The white elk - bear hunt 1

“Watch your manners brat.” Leanna snapped tugging the reins to force her agouti’s head back to face forward so she didn’t snap at the brown male Elspeth was riding.

Faustus was very mellow toko, or at least he appeared to be, the other woman was having no trouble controlling the big male as they traveled down the forested paths. Unfortunately for her she was forced to try and rein in the snotty little brat Anaia who was her responsibility. While Cassie and her curly Sekhmet lead the group, Ramona, the pretty brown half mane took up the back with Emmy sitting pretty in the saddle. If Annie wasn’t such a mean little psycho Leanna would be hanging back to talk to the red headed druid. “You sure you got a handle on her?” Ellie asked when Lee’s brow scrunched in pain and she pressed her fingers against her eyelids.

She had been having some serious migraines that were making her life difficult recently and Annie was a handful on a good day. Lee shook her head and waved her brother off. “Yeah she just likes being a pain in the ass. How is he, since he has to deal with Annie snipping at him?” Lee gestured to Faustus who perked up his ears and flashed those stunning green eyes of his at her, seemingly knowing he was being talked about.

Elspeth smiled and gave an affectionate pat to the brown toko she was riding, the only male in the entire group and would probably be enjoying it immensely no doubt if Anaia would cooperate and be nice for once in her life. “He is fine, and he is a guy so I’m sure even with the nips he enjoys the view.” Ellie teased with a wink.

“Considering this group of female toko’s I wouldn’t be complaining either.” Emmy laughed from the back and even Cassie chuckled as they trotted along.

The group was an eclectic one but they had all joined up at one point or another, deciding to stick together to avoid meeting some grumpy bears as they forage for food as the season changes before winter hibernation. The trail they were on would hopefully lead them further into the mountains while the deer and elk herds were heading south directly to them. It wouldn’t be too long now before they would need to set up camp for the night however, and if Annie didn’t smarten up soon she would be forced to muzzle her to keep from trying to bully the other tokos. Sekhmet had already put the submissive aguoti in her place a few times for being fresh. Lee would hate it if she got into a full on fight and would only get to bring the pretty, if slightly evil, girl out solo or with higher status Tokota’s. If she ever did work her way up the hierarchy pole she could become a right nightmare of an alpha female.

Shuddering at that frightening thought Leanna struck up another conversation between the girls as they continued on. As the sun went down turning the clouds purple and the western sky varying shades of gold and orange the women found a good camping spot in a clearing full of thick meadow grass and the last of summers wildflowers. “It’s a wonder this place hasn’t been picked clean.” Cassie said as she dismounted.

“Maybe we should head further north then? If the game hasn’t reached here yet should we send a scout further up to see if they can spot signs of any heading our way?” Leanna asked dropping out of the saddle though keeping a hand on the reins to keep Annie in check.

“I can take on my deer form and see if I can find anything worthwhile.” Emmy offered as she lead Ramona up to the circle.

“Wouldn’t that leave you vulnerable to hunters yourself?” Ellie asked undoing the buckles on Faustus’ tack.

The redheaded druid shrugged. “No more than usual, and Ramona would come with me so I wouldn’t be totally alone or helpless.” She said removing her packs and supplies before releasing the toko from her saddle.

One by one each Tokota was released to wander the clearing until only Anaia was left still tethered to her handler. Removing the leather bridle Annie shook her head like she had water in her ears before focusing her gold eyes back on Lee. Running her hand under her chin the woman took a gentle but firm grip there holding the predator's gaze. “You will behave yourself or I will let Sekhmet kick your ass to put you back in place. Understand?”

Anaia’s eyes wandered not focusing on her, but when Lee squeezed and forced her head down a little further they snapped to her hazel orbs and stayed. “Understand.” She said with more force this time, waiting for her tail to tuck down and the whine of aquience before she let go, letting the troublemaker wander off.

Sighing Lee relaxed and went to work setting up the small tent she would be sharing with Emmy and left her sleeping bag by the saddle. “She always like that?” Emmy asked helping her with the poles.

“Unfortunately yes. Her sire could be a right mean bastard when he wanted to be, and she took after him. The only time we ever see her be sweet is when she is around small children or infant animals, she seriously shooed the barn cat away from her own kittens once so she could look after them. I swear she is a little insane in the membrane.” Lee said pushing the tent poles through their slots whilst Em helped guide them through the ones on her side.

