a maintenance worker who changes the décor of the station between the seasons and maintains them to keep the station floral healthy. Thomas, Edward, and Rosie are the only ones making good money while shunting goods trains and coaches to their destinations. Jessica, Jasper, Rebecca, Nia, Emily, Molly, Ariel, Toby and Percy are all here to help on the homestead while The Scottish twins work at the local shopping center as a pair of theater custodians. Finally Duck and Oliver also have jobs at the local market as service clerks, that has some other forms of income."

Cassey. "What about Conner and Caitlin, what have they been doing since they also have become human too?"

Oliver. "They have yet to know what to do while living here on the homestead, lately we have heard from our neighbors about others on the island who can use our help to remove any form of debris and timbers for our usages here on the homestead. They wanted to find ways to make some money, but no one is here to help to teach them how to run the machines we have that can be a benefit for us to use."

David. "Has Sir Topham Hat ever suggested what other forms of work they can do while living as humans, and help keep the homestead running with everyone else working?"

Ariel. "Not yet, and it can be a big help if they can find jobs while we all attend school, all they need to do is to know what they are capable of now they are not tied up as railway engines now."

Cassey. "Is it really hard for an engine to overcome the effects of becoming human? I think because you are so use to running up and down your lines so much. I do not know if there could be other reasons an engine is not in use beyond the tracks like most of you are."

Oliver. "When we first heard of Thomas and Rosie had become human, some of us were shocked about the idea. I thought it was a bit scary, but after all that Thomas and Rosie had accomplished since becoming human, made me realized that maybe becoming human may not be so scary after all. Since I have been human I found it interesting how much more fun I can have. And since Thomas and Rosie have opened their home to us when we have no home to call our own, owe them our thanks and offer to help them out in return."

Maxwell. "That is a wonderful thing to do. But I believe we are here to discuss about a topic that may help bring more food to the homestead without buying it from the local market, but those who want to take part, must understand what can go on while we venture into the Sudrian outdoors. However, we will wait until Thomas, Edward, and Rosie have returned from work for them to hear as well."

It was just at that moment Thomas drove up in his Tacoma, along with Edward and Rosie who just ended their shifts with the railway and now heading to their homes to change before heading to the dining hall to meet up with Cassey, David and Mr. Tallshally for an important topic that can help keep the amount of people fed on the homestead. There to greet then as they entered the dining hall is Thomas who stopped and shook hands with Mr. Tallshally, and his school friends then Rosie did the same and finally Edward popped into the dining hall and meet up with the rest, just in time for a local game warden to help teach the human engine teenagers everything to know when planning to make hunting trips into the wooded areas of Sodor where such things are permit able.

The Game warden. "For those who are participating pay close attention to the details. Venturing into the wilds of Sodor can be fun, but it can also be dangerous if unprepared for the unexpected. First and foremost is to leave your travel plans to the people who you can trust to remember where and when you plan for a hunting trip, check with the locals what will be available to them when they come to an area to hunt. If planning to hunt on another local residential farm, ask the owner if hunting is allowed on their property. Some will say yes, some will say no, and respect the landowners for their participation or not.

If planning to camp out wile stocking the deer, make sure to bring the right amount of proper clothing and have the right camping equipment, that will allow the hunting party a place to stay. Then showed the amount of equipment that is used on a hunting trip and is advised to make it a 45lb load to carry. Which it is why the game warden will show Thomas and the others how use survival techniques that can help keep everyone alive and well.

The game warden instructs everyone to venture to the lagoons shore line, to a spot where they can learn how to set up for a base camp where they will be located before venturing for their first game hunt. Then the warden helped everyone involved, Thomas, Rosie, Edward, Ariel, Gordon, and Oliver to make a clearing by using any fallen limbs if none is available make one by using a string saw, that Thomas is instructed to use to saw off a bushy limb off the tree. Then was asked to use the branch to sweep away any leaves and debris left behind by the nearby brush. Then everyone was instructed to gather enough stones from all around the Lagoon shore, brought back to base camp and create a firepit where they have a warm fire and a source of light to signal where base camp is located for everyone to come back to camp. Also, it is vital that they learn how to navigate the woodlands behind the homestead to give an idea of how to find their way into the wilderness. So, the game warden given to each participant a compass and an area map to learn how to navigate all around the homestead, in case the woods could get too dark to venture back to camp. If they find traveling back to camp could be a bit dangerous especially at night learn how to make shelters with the nearby brush to take cover and have some nearby dry sticks and logs to help make a fire and if managed to catch some game while hunting, can use the item to make a meal to keep fed. It is also important to keep good communications with each other in case you must make the decision to continue back to camp or remain in the wilderness and using the survival techniques to keep alive and well back to the hunting party and camp for everyone's reliefs.

