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Description
A group of five tokotas had gathered on a blue grass covered hilltop. A gentle summer breeze ruffled their manes, bringing the promised scent of rain to their noses. For now though, the sun was high, and fluffy clouds skirted the blue sky. Hills rose and fell and around them, preventing them from seeing too far ahead, and in the distance deeper shades of blue indicated the presence of mountains. The group sat starkly in silhouette against the gentle gradient of the blue-green grass to the bright blue of the sky above. There was Ammon, an older male who was cold and distant from the group, staring off into the distance. Alawa, eyes shining bright, tail carried high as she looked at each of the other tokotas in the group. Donut ran circles at their feet, Alawa keeping a close eye on the toki, making sure he didn’t start trying to eat the grass again. Misae wagged her tail eagerly at the sight of her grandmother, Alawa, and briefly joined Donut in running in circles around the other tokotas, tongue lolling.

Ammon stared intently at Aurora, she was the only tokota that didn’t belong to the same pack of the group after all, she better have some respect for her elders. In response Aurora’s ears went down, and she shuffled further away from the intimidating male, keeping her body low to the ground.
Misae was the first to speak “So where do we go from here?” They all looked out, more hills surrounded them, grass waving gently in the breeze, trees sprouted here and there providing a bit of shade from the warm summer sun.

Alawa scanned the horizon, looking for the landmarks that had become so familiar. The group was gathered in the Tartok Foothills, to the east was of course the Tartok Mountains that were hazy in the distance, probably not a good place to take Donut though, despite the toki’s energy a mountain climb would be a bit challenging. Northeast they would find the start of The West River, which they could follow to Kesuk bay, but that was a bit of a longer trek than Alawa had wanted to make today. To the North lay Piaktok geyser field, a popular tokota destination, to the west of that was Aippaq’s mirror, but due to it being summer the effects of the mirror wouldn’t be very prevalent.

“We’re going to the Piaktok geyser field” Alawa announced. “Its North of here, I know some of you” she paused to stare at Ammon, “Have been there before, but its a good stopping place for the night before we head to The West River and Kesuk bay tomorrow.”

Donut spun in a circle, “Oh boy, geysers! Is there anything good to eat there?”

Alawa responded gently, “We will just have to wait and see.”

With Alawa in the lead the group set out, Ammon falling into place beside her, Misae and Donut weaving from side to side, Donut’s head barely coming over some of the tall grass as the pair pounced, bounced, and capered through the foothills. Aurora came last, feeling awkwardly out of place among this pack of four tokotas that all knew each other.

Summer flowers bloomed though the tall grass, several times Misae would have to keep Donut from just nibbling at the petals. It seemed food was the only thing that stopped the toki in his excited tracks. Aurora kept an eye out for something edible to soothe the toki’s seemingly endless hunger, while Ammon split from the pack a bit, preferring to keep on his own, though he didn’t wander far enough away that he ever got out of eyesight. Alawa rarely paused in their journey forward, confident in knowing where they were and what direction to head.

Eventually Misae grew tired of playing, instead using her concentration to keep an eye on Donut, who seemed to have an endless supply of energy, likely from all the things he ate. Aurora also grew braver as they crested each hill top and joined Misae’s side, not lagging behind as much, though she kept an eye on Ammon, still baleful of his stone-eyed gaze.

A squeak caught Aurora’s attention first, her ears swiveling to locate the sound, eyes bright and curious. Donut’s head came up from the stick he had found and started to chew on, head turning, then he was off, his little legs working quickly over the grassy terrain. Aurora bounded after him, Misae springing into action along side her. Alawa, quickly noticing the group had gone of course turned, and leaped toward the galloping toki. Ammon, numb to it all simply held in place, his head turned, fixing his gaze on the group.

Donut’s small body barreled toward the sound, Alawa's legs stretching out, she nipped at the curly toki, attempting to diverge the toki from his quest to find whatever was making the sound and eat it. Aurora scrambled to the other side trying to head Donut off, while Misae raced out in front, searching to find the sound first.

