Tokotas - Getting Ready to Go

Word count: 2055

Features: Maleficent, Oki Koishina, Vali, Ila Koishina (reference TBA), Luna, Cricket kileerah

Mentions: Nilak, Zelda

Italics are the Tokota talking to each other or themselves

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Maleficent was seething. She was seething hardcore. Why was she seething? Well, her damned handler was putting a humiliating vest on her. The damned thing made her mane look ridiculous and it made her sweat something fierce. She didn't like tack in general, preferring the feel of her handler sitting directly on her back. Why was she wearing this? Why?

Oki chuckled nervously, seeing the seething hatred on Maleficent's face. "Sorry girl, this is going to be a long trip so we need to gear you properly. and according to Cricket, half-manes get a might chilly." He stroked her muzzle and pressed his face into the side of her neck. "we'll get done as fast as we can." Oki turned away from his still pouting Tokota to look at his younger sister.

Ila was slipping a bridal around Vali's neck, offering the tawny Tokota the bit to put into her mouth. "You sure I'm ready for a trip this long Oki?" Ila asked when she saw that Oki was looking at her.

Oki grinned and walked over to his nervous little sister. "For sure!" He put his hand on her shoulder and shook her lightly "You've been training together for a little over six months now!" Oki removed his hand and lifted it to Vali's mouth, laughing when she licked it happily. "I'll be right there with you, so there's nothing to worry about. Now go grab your daggers. Adrianna said that Grenda done with them. Oh! and pick my spear up please? She sharpened it for the trip"

"I'm going to need my daggers?" Ila asked nervously.

"Only encase of emergency." Oki walked back over to Maleficent. Motioning the half-mane to stand up so he could begin to put the saddle and saddle bags on her tack. "Not much dares to mess with a Tokota, but it never hurts to be prepared."

Ila gulped but walked turned to walk to the farmhouse of the village, it was also where the village blacksmith lived as well. A stocky, stout woman name Grenda made most of the weapons and tack in the village. Vali nudged Ila's shoulder lightly, prodding her handler forward. It's okay Ila! I'm here with you. And Grenda is super nice! she told her, knowing the human couldn't understand a word she said.

Ila laughed nervously and gripped Vali's reins anxiously. She walked around the farmhouse and saw the short powerful form of Grenda hammering a chunk of metal, bending it to whatever shape she wanted. Grenda was a new addition to the village, she and her husband Blaire showed up shortly after the iron mines nearby opened up. A blacksmith was a wonderful addition to the village, they now had a decent amount coming in from the wears Grenda sold, fixing their poor economy. Not that the farms and the trade routes didn't keep them above the water, but it was nice to be solidly in the green and not on the fence financially. Ila saw the stress from it lift from their mother shortly after the first quarter.

"Ah! Young Ila and little Vali!" A man's voice called from the smith's porch. Ila looked up and grinned at the large, buff man. He was covered in dirt and grime, presumably from the mines. "You here for you and your brother's things?" The kind man asked.

"Yep! We're getting ready to leave soon" Ila stepped up onto the porch, shaking Blaire's hand when she got close.

"Well you're in luck!" Blaire walked past Ila and up to a work bench where two, shiny, iron long-daggers laid. He picked them up and carefully examined them. Nice and sharp he sheathed them and turned back toward the girl and handed them to her. "She just finished these up!"

Ila carefully unsheathed one of the daggers and gasped slightly at the small dragon carving near the hilt "Oh! She didn't have to carve it." Ila was almost in tears.

"Now don't you mind it Lassy." Grenda had looked up from the chunk of steel she had been working on. "Consider it an early birthday present" The woman winked and went back to beating the metal into submission.

Ila smiled wide, she didn't know what to say "Thank you so much!" Would have to do. She turned to flee before she could make more embarrassment for herself.

"Ah, Oki's spear too kiddo" Blaire gently touched Ila's shoulder... So much for getting away without embarrassment. Ila sheepishly took the spear, and then turned to run away, Vali hot on her heals. She paused halfway down the street and turned to the market, deciding to pick up some venison jerky for the trip. It was one of her and her brother's favorite snacks.

"Hello Maria!" Ila called out happily as she came up to the meat vendor stall. She was a tall, lanky, young woman. Not much older than Ila's brother "Two pounds of Venison Jerky please"

"You got it." Maria Turned and reached into the cart behind her stall and pulled out two sacks of the snack. "You and your brother leaving soon?"

"Yep. We're going to pick up Cricket and head out" Ila took the sacks and handed over several small pieces of gold to the vendor. "We'll see if we can bring you an antler or something!" Maria loved collecting antlers, Teeth, and other stuff like that, her entire cabin was full of the stuff.

Maria chuckled. "I'll look forward to it." 

Ila waved goodbye and finally made her way back to her brother, who had moved from putting tack on Maleficent to giving Zelda belly rubs. "Who's a pretty girl?" Oki was cooing at the bearmarked Tokota "You are! Yes you are!"

