Night hunting [Tokotas]

The sun was low in the sky, gradually sinking below the horizon as the Tokotas watched, some were awed by it and others yawned at the sight of it, longing for the gradually approaching night even as Alia took them further into the woods, riding at the front on the great golden dire, Azurite. She had with her a pack of six, the largest she usually dared to take out given how much trouble even one Toko could cause let alone six, but she had Bal with her to help keep everyone doing what they should. He was bringing up the rear, riding on the beautiful Yeti female, Yuki, and issuing gentle commands whenever the group between them started to fidget. That group consisted of Magnus Bane, the gentle curly male, Amelie and Vagabond, the two females who contrasted so drastically it was a wonder they got along, and Amicelli, the Toki. Overall a fairly placid group although Amelie and Amicelli kept bickering back and forth, wedged into the middle of the pack where their handlers struggled to tell them off. Still, they’d been walking for the best part of a day, and the arguments had been minimal, not a bad start as far as Alia was concerned – although perhaps next time she’d bring more treats to keep them distracted.

“How are they doing back there?” She questioned, turning in the saddle to face Bal, Azurite below her gave a snort of irritation as his straps moved but otherwise continued walking, rapidly getting used to the fidgety nature of his handler. Bal had no such difficulty, merely raising himself up in Yuki’s saddle to peer over the backs of the other four Tokotas, flashing Alia a brilliant smile and a, “They’re all doing well, we’ve not had too many problems, although Amicelli seems rather desperate to get moving.” And true enough trapped by the legs of the other Tokotas the Toki was struggling to walk at any sort of speed, any attempt at such leading him into Magnus Bane and Azurite’s legs. The two larger Tokotas would then growl at him and send the Toki back to his original place beside Amelie, and not even Bal missed the subtle laughter the dark female shot Amicelli’s way. Alia sympathised with his want to get moving, but in the approaching darkness they couldn’t risk going too fast, lest some hidden hole or ditch appear. “Ah well,” she offered some reassurance, although the Toki couldn’t hear nor properly understand her, “We’ll be there soon.”

The pack kept walking steadily on as the forest around them got darker and lost those things which typically made it welcoming in daylight; the trees became shadows of themselves, no longer holding any real form, and their numbers became indistinguishable as branches blurred into one another. More than once Azurite had stumbled into a low branch he hadn’t seen, and more than once Yuki had tripped into the back of Vagabond, unable to see anything past her paws but darkness. In those moment the forest became eerier, as if it had been inverted on itself, no longer filled with the chirping of birds it was instead populated by strange howls and yips the Tokotas couldn’t understand. It was a low hollow noise, however, which made Alia smile and the rest of her pack quake in barely disguised fear, wondering what the monster could be, each one readying themselves.

In the centre of the pack, Magnus Bane had begun to bare his teeth, Amicelli had crouched low to the ground, no longer interested in racing ahead, Vagabond was searching the darkness with her red orange eyes and Amelie had shifted the gun on her back in case it was needed.  At the font Azurite had stood up straighter, his body blocking Magnus behind him as shield against whatever would dare attack the dear older male, and at the back Yuki had sunk lower, body curling protectively around Vagabond as they walked. At both ends they were guarding their youngest and eldest, Alia and Bal found it endearing, although both handlers knew they wouldn’t need the protection. “Is that definitely the herd?” Bal called forwards, below him Yuki’s ears perked up at the word ‘herd’, some of her fear fading, and at the front Alia gave a nod before she realised it couldn’t be seen in the darkness. “It’s got to be.” She told him instead, “But don’t turn your torch on just yet, we don’t want to spook them.”
“Alright, it seems the Tokotas can still see at least.” Bal responded, although his hand clutched at the torch affixed to his belt, making sure it was there.

In the darkness which had now engulfed the forest, only the outlines of the lightest Tokotas could be seen, such as Azurite up ahead and Amicelli with their near golden coats, the others were in darkness. Amelie was practically invisible with her black pelt, only the pink-purple paint on her shoulder could really be seen, luminescent in the darkness, and just ahead of her Magnus Bane had become one with the dark, resembling a floating cloak more than a Tokota. The stone around his neck caught the moonlight every so often, alerting Bal that he was still there, just as the glimpses of orange-red eyes told him that Vagabond was still among them, glancing uneasily around the forest. It was those eyes which stopped him barrelling Yuki into the back of her when Alia suddenly called them all to a halt at what appeared to be the edge of the forest.

The trees here thinned away to lead the Tokotas up a short hill to overlook the plain this land became, with no trees to cover the area it was easier to see here, and they all gathered atop the hill under the moonlight. From atop Azurite, Alia clearly had the best view over the landscape and she pointed excitedly upon spotting their prey in the grasses. Bal manoeuvred Yuki into place beside her so he too could look, grinning brightly when he too saw the caribou herd, like a shadowy mass moving across the plains, identifiable namely from the noises the animals were making. This time, however, rather than quake in the face of these noises the Tokotas started growling and snarling ready for the hunt, even Amicelli had puffed up his chest and had bared his teeth alongside Amelie and Magnus Bane, even caught under the grey male’s cloak as he was.

Alia looked at them in turn, smiling slightly, before her attention went back to Bal, “They’re a massive block at the moment.” She explained as if the city born handler wouldn’t be aware, and he snorted a laugh at her, listening regardless. “We’ve got to separate some from the main herd, it’ll make them easier to hunt.” At the word ‘hunt’ each of the six Tokotas made a noise, showing they were ready, and Bal gave a nod of his own, stroking Yuki’s long fur. “Sure,” He agreed, “You give the signal and we’ll follow your lead.” Alia grinned, her grip on Azurite’s mane tightening, and after a count down of five she gave a cry of, “Let’s go!” And kicked the dire into a charge down the hill, his great form racing towards the caribou herd with the rest of the pack quick on his heels. Vagabond and Magnus Bane were either side of him, flanking the dire as he dove into the herd and aiding him as he attempted to drive the caribou apart. Amicelli and Amelie hung back with Yuki and her handler, but were quick to race after the stragglers which were sent their way, the Toki moving through the grass practically invisible as the black female strode under the moonlight, her weapon glinting. Together the Tokotas easily took apart the caribou herd, their prey plentiful and their smiles wide as they headed home under the stars, Vagabond grinning particularly wide with her massive catch.