It was Alawa who first noticed the four of them were headed right for a grove of trees, snaking out her neck she reached out, grabbing Donut’s neck scruff, mouth full she couldn’t verbally warn the others, but she skidded to a stop, hoping her quick actions would prevent them all from crashing into the trunks and branches that were ahead.

Aurora’s paws flailed desperately for grip, and she sat hard, slipping a bit on some dirt before coming to a stop face to face with the oak tree’s bark. Misae wasn’t so lucky, though she managed to avoid the bulk of the trees, but the tawny female managed to get tangled in some bushes instead of smacking face first into a tree.

Alawa couldn’t hide a smirk at her granddaughter’s predicement, but she didn’t dare put Donut’s squirming body down to help. Taking charge Aurora gently pulled the vines and branches away from Misae’s tangled body. Misae didn’t seem to be hurt, fortunately, she kept chuckling as well as she removed herself from the bushes. As the pair got themselves sorted they heard the squeaking sound again. Donut squirmed again at the sound, past experience telling him that there was a rabbit or other small mammal for him to hunt and eat if he could just find the source of the sound.

Misae’s head titled up toward the branches of the tree, the sound seemed to be coming from up there somewhere. Standing up on her hind legs she peered into the leaves, eyes searching for what had caused Donut to barrel off like he had.
A frog stared her in the face, and a squeak came its throat. Misae stared at the frog for a long moment, then let out a laugh. She lowered herself to the ground, turning to face them. “Its a frog” she announced. Aurora stared at her a long moment then let out a few chuckles “All that, over a frog. Guess we should head back then, we don’t know if that things poisonous, so we can’t let Donut eat it.” Alawa nodded her agreement and the three trotted back to Ammon, Donut hanging from Alawa’s mouth looking distinctly grumpy at being taken away from his food.

It was a few miles before Alawa took the risk of letting Donut down again, Ammon giving the toki a hard cold stare, daring him to try running off again. Snorting Donut fell obediently in line like he had never run off in the first place.

With that the group of five tokotas continued on the way to the Piaktok geyser field.

Description
A group of five tokotas had gathered on a blue grass covered hilltop. A gentle summer breeze ruffled their manes, bringing the promised scent of rain to their noses. For now though, the sun was high, and fluffy clouds skirted the blue sky. Hills rose and fell and around them, preventing them from seeing too far ahead, and in the distance deeper shades of blue indicated the presence of mountains. The group sat starkly in silhouette against the gentle gradient of the blue-green grass to the bright blue of the sky above. There was Ammon, an older male who was cold and distant from the group, staring off into the distance. Alawa, eyes shining bright, tail carried high as she looked at each of the other tokotas in the group. Donut ran circles at their feet, Alawa keeping a close eye on the toki, making sure he didn’t start trying to eat the grass again. Misae wagged her tail eagerly at the sight of her grandmother, Alawa, and briefly joined Donut in running in circles around the other tokotas, tongue lolling.

Ammon stared intently at Aurora, she was the only tokota that didn’t belong to the same pack of the group after all, she better have some respect for her elders. In response Aurora’s ears went down, and she shuffled further away from the intimidating male, keeping her body low to the ground.
Misae was the first to speak “So where do we go from here?” They all looked out, more hills surrounded them, grass waving gently in the breeze, trees sprouted here and there providing a bit of shade from the warm summer sun.

Alawa scanned the horizon, looking for the landmarks that had become so familiar. The group was gathered in the Tartok Foothills, to the east was of course the Tartok Mountains that were hazy in the distance, probably not a good place to take Donut though, despite the toki’s energy a mountain climb would be a bit challenging. Northeast they would find the start of The West River, which they could follow to Kesuk bay, but that was a bit of a longer trek than Alawa had wanted to make today. To the North lay Piaktok geyser field, a popular tokota destination, to the west of that was Aippaq’s mirror, but due to it being summer the effects of the mirror wouldn’t be very prevalent.

“We’re going to the Piaktok geyser field” Alawa announced. “Its North of here, I know some of you” she paused to stare at Ammon, “Have been there before, but its a good stopping place for the night before we head to The West River and Kesuk bay tomorrow.”

