Into The Storm

--Fullbody - colored, shaded, with complex background (requires some substance to it- however, does not need to be magnificent): 5HP (No shading = 4HP)
--For every 200 words - 1 HP (4,800) 25 HP
--(LITERATURE) Including one of the 20 original starter tokotas in the story (must be a valid part of the story, and not just mentioned or cameo'd - 1000 word minimum) - 5HP+
--Depiction of handler (50%+) - 2HP+
--Depiction of one of the 20 original starter tokotas - 2HP+
--Oona
--Hunting picture: (can include handler and "non-commissioned art" bonuses) 2HP+
--Total(s):
-40 HP
Nojjesz's
-Nala 893 (70/60) (COMPLETE)
--Hunting Journal: Nala - Fishing / Hunting / Exploring

umbrafen's
-Mimiron 954(40/35) (COMPLETE)
--Hunting Journal: Mimiron 954

umbrafen's
-Ker Shan 1018(40/35) (COMPLETE)
--Hunting Journal: Ker Shan 1018

DrazziElder's
-Monifa 474(40/30)  (COMPLETE)
--Hunting Journal: Monifa 474 - Summary Journal

--mangomoose's
-Skagway 1024 (40/60)
--Hunting Journal: Skagway 1024 Tracker

-36 HP for
InstantCoyote's
-Sol 871(37/50)

Nojjesz's
-Naomi 996(66/40) (COMPLETE)

Nojjesz's
-Athena 1148 (36/50)
(story) 4902 words
With gathering trepidation the young riders and their just as young mounts gathered at the maw of the small camp. Their travels north of Nome had brought them to several small finishing villages where the large tokotas could safely survey the daily milling of human life without completely disrupting them. Sol in particular took a rather unhealthy interest in the village's small fishing vessels barely inching close to an up turned boat one morning before scampering away. The riders where all strangers to one another keeping to themselves ad the north-winds took all possibility of awkward misplaced speech form their lips. Their group had been rather large a pack of loose tokotas running with the 5 who had been mounted with food and tack for their human counterparts.
This seemed to be Nala and Naomi's last run with their new found training buddies as they would begin their journey home to rejoin their old pack and their old ways. On this final journey one of the older more experienced dominant females had begun to tag along keeping the loose pups in line. As for the untacked Sol, Athena, and Naomi ran and played like normal pups darting in and out of bushes and romping like they hadn't a care in the world. Sol was beginning to show his age as the Dire had almost doubled in size dwarfing the girls as he and Naomi tussled in the frothing snow. Naomi had come into her own calling as well now mastering her fishing technique to a fine art. She could not only find the fish but she found the perfect fishing holes keeping her pack mates well fed with her talent.Athena the newly brought in female seemed unsure of the real motive the humans had for her keeping herself close to Naomi but even then she lingered on the edges threatening to abandon her pack mates if the humans showed any form of deceit.
Nala and Naomi's human was there the rider never speaking its name or so much as showing its face as they rode on. Nala seemed to enjoy the attention though absorbing the feeling of being ridden by her human as well as carrying heavy tack. Every so often Naomi would dive into the small clump of mounted riders butting her large body up against Nala to remind her she wasn't alone in this great big wilderness with strangers. The girls continued their loving antics nipping at the heavily padded boots of  their handler and even extending their playful loving to the troop around them. Their young at heart attitude floated to the ever present Sol who's ever growing size bore him to be a rather large handful even on trips such as this one.
Even the loving Oona spared a growl at the Dire annoyed with his sheer size as he plowed through the snow next to her. Each rider had packed their rations holding them in neat skins and sacks atop the animals they had planned to ride all hunt. All of the young tokotas including Sol had had at least one hunt before this hunt so their bounty promised to be at least two to five animals strong. Skagway let out a short bark butting up against his own pack mate Mimiron. The two attended on the fly unplanned almost as much as the golden female Athena. Each pack member return the short call passing it around like a small call between friends. Unlike the  other hunts Sol, Naomi, and Nala had attended together this bunch seemed to be rather friendly. Even their riders exchanged small words sharing a laugh when one of the loose animals set off at a high speed run taking off at a hare or even a small darting light. The lack of prey seemed to pose a large problem the first day ending quickly as Alaska nights normally did. Not one track or even the tingling scent of an animal.
Oona had begun to worry, the riders hadn't brought food for all of her small pack they needed some form of sustenance in their bellies for the journey tomorrow. They had traveled far from their originating village distancing themselves from fish and seal hoping the forests would yield their meals for the nights.The dominant female let out a low whine catching the attention of the three loose youngsters. Sol spun on command his low earthy woof bubbling in that large barrel chest of his as he but up against Oona's side. Naomi and Athena were not so quick to respond to their matriarch taking their sweet time nuzzling their pack sister Nala.