Then the warden shows the human steam engines the numerous animal species that are known for hunters to shoot. While some hunters hunt just for the sport, Thomas and the others are not hunting for sport. They want to hunt to provide a food source to help feed one another before more of their friends ever become removed from their engine shells and become human too. The Game warden respected the idea for Thomas and the others to just hunt for consumption, not for bragging rights.

Then turns their attentions about the use of proper firearms to bring down their game ranging from fields birds and waterfowl to deer and other game animals to take out. The warden brought over an unarmed hunting rifle that is used to bring down in the English deer hunts. The deer is either Red deer , Roe deer , Fallow deer , Reeves' Muntjac , the Chinese water deer , and the Sitka deer . The Red deer may be the largest, but the Fallow deer is the closest species to the Island along with the Reeves' Muntjac deer. Then the Game warden shows them a Winchester shot gun and showed how to use such a gun to bring down waterfowl such as wild ducks and geese during their migration season. Then also shown a lighter lever rifle and explained that a gun like this is used for hunting light game such as Squirrel, Hare, and maybe a mink or other creatures considered proper game to hunt for food.

Then the Game warden gave them all a warning about how to properly use a gun while hunting. Under no circumstance ever take the safety of your gun off, to prevent is from firing off a shot to not only to scare your game away, but someone could get hurt and killed by these guns. Only when you are close enough to take that needed shot, just carefully take off the safety, while the animal is not looking. If the animal heard something stop what you are doing to let the deer know if there is another party, there or not. If unconvinced to stay alert, the deer will continue its activity, when he does, that is when you can take your shot. Then also shows them a .44 magnum hand gun, then explains those who hunt into a wilderness area can also carry one of these, in case they run into someone who may not know and posed to becoming a danger to everyone involved with the hunting party. A gun like the.44 magnum is used only for defense only, one must learn how not to be the one who takes a shot. It must be use in self-defense only, before taking the shot try and talk the problem out but do not remove the gun until all arguments have ceased. However, do not make it into a habit to use the guns for answers. The gun is never an answer to solve a problem. The warden is reminding Thomas and the others if they plan to own guns make sure they are out of reach of those who believe playing with guns is fun. It is not. Too many young lives are lost when someone plays with a gun whether they knew if it was loaded or not. For the hunter a gun is a valuable tool to bring a food source back home and to protect your own livestock if you must take out a hungry predator before it could claim you hard earned livestock for your use. To anyone else a gun is a deadly weapon, any mistreatment of a gun can bring serious consequences to everyone who are responsible in owning a gun. You as a gun owner must place your guns in a gun safe, and make sure all your fire arms are not loaded and have that trigger in a lock to prevent anyone playing with the trigger. Take your time to check to make sure all bullets and slugs are removed from the firing chamber and remove the cartridges whether on the home and before on route to your hunting trip. Keep the guns in a congealed carrying case to let everyone know you are a responsible gun owner, and you want to follow the safe gun laws. Cleaning your guns also benefit to make sure all debris and residue is removed for a better firing gun.

Thomas and the others are listening very carefully, some of the other engines not taking part of the hunting party, have stopped along the Lagoon area as the Game warden explained everything from the beginning up until now. Everyone now knows there is a huge responsibility to owning firearms on a place like the homestead. Then realized why Thomas and the others are being educated on how to hunt responsibly and respectfully. Then Henry came in and asked a question.

Henry. "Why is it important to hunt our animals on the Island of Sodor, we have a market that we can find all the meat we could get without harming the forest creatures?"

