WM98: Taming Attempt #1

“Did you hear about the new tags?” the clerk asked from behind the counter of the general store, gesturing to the notice board on the wall. Rorin stopped his perusing and looked up, “No I hadn’t, anything interesting come down the line this time around?” he asked back as he made his way to the board. “Haven’t had a chance to look myself,” clerk said, “the TCA had someone come by and hang it up early this morning.”

Looking at the piece of heavy paper Rorin saw there were three new tags out, one from every pack but the Desna. Figures. Rorin thought as he scanned the list. A couple of kind hearted but troublesome females, and, oh hello, who do we have here. Rorin’s eye was caught by a pale Tokota from the Ila Pack in the northwest, out on the Flats.

Next to the description there was a photo of the bobtail, poor thing was on the receiving end of a real beat down, probably got the photo then by the looks of it. They claimed the Tokota was in good health but struggled to survive in a wild pack setting with it’s past injuries. “Extremely wary of people and will usually attempt to flee. May attack if cornered… Cupid.” Rorin whispered under his breath as he read the creatures description, “hmph.” He exhaled turning from the board, “Well thanks for the heads up, I think Orion and I’ll try our luck again, maybe the Flats will be kinder this time around.”

***

Even getting to the Flats was a challenge. Even in the best weather the journey would take several days from their home in the Aqtuqtuaq Forest to reach the Flats but in the middle of winter, the journey almost seemed unadvisable. Rorin debated for several hours on the idea but finally decided to go, “Well if the TCA seems to think…” he paused looking at the notes he had copied from the notice at the general store on the Tokota, “Cupid, that’s his name. If they think Cupid should be tamed the sooner the better, the winter can’t be easy for him, with old injuries slowing him down.”

With it decided the pair packed the necessities and set off to hopefully collect the third member of their small travelling party. Orion pulled their sled of supplies made up of  mainly food and things to keep them warm, with Rorin directing him from behind.

When they reached the home of their companion Rorin left Orion outside to discuss his plan. He returned several minutes later with Kangee in toe. The older Tokota walked undaunted by the snow, his eagle companion perched on his shoulder. Kangee had a harness strapped on his chest similar to Orion’s that his owner had been kind enough to lend along with the Tokota to their taming expedition. Rorin quickly tied Kangee to the sled and thanked his owner once again and the team set out for the Flats.

***

It was several days before they reached the outskirts of the Flats. Rorin had made sure their path would be the safest, though not the fastest. He made sure their crossing of the Vernant Valley went off without a hitch and made sure to follow the West River far enough to skirt past the worst of the geyser field and the Miaksuk Meadow, which had on their last trip to the Qammutiq Flats had slowed them down significantly.

Even in the summer the Flats hadn’t been the most hospitable place. It was many miles of flat uninterrupted land, pockmarked by small copses of pines and spruces, with the occasional birch or ash tree in the mix. Kangee had joined them last time as well when they had tried their luck with another Tokota, Rorin hoped his presence would have a calming effect on Cupid, though he knew the heavy lifting was set squarely on him and Orion.

As Kangee and Orion pulled the sled onward, into the plain before them, Rorin looked around for any form of shelter. I don’t think we want to stay out on the plain, Rorin thought to himself as he squinted against the glare from the sun off the untouched snow before them, maybe we should try closer to the mountains. Maybe we’ll find shelter from the wind against the slopes. With that idea he pushed his team closer to the base of the westernmost edge of the Taniya mountains.

As they got closer to the mountain’s base the winds began to die down, blocked and funneled by the rocky outcroppings. Ahead Rorin could see a large copse of trees, hugging the mountain close. “Let’s head for the trees!” Rorin called out to Orion and Kangee over the winds, “We’ll hunker down there for a while and see about getting something to eat!” Both Tokotas began pulling a little harder the idea of food and a final destination in sight reinvigorating them.

The excitement didn’t last long however. The trio were not the only ones who saw the trees as shelter in the harsh weather. Orion was the first to pick up the scent of other Tokotas, stopping dead in his tracks and dropping his head. Kangee continued forward for a few more steps before he turned and caught the smell on the wind. Rorin caught it last, his heightened senses picking just the smallest hint on the wind even though it was muddled with the smell of snow and pine needles, it was there, unmistakable.

“Keep going guys, we’re fine, just stay calm, Kangee, why don’t you lead the way, Orion, just follow his lead.” Rorin said softly as the Tokotas began moving again. What are the odds the pack is here, it is more than likely a few scouts resting in the trees. They’ll move out once they hear us.

As the trio walked into the trees and out of the blustering wind the smell got stronger and they found the deep treads of several Tokotas. The team was on edge and Rorin was quick in getting both Kangee and Orion disconnected from the sled. What none of them counted on was the Tokotas sticking around.

Orion and Kangee spun around the face the Tokotas as they got closer to the sled. The group was a mix of colorful male and females, some almost as large as Orion, but most were half a foot, or more, shorter at the shoulder. Rorin looked around the group, at first he didn’t recognize any of them, but eventually two patterns stood out to him. Walking up between Orion and Kangee he spoke calming to the Tokotas, hoping to show them there was nothing interesting about them, “Well, isn’t this a wonderful surprise.” he focussed on the Tokotas he recognized, “Is that Beowulf I see?” the large yeti, and pack leader, tilted his shaggy head at the name, somewhat familiar with it, “and Cupid.” behind the rest of the larger Tokotas stood the Tokota that had dragged Rorin and Orion out to the Flats in the first place. Cupid was smaller than most of the Tokotas around him, Beowulf especially who was large for a wild Tokota.

Rorin raised his hands for a moment to show he had nothing in them and then rested them on the shoulders of his companions on either side of him, “We mean no harm, we just want to stay out here in peace for a while, get to know you.” Rorin said loud enough for all to hear, but directing his words to the small bobtail.

The rest of the pack watched the man cautiously, though Rorin could tell none had the intention of attacking, the Ila pack always worked well with humans, which was why their name meant companion after all. As Rorin’s words ceased to ring in the crisp air of the Flats, the two groups stood for another moment, and slowly everyone relaxed, content to simply observe the other.

It couldn’t have been more than a few minutes before Beowulf without a sound turned and began to walk through the trees and toward the open plains, the rest of his group slowly filtering after him.

Rorin watched Cupid closely, the small bobtail, waiting for several of the larger Tokotas to follow before turning, and beginning to follow. Before he got too far away Rorin called out to him, “Hey there bright boy, be careful out there, hope to see you soon Cupid.” The Tokota froze at the name, and turned back towards Rorin. Rorin could tell he remembered the name but he saw the conflict spinning in his pale lavender eyes, he stood for a few moments longer, staring at the man and the much larger Tokotas, before trotting after his pack members. “It’s alright Cupid we aren’t going anywhere.”