Oona barked this time, louder to even call the attention of their human counter parts. Each rider stopped in their tracks swinging around to face the dominant who was now smothered in Dire hair and sloppy dire kisses. Sol hadn't quite grasped the concept of 'sit and listen' just yet smothering in loves was still very much a part of the dire's daily greeting no matter how big or small the creature was or what species they were.With tentative glances each rider looked over the dominant female shifting their glances ever so slightly to eachother.
Ker Shan voiced his attention  this time the older male's ears flipping back and forth with his growing anxiety. The riders had never really trained with a teacher who couldn't actively speak to them and even now the over all concept of being taught by one of the supposedly WILD dominant females was daunting even if it had been the more tame of the 20, Oona.
Mimiron gently approached Ker Shan's hind end as Dexter adjusted her seat for the fourth time since leaving."Do you honestly believe training with one of the wild tokotas will improve the pup's hunting skills." She snorted scratching behind Mimi's ear to calm the female. Maverick looked back to the other rider taking the weight of her question before completely not answering. He had signed on to train animals for his village not speak to other riders and the fact that Dexter was in fact female made him all the more inclined to urge Ker Shan as far away as the large animal's lope could take them.
The sun had ust begun its slow decent into the depths of the mountains as Oona stared back into the breath of the forest, the old tokota knew there were things out there for them to eat she just had to find them. With a grunt she pushed at Athena and Naomi the two who seemed more apt to listen than the ever rambunctious Sol.
The girls listened well getting to their feet as the dominant female let them off into the forest. Its had been a long time since they had ventured to this side of the mountain and the two almost seemed a bit scared of the things that it could hide. Athena rumbled softly sniffing at a nearby oak as the snow they traversed seemed to get deeper. Oona thrust her elegant grey head into the air and took a deep breath feeling the echo of the woods in her lungs. she knew now that there was not prey in these woods but the hunter hunting the hunter. She'd never fanied any of her fights with bear but each time she knew if she hadnt dealt the final blow the enraged animal would of and she wouldnt be standing there. She hoped the two young females at her side could learn that lesson quickly as she rounded another corner and the thick scent from it's hide got heavier.
Bear country was all of the country here in Alaska and the tokotas a main source of transportation and even weaponry when taking down one of the lumbering behemoths. At the age of 2 most of the youngsters in the village had been taken on several deer and smaller game hunts but around one and a half to two years old is when the more serious tasks came to mark. This being Athena's first trip away from her den was a huge risk and Oona knew the young female could get seriously injured if she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Thankfully the older female had accounted for such a time deciding on Naomi instead of the the bustling and bouncy Sol. She had never had the pleasure of working with the dire before but judging just by the way he bounded and leaped around the rides he wouldnt fair well against a Bear. Not yet anyway.
The scent of the bear tittered past Naomi's nose as the realization of WHY the alpha had brought them came to her mind. Athena took to her partner's anxiety and ducked behind her for a second sounding an even louder and more displeased whine. Neither female had ever dealt with a bear face to face. They hed slept on the pelts in the hall theyd seen the riders go by sporting them as heavy coats and theyd even wrestled with the practice dummies the riders set up during training but a real bear smelled even more dangerous than any pelt could ever look. The two females huddled close to Oona taking a bit of comfort in the older female's skill and confidence as she stepped forward through the slowly mounding snow.
They circled a small tree pressing deeper into the dense cotton woods and cedars as the scent of bear drew the dominant female out. Oona's ears flicked in each direction as they followed the two pups slowly over coming their anxiety. Athena was the first to press her nose down to the white fluff taking in each smell and marking it. A deer had passed by an hour ago pawing at the snow just before the newest layer had fallen before her a hare and even before them a small herd of caribou passed by scratching at the trees and dropping some of the small fragments of the parts they had chewed on. Athena was enthralled by each scent and the story it managed to tell her she could take a step and find a new prey. Even Oona and her pack mate's scent took on a new tinge as she followed it through the snow.
Thats when it hit her like a ton of brick, thick heady and as ripe as trash in the summer. She could almost see the bear its scent was so strong. With a panicked yip she called for Oona and Naomi digging relentlessly at the snow where it's scent had fallen. Oona came first taking a sniff and then backing Athena up. She had done well, locating the smell was the first step. She turned to Naomi who stared curiously at the hole but didnt dare step forward. The alpha barked once and turned her icey blue eyes to the snow signaling the younger female to follow her command. Naomi whined softly still unsure of the new environment.