Game Warden. "Hunting does serve a purpose other than providing a food source for a growing homestead that Thomas and the others here need to bring since most of their livestock are not ready for slaughter just yet. The market may have marked their meat too high for everyone here to afford. Thomas and the others are hunting to provide the much-needed meat to help feed all of those who depend on the rich proteins from our game animals. Hunting also let fish and game officials an understanding of how everything in the ecosystem is either helping the environment or hurting it. And hunting is a good way to know what is contributing the heath of the wild game species so there will be more of our fish and game for others to enjoy watching them, play in our forest. At the same time since the predators that hunt our natural game have been thinned down since humans do keep the wild predators away leaving our herds too large to fit our small Island. Hunting is a way to control the numbers and help report of any changes that could help or hinder the health of the herds in the process.

Thomas. "This is why we did not invite everyone for this session, I knew you would say things to prevent us to find the nourishment we need here on the homestead since most of the animals here are not ready for any of us to take out for our meat supply."

Henry. "I am sorry Thomas, I keep forgetting you are providing us our place of stay, and you are constantly worry about our needs to be kept fed and housed when we had no place to stay." Then Emily came in to soothe Henry from his fears of animals being harmed for food.

Emily. "Come on Henry, Thomas and the others here are just being educated by the game warden, so they will know of what to do if they have to go hunting for our food, and we have a huge number of mouths to feed on this homestead." Then Percy and Toby came in and do understand that there are a lot of hungry people on the homestead and do know it will be up to Thomas and the others who are participating in the hunt, needs this time to learn all they need before heading out on their first trips.

Percy. "I know it is important you want to keep us fed Thomas, is it really necessary to hunt these helpless creatures."

Game warden. "The creatures of the wilderness are not helpless Percy, since everyone of the animals have been raised to be wild creatures have enough time to be wary of humans since some people can defend them selves against an aggressive animal. But there will be times when it is necessary to remove an animal if the creature in question will endanger a life while looking for way to survive."

Thomas. "Percy, I know it will be hard for you and toby to understand why we have chosen to be educated about the wilderness and learning safe hunting practices. Remember we started out as machines who only looked at things from one side. Engine side. But since Rosie and I started out on this homestead when we started to become human, we knew it could be a matter of time to see if hunting for our needed game will ensure the survival of everyone here on the homestead until the final day of school is over and everyone can decide to return to the tracks as engines or not. I still plan of living on the homestead, in time I still roll down the line as a driver and not the engine."

Rosie. "Both Thomas and I agreed to find ways of keeping the homestead even after we leave high school. When everyone returns to the rails as an engine or as a driver. This place will start to empty out and what to do when that happens after that day."

Percy. "Ok Thomas and Rosie, if you need to make these hunting trips then do so."

Thomas. "Thank you, Percy."

Game warden. "Now that we understand what is involved why it is necessary to follow proper hunting practices and gun safe laws it is time to see if you have proper aim. To do this we will set up a firing range with a stone backdrop to allow the distance between your targets and beyond to see the distance the firing power any firearm can produce." Then the warden has allowed the young group to follow him to an area where there are two towers beside an empty space in between. "This is where we will see how you will follow game in the air, similar if you are to hunt game birds and waterfowl. Both towers will be launching orange clay discs that will act as the target to see if you can follow the game birds as they fly by to avoid becoming the target." To demonstrate he took the shot gun and showed how to load it up properly while the safety was still on. "Now you all know that the gun is loaded, when you are ready to take your shots, yell to the voice automated system on your clay shooting area, all you have to say is pull and you will hear the launching noise the clay disc will be launched into the air. As it does follow it while you aim your gun to follow the disc as it flies by, and just as it just above the top of your gun barrel." Then a bang and a clank were heard as he demonstrated how to follow the disc after it was launched and as it was just above the barrel of the gun he took the shot and the clay was hit and broken. "Now that I have made the first shot, it is best to clear the slug for the other that is in the storage unit already to be loaded up into place before shooting again." He did so demonstrating by pumping back on the gun stock to release the spent slug onto the ground for the warden to pick up and place into his pocket to prevent littering the forest with the slug round. "Always remember to pick up your spent bullet shells and slugs from the forest floor. It is always best to recover these shells due to the fact buying the bullets can be expensive since there are strong gun laws that prevent under privilege hunters to purchase firearms and stock for their legal hunting trips."