“Sounds a little bipolar to me.” Elspeth quipped as she built her own tent and Cassie silently agreed with a nod.

“Won’t argue that. I honestly don’t get her most of the time, but she has no problem with male toko’s usually. Especially if she can get them to bend to her wishes, makes me glad Faustus seems to ignore her and her charms… which is probably why she is so grumpy with him actually.” Lee said with a slight crooked smile on her face, one that was echoed by the other women around her.

After everyone had set up camp and settled down the foursome of Tokota’s soon followed suite and began to bed down near their handlers. As they set the central fire alight Sekhmet lifted her head nose twitching in the breeze, shifting her body slightly so she could get to her feet faster if needed she wasn’t the only one who perked up. Ears on a swivel Faustus came to a sitting position followed by Ramona and Anaia as they all tensed up, a chorus of growls vibrating from their throats. In a matter of seconds they all went on alert, grabbing weapons the crew of women stood drawing back bows and cocking rifles as they stood back to back around the fire. The growling grew to a kind of fever pitch as the women began to hear the foliage around them begin to rustle in the dark. “Hullo? Please we aren’t a threat we are just lost.” A male voice called from the treeline.

The whole crew narrowed their eyes with suspicion as the intruder crept closer, two sets of eyeshine beginning to glint off the firelight as they came closer. Shifting her grip on the rifle Lee flipped the safety off and made sure she had a clean line of fire as the two newcomers came out into the open. The brown face of a Tokota became clear first then the anthropomorphic rider on it’s back came into focus seconds later. “Who are you?” Elspeth asked bowstring still drawn against her cheek.

The golden furred male halted the brown female and raised his hands in a surrender gesture. “My name is Zephyr and this is Tris. We don’t mean any harm, we are just looking to join you for tonight. There’s safety in numbers that sort of thing.” He gave half smile, and Lee was sure he was trying to make it seem friendly and not predatory with his sharp canine like teeth.

Looking to the rest of the group Leanna could see they were still wary, but were relaxing their bow arms, flicking the safety back on she lowered her rifle. “We’ll talk about it, give us a moment?” She asked calmly raising a brow at him.

Zephyr nodded and sat back waiting for their decision, the four women huddled together in a tight circle Sekhmet and Annie moved shoulder to shoulder blocking them from view. “Are you sure we want to allow him into our camp? After all the rumors about those criminals on the Tartok Mountains are we sure we can trust him?” Emmy asked in a hushed whisper, still keeping one eye trained on him.

Elspeth seemed reluctant as well, while Cassie brought up that all of them had been on their own at one point and they had joined up too. “What if he is alone? What then? We just turn him away without a second thought? For all we know he is lost, or out of supplies, we don’t know for sure.”  Leanna said with an imploring look to each of them.

She knew what it was like to be on her own isolated in the wilderness, afraid that every rustle in the trees at night was some monster in the dark. Even with a full grown Tokota as a companion and protector it could be unsettling and dangerous. Plus her brother was no help, he loved to feed her horror stories before she went off by herself. The jerk. Chewing on her lip Lee looked to her friend Emmy with a shrug. “I say we let him stay, at least for tonight.” At the skeptical looks she received Leanna continued. “In the morning he can go his separate way, or do whatever it is he was doing before he found us.”

There were a few more mutterings before they eventually decided that the anthro male could stay. Cassie and Lee came around the sides of their tokos and looked up to Zephyr, Lee left a hand on Annie’s neck fingers keeping a cautionary grip in the female agouti’s mane. Cassie only had to look at Sekhemt for the curly to stand down and lose her defensive posturing. “You can stay, for now. Cause trouble though and you will have more than one weapon aimed at you in a heartbeat.” Faustus then took it upon himself to move into view licking his chops with a dangerous glint reflecting in his emerald eyes.

Elspeth let him move as he liked only keeping a piercing stare on the golden furred anthro male, he seemed to get the message and tipped his head as a sign of submission to the wary women and their protective mounts. Dismounting he slowly joined the inner circle and made up a small site opposite to them, when he finished he came to sit by the fire pulling out food stuffs for both him and the brown Tris. Lee faced Annie once more bringing her other hand to lay gently on her dark muzzle. “Remember.” Was all she said and released her grump with a quick kiss to her brow.

