[RoF] - Hunt: Kodiak Trial

The morning had started off well enough. Karenina's earlier attempts at hunting a bear had gone poorly, but after her more recent experiences, Ahnah believed she would be ready now. She had invited along another handler to test their tokota as well, and Noatuk accompanied them. Weather was clear and bright as they entered the more forested grove, tree shadows obscuring the summer sun. Ahnah and Kai spent their morning discussing their previous few weeks. Ahnah's time had been largely consumed by training Karenina - who was gaining in personal strength and even could join when she would go fishing - though at a distance. Ahnah had also recently acquired a new tokota pup, a male piebald, and she had struggled to leave him behind in Nika's care. Kai was busy with her own charges, and told her of her dire Ranger. 

"I've been trying to show him how to use it, but he keeps tripping as soon as he tries!" Kai laughed. "Poor guy. The kids I work with figure it out pretty quickly." 

Ahnah grinned, recalling that she remembered some of those children as younger siblings of her friends. "I'll have to see if my cousin, Eska, has been hanging around your crowd. He loves skiing and boarding, so I am sure he'd be a natural." 

The trees parted again on the path, revealing a small meadow. A trickling stream nearby indicated fresh water, but not enough to spook Karenina overly so. 

"I heard reports that a bear sighting was nearby here." Kai smiled. "Maybe we can let them loose." 

Ahnah nodded. "Sounds like a plan." 

The women dismounted from their tokotas, and carefully removed the tack, packing it well at their base camp. Some hunts would take several days, and they would need provisions if it came to that. 

Ahnah kept a bow with her, though she hoped she would not have to use it, save perhaps to put an animal out of its misery. She was an inexperienced huntress. She suspected the same would be true of Kai to some extent. Both of them were young, and had spent much of their life in the city grounds. The tokotas natural drive was what Ahnah was largely going to rely on. She had seen what Karenina was capable of with other tokotas, and she hoped the teamwork would pay off. She and Kai watched the two tokos bound into the trees beginning their pursuit. 

Kai and Ahnah began to walk after then, listening ahead for a sign that their animals needed help or had found success. Ahnah thought of her newest addition. "You know, if you'd like, Candide and I could join you for Noa's next trip - he's still a pup, but he seems to be a bit more outgoing and strong than Nina was before I was working with her." 

Kai seemed pleased with it. "I think that can be arranged. What trait are you planning to groom him for?" 

As Ahnah was about to answer, she heard a grunting sound nearby and froze in her tracks, placing her gloved hand on Kai's arm. "What was that?" 

Adrenaline flooded her system, and Ahnah felt her mouth go dry. An enormous bear, almost the size of a dire-built tokota, emerged from the brush it's eyes orange-red, piercing her gaze. It let out a disgruntled roar and moved to charge them. 

"Ahnah, this way!" Kai grabbed Ahnah's arm jerking her toward a healthy-sized tree-trunk, and scaled gracefully. Ahnah followed, struggling to scramble her way up, her boots slipping on the bark, and managed to get one arm looped over the branch, her bow falling to the ground. The unmistakable growl came upon them, and Ahnah saw a flash of grey and white fur followed by the tan and white of Noatuk. 

Kai, having steadied herself on the treebranch, extended a hand and helped Ahnah pull herself up, as both watched the tokotas work together to distract the enormous bear. Ahnah said a mental prayer - she could no longer help Karenina, and just watched, hoping these two would take down the beast. 

-----------------------

Story got carried away.. whoops Here is Nina and Noa's Rite of the Hunt! 

Noatuk 3306 
Rite of Merit: fav.me/d8xbcvl
Rite of Fortitude: WIP
Rite of the Hunt: You are Here
Noatuk's Summary Journal: fav.me/d7nyysa
_{Link or thumbnail of import sheet:}  fav.me/d8sm3qy
_{Registered name and ID number: Noatuk 3306
Prestige breeder or Pack leader?: Pack Leader
Handler name: Kai
Supplementary Items: None
Training images and/or bonus images: fav.me/d8vh9df
story = 681 words}


Karenina 3236 
Rite of Merit: fav.me/d8y2wke
Rite of Fortitude: fav.me/d8tzvyi
Rite of the Hunt: You are Here
Karenina's Summary Journal: fav.me/d8tpbm9
_{Link or thumbnail of import sheet: fav.me/d8s6chw
Registered name and ID number: Karenina 3236
Prestige breeder or Pack leader?: Pack Leader
Handler name: Ahnah
Supplementary Items: None
Training images and/or bonus images: 
    training image:  fav.me/d8sjt5m
    bonus image:  fav.me/d8sbl0b
   bonus image: fav.me/d8snjwr
    story = 681 words}