Donut spun in a circle, “Oh boy, geysers! Is there anything good to eat there?”

Alawa responded gently, “We will just have to wait and see.”

With Alawa in the lead the group set out, Ammon falling into place beside her, Misae and Donut weaving from side to side, Donut’s head barely coming over some of the tall grass as the pair pounced, bounced, and capered through the foothills. Aurora came last, feeling awkwardly out of place among this pack of four tokotas that all knew each other.

Summer flowers bloomed though the tall grass, several times Misae would have to keep Donut from just nibbling at the petals. It seemed food was the only thing that stopped the toki in his excited tracks. Aurora kept an eye out for something edible to soothe the toki’s seemingly endless hunger, while Ammon split from the pack a bit, preferring to keep on his own, though he didn’t wander far enough away that he ever got out of eyesight. Alawa rarely paused in their journey forward, confident in knowing where they were and what direction to head.

Eventually Misae grew tired of playing, instead using her concentration to keep an eye on Donut, who seemed to have an endless supply of energy, likely from all the things he ate. Aurora also grew braver as they crested each hill top and joined Misae’s side, not lagging behind as much, though she kept an eye on Ammon, still baleful of his stone-eyed gaze.

A squeak caught Aurora’s attention first, her ears swiveling to locate the sound, eyes bright and curious. Donut’s head came up from the stick he had found and started to chew on, head turning, then he was off, his little legs working quickly over the grassy terrain. Aurora bounded after him, Misae springing into action along side her. Alawa, quickly noticing the group had gone of course turned, and leaped toward the galloping toki. Ammon, numb to it all simply held in place, his head turned, fixing his gaze on the group.

Donut’s small body barreled toward the sound, Alawa's legs stretching out, she nipped at the curly toki, attempting to diverge the toki from his quest to find whatever was making the sound and eat it. Aurora scrambled to the other side trying to head Donut off, while Misae raced out in front, searching to find the sound first.

It was Alawa who first noticed the four of them were headed right for a grove of trees, snaking out her neck she reached out, grabbing Donut’s neck scruff, mouth full she couldn’t verbally warn the others, but she skidded to a stop, hoping her quick actions would prevent them all from crashing into the trunks and branches that were ahead.

Aurora’s paws flailed desperately for grip, and she sat hard, slipping a bit on some dirt before coming to a stop face to face with the oak tree’s bark. Misae wasn’t so lucky, though she managed to avoid the bulk of the trees, but the tawny female managed to get tangled in some bushes instead of smacking face first into a tree.

Alawa couldn’t hide a smirk at her granddaughter’s predicement, but she didn’t dare put Donut’s squirming body down to help. Taking charge Aurora gently pulled the vines and branches away from Misae’s tangled body. Misae didn’t seem to be hurt, fortunately, she kept chuckling as well as she removed herself from the bushes. As the pair got themselves sorted they heard the squeaking sound again. Donut squirmed again at the sound, past experience telling him that there was a rabbit or other small mammal for him to hunt and eat if he could just find the source of the sound.

Misae’s head titled up toward the branches of the tree, the sound seemed to be coming from up there somewhere. Standing up on her hind legs she peered into the leaves, eyes searching for what had caused Donut to barrel off like he had.
A frog stared her in the face, and a squeak came its throat. Misae stared at the frog for a long moment, then let out a laugh. She lowered herself to the ground, turning to face them. “Its a frog” she announced. Aurora stared at her a long moment then let out a few chuckles “All that, over a frog. Guess we should head back then, we don’t know if that things poisonous, so we can’t let Donut eat it.” Alawa nodded her agreement and the three trotted back to Ammon, Donut hanging from Alawa’s mouth looking distinctly grumpy at being taken away from his food.

It was a few miles before Alawa took the risk of letting Donut down again, Ammon giving the toki a hard cold stare, daring him to try running off again. Snorting Donut fell obediently in line like he had never run off in the first place.

With that the group of five tokotas continued on the way to the Piaktok geyser field.