Conversation after that was a little tense but it picked up when Cassie and Emmy got into a sarcastic debate with each other involving what was the best shifter form. Eventually everyone got into it when their opinions were asked, even Zephyr. Before too long it devolved into a laughing fit, and when they would start to slow down someone would begin to giggle again and set everyone one off once more. Finally they all relaxed and the tension eased topics grew more tame as they settled down and began to nod off heading for their sleeping bags. Ramona whined a little when she was refused entrance to the tent after Emmy and Lee disappeared inside. Belly crawling to the entrance the brown half mane poked her nose into the zipper and pushed it up trying to climb in anyways.

“Oh you big baby, get out before you bring the tent down!” The redhead laughed pushing the black nose back before flopping back onto her sleeping bag.

Leanna chuckled and got up to rezip the flap and managed to see Annie trying again in vain to catch Faustus’ attention. It seemed the handsome male was either well aware of her flirtations and was purposely ignoring her to wind the agouti up, or was genuinely oblivious and not interested. She would have to remember to ask Ellie tomorrow over breakfast, when the rainmarked brat started to fresh and nip Sekhmet intervened before Leanna could shout at her. The tawny female gave a sharp bark and stared the agouti down, when she finally dipped her head in reluctant submission Sekhmet laid a paw on her brow and seemed to push the younger toko back. Then began to tease the now intrigued male, almost as if saying watch the master pup, Lee snickered and watched the display for a few more seconds before closing the tent and flopping into her sleeping bag.

The druid opened one violet eye as her friend settled in. “They behaving themselves out there?” She asked voice already getting rough as sleep came in.

Lee grunted an affirmative. “Yeah, Ellie and Cassie are chaperoning. Though whether it’s to keep an eye on my girl or Zephyr is anyone’s guess.” Emmy shrugged as the conversation ended and they both fell asleep starting to snore within a few minutes.

Cassie and Elspeth watched as the group of tokos grew more and more relaxed around each other just as their handlers had done earlier in the evening. As the three of the four females began to mess about in the clearing by starlight, Sekhmet and Faustus sat next to their handlers and seemed content to just watch the other tokos play. It was getting late so this was just the final romp before they all found their places to sleep for the night, whether it be curled next to the tents or in the tall grass behind them. Zephyr had made himself comfortable on his own bedroll but was content to stare up at the constellations waiting for Tris to come back to him before he passed out entirely. Deciding to take advantage of the wakefulness of their companion Elspeth posed a question to the gold male.

“What are you doing out so far?” She asked her tone neutral but inquisitive.

Cassie raised a brow at her but said nothing, she too wanted to hear his answer. “The same as you probably, we are looking to grab some deer or elk before we head back home. With the bears grabbing as much food as possible it can be dangerous out when your on your own.” He shrugged still watching Tris as she roughhoused with Ramona and Anaia.

Cassie narrowed her blue eyes slightly as she took in his answer, it wasn’t a lie from what she could see. Though it still seemed odd that while he claimed he didn’t want to be alone out here, yet here he was by himself with only a single toko as a companion and protector. When Ellie voiced her inner thoughts out loud Cassie sent a suspicious glance to the native woman. Had the darker haired woman possibly read her mind? While it was a disconcerting theory Cass shook it off, since she was a dragon walking around as a human the shifter had little ground to stand on. Plus that’s all it was, a theory… “True enough I guess, but I tend to make others uncomfortable so I am a bit of a loner on purpose. But I was about to set up camp when this group of bears came by and started making a fuss less than a stone's throw away from my site. Hence the reason we booked it for safer ground and found you in the process, can you blame me?” Zephyr explained snapping Cass back to the discussion at hand.

“If you would have told us that when you showed up we would have been less hostile. You probably set down near a salmon run and those buggers got a whiff of you.” Ellie said sitting back against Faustus.