While she had gotten used tot he aspect of fishing and she had even excelled in fishing she wasnt really used to the thought of hunting. Their handler had taken them out on a few hunts every so often but Naomi wasnt very keen on tracking she loved to chase but the track and the take downs she had left to her pack mates. Athena gave an encouraging bark butting her head up against her pack sister's side to give her the all clear to take a whiff. With a reluctant hunt she ducked down to the hole and waited for it to hit her. And hit her it did. The bear was close too close for the females to really be comfortable. Naomi whipped around in a circle panicked by the closeness of the smell but there had been no sign of the animal anywhere. Oona took a deep breath and butt the girls away encouraging Athena to keep the smell in her nose for reference as they trekked on.
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The riders hadnt notices the disappearance of their fallowing animals. On their end they had come up much the same though vaguely empty with nothing but snow and cold in their noses. Sol whimpered as he made his rounds butting each rider gently to make sure that they hadnt fallen asleep then turning to their mount to usher a small nip to the side. In Mimiron's case Sol was always greeted with a nose full of teeth as she bit down on him so hard hed backed into Monifa on more than one occasion.
"Who's idea was it to bring the silly beast along." Alan snorted as Monifa backed up dragging a huge wall of snow behind her.
"I have no idea but i like him." Dexter grinned cupping the Dire's chin as he wandered by to give him a small peck on the nose. Sol whuffled against her face having no problem reaching her even though she sat firmly seated on Mimiron's back.
"He must be one of those newly discovered one you know like those designer dogs." Alan snickered all in good nature. "I dont see how those long manes dont trip over all that hair and those others with the shaggy coat? How do they even see i dont see how an animal like that is good for huntin' if he cant see where he's going." The boy chuckled even harder gently patting the long mane of fur he had boredly braided at the base of her neck. "Oh and dont even get me started on those short haired ones."
At the comment Maverick whipped around. "What about the sphinx." He remarked coldly raising a scared eyebrow as he pinned Alan with his deep blue eyes.
"Oooh nothing." The other boy muttered whipping his hands up in the backing off gesture.
Maverick had always been rather sweet on the sphinxes after his own first female Aphrodites who was at home waiting for him even as he thought of her. "The sphinx are just as good as the others," He remarked calmly. "They just need extra protection from the cold they fish just as well hunt just as well and are best suited for forest where they need no extra coats. In the forest theyre faster and more streamlined than the average coats." The ice troll grunted urging Ker Shan back to the front of the pack. Though in all honesty Maverick enjoyed all types of tokotas, males being his preference as they listened better but he did have a soft spot for his sweet exemption.
"Thats the most iv heard him speak this entire trip...." Dexter leaned over closer to Alan.
"Guy is allergic to shirts or something because im freezing and hes over there in pants and 1 pelt like it's summer vacation."
The two riders continued muttering amongst eachother as their mounts shifted through the snow never really breaking off from one another. Monifa's belly grumbled and the brown female whined rather loud telling her rider she wanted food. Nala was the next to go off, concerned for her two pack sisters who had all but vanished into the snow she was all alone with no one but her rider. The piebald howled belting out her worry in hopes of calling Naomi and Athena back but a gently nudge to the gut from her rider quieted the anxious female.
"Theyre getting hungry." One of the riders remarked.
The female Tokotas all shifted anxiously just now noticing that they hadnt seen even a breath of prey since leaving home. Skagway grunted voicing his displeasure as his rider shifted again not used to the new saddle they had picked up in town. "S'all right fella we'll have food soon enough." The boy assured rubbing the large brown male's neck as he grunted again in return.
"Is there a lake or something nearby? maybe we can set them off to fish?" Dexter suggested scratching her head as Mimiron lifted a foot to scratch at the irritating girth of her saddle. "I know girl." The rider soothed letting her booted feet slip from the stirrups as she fussed with the straps again. "I wonder if i had just grabbed the wrong size girth." The woman groaned wedging a hand between the plush and her mount. "She's so uncomfortable how far do you think it is from home?"
Alan shrugged as Monifa trotted over to investigate. "We've been walking for hours it seems everyone's pretty tired."
Skagway's rider perked p a little as he and the brown strode over. "I brought Skag's eating belt do you think it'll fit her?" The boy grinned shyly from ear to ear.
"Eating belt?" Both Alan and Dexter looked a little taken back as the boy rifled through the series of packs strapped to the back of the brown Tokota male.