Zelda let out a loud happy groan at the wonderful sensation of the tummy rub she was currently receiving. Liiiiiink. You need to let Oki do this for yoooou. She called out to the Tokota that was nervously shuffling off to the side.

N-no thank you. Nilak murmured. He sighed and looked off to the side, wishing that he wasn't so scared of everything. The usual advice of 'Just try to be brave Nilak!' was annoyingly unhelpful. He tried so hard everyday to step out of his comfort zone, and Zelda had definitely helped since she had shown up, but... it was still hard.

Oki laughed and flopped himself down onto Zelda's belly, snuggling his face into her warm fur. He sighed happily and finally turned to look at his sister. "Ila! You're back" He didn't move from his warm spot on his Tokota.

"We should probably get going Oki... Cricket was expecting us by sundown, and we have to get going if we want to make good time." Ila leaned down and pulled on her brother's hood lightly. Oki grunted and still didn't move, he was cuddling dammit! "Come oooon" Ila tugged a few more times and finally Oki groaned and stood up from Zelda's side.

Both handlers mounted up on their respective Tokotas for the trip and settled in for the trip to the village to the south to pick up their friend. About half way to the village they met up with their blond friend. She was riding atop her Long maned girl Luna.

"Hey Cricket." Oki grinned at his friend "and hello to you too Luna! Your mane looks beautiful today." Oki reached out and pet the top of Luna's head softly. "Cricky should bring you around to my place, Uki would love to brush and braid your mane" Luna let out a soft bark and squinted her eyes partially shut in joy, the thought of someone brushing her mane made her so happy.

Cricket gave out a noiseless laugh and signaled a hello to both the other Tokota handlers. She shifted in discomfort from the tack she was sitting on. If Oki could recall, Cricket barely used the damn stuff anymore. But this was going to be a long journey and Tack was required. His assumptions were confirmed when Cricket signaled as much.

Ila looked up at the sky while the older two talked and signaled about what paths they would take and when they would take their breaks and where certain landmarks were. The sun was starting to set, the should probably get going so they could make it to the first landmark as soon as possible.

"Whelp! Lets get going!" Oki turned Maleficent in the direction they would be starting in and nudged her flanks to start her forward. The two girls followed him. Both Oki and Cricket have been on this path before, so they didn't take too much notice in their surroundings, preferring to just make small talk while they passed through the foreign pine forest. Ila however was in silent awe of the giant pine trees, this forest was visible from her village, but damn she was not expecting the trees to be this tall.

Wow! Vali was also looking up at the giant trees. I didn't know they were this big!

Luna laughed softly. This forest is great for hide and seek, lots of places to hide.

Oh I bet it's great! Vali looked at the long maned female You're so lucky to have this right next to your village! all we got is dumb rocks. Vali pouted.

Oh please. Maleficent rolled her bright blue eyes, We have a forest near home... you know, the one you're scared to go in. she snipped.

Vali's ears set back in embarrassment and didn't say anything. She hated it when people brought up that forest, something about it set her nerves on fire with anxiety. She wasn't sure what and to b honest she didn't want to know.

That wasn't very nice. Luna muttered. Maleficent scoffed, and awkwardly the conversation died between the three Tokotas.

When the sun was just on the horizon and a few minutes from setting completely, Oki and Cricket stopped the group. "No quite where we wanted to be, but it'll have to do." Oki slid off Maleficen't back. He removed the saddle part of her tack, but left her vest on. Then turned to help Ila take off Vali's saddle "Go on and go get yourself something to eat guys. We're going to map out our path."

Maleficent went away from the group quite a ways, sniffing around. Something smelles fucking amazing... what is it? Oooh! It was a rabbit den! Maleficent stuck her nose in the opening of the den. They were home too. Maleficent jumped on the den, quickly digging it up and eating her tasty morsel. Easy dinner! Cool find. She turned and continued to look around. She might was well try to find more rabbit or something, Knowing Vali that wuss wouldn't leave the range of the campfire.

Luna and Vali stayed near the camp. Normally Vali was all over exploring anything and everything new... but it was almost night time. So she just stuck to Luna's side while they sniffed around. There wasn't much anything interesting to look sadly. But the new smells were just as cool. Eventually Vali got bored of just sniffing around and decided to turn in early. She turned back and slid in between Oki and Ila, and rested her head on Oki's lap. She was asleep shortly.

Luna decided to venture out a little further from the campsite when she was alone. She came across a lake. She could see all the way to the bottom of the lake. Crystal clear water reflected the moon beautifully. Luna lowered her head and lapped up the cool water calmly, it was delicious. They must be further into the forest than she thought, there were too many new smells for somewhere she and Cricket had been numberless times and this lake was a new thing to her. Maybe she could lead some of her pack mates out here for a fishing day...

Maleficent and Luna got back to the campsite at roughly the same time. All three humans and Vali were snoring away. Maleficent nodded at the long mane and jumped up on the large boulder the camp was backed on, settling down for some moon basking as she was not quite tired. Luna snuggled up next to cricket and drifted off to sleep.

They had a long trip ahead of them.