The brown yawned and shifted his weight so he could lay behind his handler without disturbing her too much. Sekhmet yawned as well and followed suit though she dropped her head on her paws with a sleepy sigh. Ellie watched the shifter woman smile and stroked the curled mane tufts at the top of the tawny’s head. Feeling her boys breathing and heartbeat thud gently against her back she too began to feel to pull of sleep begin to weigh on her. Zephyr got tired of waiting and whistled for Tris to come lay down with him so they could both get some rest. Obeying her handlers call she broke from the other two and trotted over panting softly pink tongue lolling. The darker agouti and the rich cocoa brown females followed though not before a final roll in the dewy grass. Ramona tossed her short silver mane like a horse shaking dust and stray green blades from her coat before she plopped down next to Sekhmet. Annie sneezed and stretched walking over to the occupied tent and curling up next to the side that scented her handler strongest.

When everyone passed out the fire quietly sizzled and popped safe within the grounded confines of the stones the smoke tendrils curling upwards to dissipate in the breeze. The scent drifting on the wind and catching in the nose of a creature waiting a few miles away. The animal snorted lifting his nose higher in the air, almost tasting the mixture on his tongue. Flicking an ear in another direction the beast listened to the echoes of other predators enclosing on his territory. Raising his head higher dark brown eyes scanned the darkness as the white King descended from his rocky throne high in the mountains. It had been a long time since he had scented someone worthy of his presence and it was high time he revealed himself once more.

Ramona was the first one awake the next morning followed shortly by Beatrice, the two browns stretched yawning wide in the early light of dawn. Annie, Faustus, and Sekhmet were still content to sleep near their girls. Zephyr blinked open his eyes when he felt the residual warmth of the toko move away. “Where you going?” His voice was rough and gravelly from just waking up.

Tris whined and nosed his shoulder encouraging him to back to bed, the male yawned and stretched even his tail flexed. “Don’t wander too far.” He muttered before going back to sleep.

Tris chuffed at him before she went to meet Ramona past the tent into the clearing where they had played the night before. The silvered half mane yipped and the two wandered off a little ways away from the camp. Both were adventurous and wanted to explore a bit now that the sun was starting to come up, even if their handlers would take a little longer. Trotting along a ridgeline Mona stopped to sniff a patch of weeds near a large peeling white birch. Tris scented what her companion had found, but it was just an old badger den hidden amongst the roots. Choosing to pace just a little further ahead Tris saw a flash out of the corner of her eye, pausing she took a deep inhalation ears and green eyes scanning the wilderness for danger. Ramona looked up from her weed patch seeing her impromptu packmate focused on something. The scarred half mane gave an curious whine, asking what it was she was so intent on. Mona cocked her head in confusion when Tris did not respond to her, barking this time she ambling over jade colored orbs trying to find it.

Standing above them higher on the hill stood a large white elk, his massive rack a testament to his age and skill as a survivor. The proud beast stared the predators down with a keen intelligence that should not belong in a prey animal, both the females felt it and recognized it. An echo of power that made the submissive traits in them want to bow their heads, while an equal part wanted to chase and bring down this impressive bull. Tris and Ramona eventually submitted to the feelings and dipped their heads, ears flattening back and tails tucking ever so slightly under them. The liquid brown eyes blinked slowly and a soft snort broke the quiet, hooves scraping against earth and stone the white beast moved down towards them, his every step slow and deliberate. The massive male stopped a short distance away causing the brown toko’s to finally lift up their gazes to judge what would happen next.

A long questioning howl stole through the woods, it was Sekhmet calling for them since they had traveled further than they should have. Mona whimpered feeling the need to answer but feeling like she shouldn’t at the same time. Looking to Tris she found the same conflicted desire reflected back at her. The grumble of the elk brought both pairs of verdant eyes back to the pale beast but he now seemed tense and alert while before he appeared serene. A stiff breeze from the north brought with it the strong musk of bear, and lots of it, too much for it to be just one of the great hulking brutes. Nostrils flaring the bulls muscles bunched as he reared up rack arching above his head a harsh bugle echoing between the trees. Sekhmet called again this time more urgent seeming to sense the elk’s screech was related to her missing younger females. Faustus and Annie soon joined in their voices growing louder as their nervousness grew, a low rumbling growl answered from the brush further up the ridgeline. Finally calling back the browns signalled danger to the others, and it was enough to send the elk turning and bolting towards the campsite with Mona and Tris following suit. The snowy pelt of the bull bounded ahead of them as they all raced back, somehow the animal managed to outpace the Tokota’s and stayed well out of range. Even over the smooth terrain the pale beast remained well in front even disappearing from sight a few times.