Then One by one each of the participating hunting party were handed the shot gun to shoot down the clay discs as it was demonstrated. Thomas shot 9 out of the ten discs that flew overhead, Rosie did the same, Gordon shot out a perfect ten, Edward also shot a perfect 10, while Oliver shot 8 out of 10, and Ariel also shot 9 out of ten. All who participated in the practice range now have the skills to hunt down waterfowl and game birds, but now is the time to learn how to stalk and find two local deer species native to the Island and where the deer will be most concentrated now that fall is also the rutting season.

The warden. "Here we have set up a target range to help understand that you will be pursuing the wild deer, when you do it is very important that you check the wind direction. It is always best to follow the deer when the wind is blowing in your direction and away from the deer to avoid them from picking up on your sent that means for them to fall back into the forest and avoid becoming another target for the hunter. Remember every creature here is designed for survival, and you are out hear so everyone at the homestead have a chance to survive a hard living the homestead can have if left with your trousers down and unprepared for the duration of hard winter times. Here you will practice on how to track the deer and look for signs of their presence in the area. Look at the trees to see if they have scraping marks to let other deer know that a huge buck is getting ready to fight for the right to be with the does he want to make time with to create the new generation into the future of their species." Then all stocked around a series of deer targets that have been set up for possible distances for everyone to take a shot, and to see where it is best to make the shot to make a clean kill, and not to injure the animal to the point of wounding it for a possible game chase all over sodor. Then was instructed on how to load the long-range rifle while once again with the safety mechanism is on, then closed the rifle back up and was instructed on how to approach the animal and prevent it from escaping. Thomas listened very carefully and was shown on the top of the rifle is a scope that will track the distance between the shooter and the animal in the distance when the rifle would have been shot. "Thomas, when you use the scope on your rifle, remember to check the distance of how close or far you can take your shot. When ready make sure you are aiming for the vital area of the animal, meaning the area of his chest where his heart and lungs are located. Each target you see shows where the vital organs are located on the animal when ready and confident enough take aim and when ready announce you are removing the safety for this reason and take your shot at that vital range on the animal." Thomas did as he was instructed to do, waited until he can have a clear view of the animals' vital organs and announce.

Thomas. "Safety off." Then he took aim and fired the rifle and it hit dead center in the heart of the animal. "Wow so that is what it would be like if I had to hunt for a food source."

Game Warden. "Unfortunately, yes, it means you may have to take a life to gain a source to feed everyone who is living on the homestead. And it is not for everyone who wants to make a living like this, it takes a hearty person who can have the nerve to take a live to provide a way to live under such conditions. So how do you feel Thomas?"

Thomas. "For one am glad of learning all that takes part in hunting for a living, so that way I can provide a food source to feed the large amounts of hungry people on the homestead. At the same time, I do feel bad for taking a life that was hoping to survive for the next generation. Other than that, it all matters on how to keep everyone fed until our everyone's last day of school commences."

Game warden. "I do not expect you to enjoy hunting at first but do remember you are not hunting to be cruel, leaving your friends out into the cold of winter will be cruel. The best thing you can do after a hunt is to thank the animal for giving it self up to help feed the hungry people back on the homestead and find other uses that one animal can provide besides a food source." Then after Thomas finished with his turn everyone else had a turn of learning how to use the rifle properly and announced their readiness to take a deer down and fire their shots and like Thomas before them now experiences on what it will be like to take a life to provide much needed protein to keep everyone alive and well on the homestead. And like Thomas have lowered down to the targets to practice their thanks to the fallen creature to give its life for the survival on the homestead.

Soon it was time to return to the homestead for a well earned meal and rest until the following two weeks when they will chaperoned to their first hunt with Cassey his dad and their new fiend the game warden to help the new hunters with their first hunt and until then will get enough gear and equipment for their travels close to the mainland where the game is in plenty and legal for them to take back to the Island of sodor.

Next week we will see what will happen when some of our engine teens are challenging each other for king and Queen for a freshman dance for their class at school. Who will win come back and find out.