"Well Skag gets a little excited when he eats." He chuckled fishing the red girth from the very bottom satchel. "He eats till he pukes and waaay too many times we've had to actually camp out in the sticks till he's digested it all so i just pack a girth or two thats one size up so he can still make the trip back home. Aint that right boy?" The tokota male looked thoroughly unimpressed at his rider as he handed over the belt.
Dexter grinned in thanks and dismounted pulling at the straps that held Mimiron's saddle in firm place. "Okay girl lets see how you feel after this. You'd better thank Skagway's appetite for this one or else youd of had to wear the uncomfortable beld the whole ride." Mimiron grunted loudly trying to express her thanks as the breath whooshed from her lungs. with a thunk the tight girth was free and the female shook wildly taking a second to stretch her long legs from the strain it had put on her muscles. "Feeling better already?" Dexter smiled genuinely scratching the she toko's face lovingly before hiking the leather tight once again.
Skagway looked on as his pack mate finally received a comfortable girth. At head position of the small pack he huffed softly billowing smoke in every direction with his hot breath. The orange and white patched male sighed again trying to catch just a whisp of a scent of anything they could hunt. His belly groaned in protest but he couldnt have any of that right now he needed to focus on his pack. 3 had wandered off already and one-
The male's train of thought was broken by the ever bounding presence of Sol. The Dire let out a guttural throaty bellow as he plowed circles around the group splitting Ker Shan's concentration in half as the circles began to centralize around him. Sol did his best to politely initiate play form the male and by politely he ran circles and nipped at the other male's ears, lips, tail and any other hanging parts to swipe at. The rainmarked vitillgo stood patiently trying to focus on his task but the Dire playtime proved to be too much. Ker Shan whipped around ears back tail up snapping his teeth at Sol's antics which promptly caused the Dire to wheel away with a squeal of glee. Maverick swore under his breath as he just about went toppling off the male's back in their violent but harmless game of annoyed chasing the playful. With a grunt he dismunted quickly leaving Ker Shan to his discipline IF he could catch the speeding Sol. The ice troll sighed and shook his head at the two a bit mortified at the prospect but at the same time amused.
"Oh my god he's smiling someone call a doctor I think the stoic one is sick." Dexter teased as she looked on from Mimiron's back.
Maverick's attention snapped to the other riders as the smile faded back to it's usual stoic smirk. The Troll wasnt quite used to female attention and he still didnt quite know just how to react to her. With a silent nod he plodded off to the outskirts of the group waiting for Ker Shan to quit his milling about with the Dire so they could continue their hunt.
"Oh come on the lady was just joking." Nala's rider Niomey shook her head and sighed patting the piebald female's neck as she watched the other two play.
"So what i said earlier about him being from another village? Yeah no i think he's from another planet." Alan chuckled leaning down against Monifa's neck. "Did anyone else get that chill just now?"
The riders looked around the circle even to Maverick who was now turned toward the outline of trees behind them. Ker Shan had come to a screaming halt his tail straight back. The animals could all smell it now, the heady thick scent of blood as it infected the snow around it, the heated breath and breaking trees. Each animal whined and backed up from the trees knowing that they spoke nothing but danger for them if they stayed any closer.
The Scream that broke the woods was nothing short of that of a horror movie. The riders and their animals nearly lept from their skins the sound of alarm and then the scream of anger brisk and heavy even through the biting cold. If the eerie sound hadn't been enough to spook them the wind chill began to rip at their coat angrily snapping at coats and pads that weren't all but strapped down to their owners.
Maverick fought through the snow to Ker Shan's side gently hauling himself up onto the male's back as they readied for whatever had been angry enough to make the sound.
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Athena and Naomi bolted back at lightning speed their hearts shuddering in their chests as the trees began to blur. The first bear they had found was an easy target young, small and no match for the tag teaming pack sisters. Oona had been proud of her little protégées as they dragged their kill to a safe haven. Athena had even managed to track down a hare all the way to it's den where Oona taught her patience before all else.
The heated billows of breath began to blind the girls as they darted over the snow faster than theyd ever run before. Oona had been lost the last theyd seen of her was with that beast. They had wanted to stay tried to stay but the noise the dominant female had made told them that they must run, as fast and as far as their little pack had traveled. It was a mistake trying to take the beast on all on their own but foolishly they had poked the sleeping behemoth and they feared that Oona would pay the price for it. Panic gathered in the bottom of their bellies as they pushed on whimpering as their paws began to ache. A thick storm had rolled over the bluff blinding them to everything that wasnt actively in front of them the fear that gripped their minds dulled their sense of smell. They were running blind.
