“What Pegman saw” is a weekly challenge based on Google Streetview. Using the location provided, you must write a piece of flash fiction of no more than 150 words. You can read the rules here. You can find today’s location on this page, from where you can also get the Inlinkz code. This week’s prompt is Mongolia.
Image by Jacqueline Macou from Pixabay
The Hunter
Over the years, his thighs had moulded themselves to the curve of the leather saddle, and his brow was furrowed from squinting against the snow-glare. His left forearm was heavily muscled from carrying the bird, hour after hour, day after day.
Altan felt sad that his son wasn’t with him, but it was a good day – the air smelled bright, and the snow under his horse’s hooves sounded crisp. The bird perched on the leather gauntlet, feathers ruffled by the ever-present breeze. Occasionally it shook its head and Altan would chant gently, soothing it.
His horse crested the ridge and halted.
Altan slipped off the bird’s hood, watched the eyes focus, watched the head moving as it scanned the slope below.
Then it launched itself and dived, faster and faster, slamming into the wolf. Altan chanted triumphantly. Perhaps one day his baby grandson too would hunt with a golden eagle!
Autumn Leaves 
Wonderful description of the environment / setting — I really felt like I was there!
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Dear Joy
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m delighted you liked the descriptions – it’s an area I’m working on at the moment.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Keep working on it, so that we can keep enjoying it!
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Love all the telling details which so skillfully reveal setting and character. I could see it all! So many wonderful lines but I loved “his brow was furrowed from squinting against the snow-glare” especially. It reveals so much!
I too was inspired by the eagle hunters of Mongolia–I was delighted to see your take!
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Dear Karen
Thank you for reading and commenting. Not many months ago I watched a TV programme about the eagle hunters of Mongolia, and the images were so striking they really lodged in my mind. I tried to make them as vivid as possible, while still including the sadness that eagle hunting will probably die out within the next generation or two. The same sadness comes through your story, too, of course, but you give us the hope that women may save the day! (Capes optional!)
With very best wishes
Penny
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I wonder if we watched the same programme, Penny? Gordon Buchanan, the Scottish naturalist? Everything about that programme was extraordinary and you’ve fed that through into your writing. The feel of the place comes through, the unique colour of it.And that longing for the long tradition, the essential part of their lives and culture, to continue. Super writing
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Dear Lynn
Thank you for reading and for your kind comments. I think we may well have seen the same programme, but I’m afraid I don’t remember the name of the presenter. I’m glad you feel that I caught something of the essence of what we saw.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Oh, I was soooo THERE! Great writing! Really enjoyed this one.
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Dear Bear
Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly. I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
With very best wishes
Penny
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Eagle hunters, how evocative. And the golden eagle, the king of kings, who sits upon the world tree high. Far more majestic than the lesser hawks demanded as tribute by the medieval European kings.
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Dear Crispina
Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly. Yes, there is a mystique about the golden eagle that makes it the ultimate aerial predator, isn’t there?
With very best wishes
Penny
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Were you aware that way back (about 12000 years ago) the pole star was in the Eagle constellation. Thus, the eagle sat on the world pole. And I’m sure the imagery comes from this part of the world. From Mongolia through to the Ukraine.
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That’s very interesting, Crispina. I don’t know much about folk-tales, I’m afraid, but it’s good to know that the imagery of the eagle “upon the world tree high” comes from Mongolia.
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I’m not saying specifically from Mongolia, but from the steppes that join Mongolia with the Urals and through to the Ukraine
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