Despite the fact that neither toko was actually hunting the elk both wondered why it would run towards the scent of more predators when it could have easily gone in any direction. Somehow the white animal seemed to vanish entirely but the resounding crashes of pursuing bears had the brown girls ignore their confusion and keep going. Within minutes they crashed through the foliage and were racing across the clearing towards the alerted and tense group. “Whoa whoa what’s the matter?” Emmy asked while she and Zephyr quickly looked over the two checking for injuries while Ellie, Leanna, and Cassie scanned the treeline looking for what had made the two come back nervous.

It didn’t take long to find out. A huge kodiak weighing at least a thousand pounds with his hulking shoulders and brawny body, muscled through the pricker brush following the scents of the two fleeing tokos and the breakfast meat cooking over the fire. He wasn’t alone either… two smaller brown bears marched in his wake, low roars their communication as they lumbered closer. No doubt these were the same bears that had chased Zephyr and Beatrice to the others last night. Annie, Faustus, and Sekhmet snarled stalking forward to create a defensive barrier between the handlers and the grizzlies. Taking charge the big male stopped short, but bellowed a warning roar to the Tokota pack, he was going to get what he wanted even if he had to go through them. Ramona and Tris moved forward as backup for the other three, all five growling and exposing their lethal teeth to the trio of bears. Muscles corded and bunched beneath fur as the stand off continued, none of the girls or Zeph dared move in case it set off the fight. Sekhmet dug her claws into the ground ready to spring when the kodiak had enough of waiting and reared up roaring a challenge.

Faustus lunged first going for the smaller bear on the right seeming to catch it off guard as his teeth sunk deep into its shoulder. Mona and Tris went for the middle sized bear on the left, leaving Sekhmet and Annie to tackle the monstrous male in front. When it became a clashing of fur, teeth, and claws each handler ran for their weapons and locked and were locked and loaded within seconds. Lee aimed her rifle and waited for an opening, just like Emmy, Elspeth, and Cassie drew their bows back waiting for opportunities to strike. Faustus was locked in a wrestling duel with his, both trying to knock the other off balance and gain the upper hand. Ellie waited and when she saw her chance took it, releasing the arrow it sunk deep into the neck of the bear. Faus had lost his footing and slid sidewise nearly getting a fatal neck bite from the bear, groaning in pain the toko took advantage of the distraction and snagged the throat cutting off the air supply.

Mona was latched onto the shoulder just barely missing the spine under all the fur and muscle protecting it. Tris was on the opposite side hanging onto the neck using her forelegs to block the movement of one large paw. Cassie and Emmy landed a few arrows in it’s chest and if the blood oozing from its mouth was any indication one had hit a lung. The battle continued, but Sekhmet and Annie were struggling to bring down the largest on their own. No doubt to reach that size he had to be a skilled hunter and fighter, Leanna had managed one shot but it only enraged the bear further swinging a clawed club of a paw so hard to knocked Annie into a roll. The large golden tawny grappled with the other claw, biting down so hard she was determined to break bone. Faustus jumped onto his back trying to force the massive kodiak to the ground on all fours. Anaia recovered and went for neck shaking her head violently, though the thick fur and loose skin of the grizzly made it hard to connect to anything vital. Ramona was next going for the armpit area crunching muscle and tissue in a killer bite.

Beatrice was last, she managed to clamp down on the throat much like Faustus had on the other bear. The male knew it was over, the Tokota pile hung on tight as the belligerent, wheezing, still rumbling bear, finally collapsed in death. It was done. The group stood in silence as the snarling and growls were replaced by pants of exhaustion. As a sign of solidarity and recognition the pack took up a victory howl, a little battered and bruised but whole. The handlers each joined in a shout of triumph and congratulated their tokos with affection and pride. The bugle of an elk brought them all up short and they all looked for the source of the sound. Zephyr was the first to spot it, and he pointed it out to the rest. “There!” He pointed to the top of a gully slope where the albino bull elk stood as majestic as a king against the rising sun.