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The group hadnt moved since hearing the noise fearing that one step would put them in the path of whatever it was. Sol had even stopped his usual antics his large head trained on the tree line. In the blink of an eye the Dire's tail flicked up and he let out a chilling throaty bellow something not one of the riders had heard before, that was the true sound a Dire in action made. A series of panicked yelps followed the roar and soon two forms broke the blackness of the shrubbery and treeline. Athena and Naomi came barreling into the group shaking and whimpering as they honed in on Niomey and Nala.
"Woah woah woah girls it's okay its okay." Their handler soothed dismounting to check the two females over. Their panic hadnt subsides as they milled circles around Nala their whimpers and yelps urgent but without direction."Easy girls whats wrong where's Oona?"
The riders gathered around the two females sharing in concern as Niomey checked them head to toe. After some much needed calming from the mounted beasts Athena and Naomi looked back to the forest letting out long low whimpers in the direction they had come. It was true that Oona had not followed them back.
"Sol," Maverick called as he looked over his shoulder. The Dire hadnt moved from his place his ears flicking as he stood like a bulky statue. "Sol!" Hi call was louder but the Dire refused to budge his ice blue eyes staring past the trees at something far off.
"Guys Im worried Oona Didnt come back with them." Dexter frowned smoothing the fur between Athena's sea green eyes. "What if she's hurt?"
"Shes a dominant and wild i doubt she's in trouble." Alan shrugged trying to sound more reassuring than he felt. "Besides im sure the girls just got scared and ran back."
"Alan..... my girls never leave a pack mate behind." Niomey pursed her lips. "And when sol called them they were running in almost the opposite direction of where we stood. It doesnt make sense."
Dexter bit her lip and looked across at the small pack catching Naomi's eyes as tried to find what to say. "I think we need to look for her."
As if on que a haunting howl broke the rush of air the blasted from the north. A solid grey form seemed to morph from the tree line limping a bit but alive. Oona's black face broke mask of white as she called to her group but the call wasnt that of a loving female rejoining her pack. She was warning them. Athena and Naomi jumped to the head of the group dashing for Oona as she skid through the snow. A familiar smell littering the battered dominant female  that sent them back into their panic. In unison the girls all but screamed hauling Oona away as it came crashing down into the snow next to them. A kodiak the size of a minivan roared in the face of the young females defying their rescue of his prey.
"Oh shit!" The handlers swore in unison.
Skagway's handler being the first to reach for his bow cursed urging the male into action as he tried to line up with the animal's head. "Guys you have to get them out of there i cant take the shot. I dont want to hit them."
Niomey grit her teeth as Nala rocketed to the aid of her pack sisters. The rider and her small pack pulled and yanked till Oona was safely supported half way in Nala's back. The bear roared again making a swipe for the escaping team but to everyone's surprise Sol stepped in. The Dire roared chilling even Maverick's bones as he hit the animal like a ten ton battering ram. With a snarl the Dire clawed at the animal's head yanking it to the side with a mouth full of skin so the girls could escape.
Monifa came to a skidding halt next tot he animal's other shoulder allowing Alan to get a heafty spear right under it's right shoulder causing it to rear up and scream in pain. This time Skagway's rider made his shot, nailing the beast under the chin with an arrow before it came back down.
The northern winds battered the team as they pushed the raging beast back fearing not only for their safety but the safety of their faithful pets. Ker Shan howled in defiance to the bear's charges keeping his golden eyes on the burly animal so it couldnt look away. With an ear splitting roar the bear charged forward attempting to knock Ker Shan and Meverick over but the male darted tot he side opening up the bear's flank for his rider to land a heavy slash in it's side.
"We need to either kill it or scare it off." Dextrer called as Mimiron dashed for a higher vantage point. "He's not going to back off he wants Oona."
"We can tell." Alan shot back rather snarkily yanking his spear out of it's shoulder just before plunging it back into it's ribs. "This thing wont go down!"
Sol roared in anger throwing his body against the burly animal streaking his own white fur with it's thick blood. The snow began to melt where the animal's blood and drool landed displaying patches of red soaked green as the northern flurries battered the animal's thick smelly hide. The Dire male pawed at the bear's side attempting to gain an upper hand to force the animal down with his sheer size. The bear attempted to shake free but finally the tokotas had don out. With a heavy crash it fell to the snow taking Sol with it as the Dire held it firmly into the slush.
Meanwhile Niomey had taken Oona a safe distance off her pack mated disposing of the animal while she checked over the dominant female. "Asside from some serious scrapes and dings she's okay." The rider told Dexter after the bear was put down. "She got really lucky."
"I think we all did." Dexter grunted looking pack at the men as they skinned and prepped the beast for the ride back home.
(4902)