Never Gut-Shoot a Wampus

A down‑to‑earth prospector finds himself roped into an extravagant interstellar hunting expedition when the flamboyant Major Daphne, a wealthy colonist with a reputation for bragging about his conquests, takes an interest in the narrator’s tiny, untamed world, Tigursh II. The Major promises a lavish ride and a chance to chase the planet’s massive, exotic beasts, while the narrator sees a rare opportunity to finally afford the trip he’s been postponing. Their uneasy partnership quickly expands to include Daphne’s charismatic wife and a colorful entourage of nieces, each adding their own flair to the cramped shuttle journey.

As the craft lands on the wild, mud‑soaked plains of Tigursh II, the group faces a landscape teeming with massive four‑legged creatures and a hostile environment that promises both peril and excitement. The story balances humor with tension, exploring the clash between the narrator’s modest ambitions and the Major’s over‑the‑top bravado, setting the stage for a hunt that could turn the prospector’s fortunes upside‑down.