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Killer instincts. Sharp, pointed teeth, deadly, finely honed claws, it was really rather amazing Robyn thought to herself as she groomed Mogar, that humans had ever managed to tame tokotas at all. She was glad they had though, it was good to have such a fierce predator who could take down a bear, or moose on its on her side. Their instincts now included protecting those who brought them food at the very least, and many cases there was a true bond between tokota and rider that went deeper then survival. Today, she would be once again using Mogar's instincts and training, in one of his favorite things to do, hunt. She just hoped the brown male would get along with the tokota her brother, Nathan would be bringing with him. It had been a long time since she and her brother had hunted together and she was looking forward to catching up with him.

With a practiced ease, she swung the saddle onto Mogar's back, quickly working over the buckles and making sure the tack was in good condition. Her quiver was full of arrows, she had inspected her bow for any weaknesses in its curved shape, her knives had been honed to a sharp point, their leather handles freshly oiled, looking like new.

Consulting her map of SSWWc she led Mogar through the wide stone halls, his claws clicking on the floors as they walked until they reached an exit, she swung the door open, her eyes taking a moment to adjust to the cold morning light.

“Hey! Little sis' over here!” she heard her brother's familiar voice call. She squinted, the courtyard was a lot more crowded then it had been yesterday with contestants, and she scanned the group, eyes searching for where Nathan's voice had come from. “Over here!” Nathan called again, and this time she saw him waving, she led Mogar carefully around the other tokotas and riders, trying to avoid getting the wary male too close to any other aggressive mounts.

Nathan was holding his own tokota, a graying tundra male who had a dark gray blanket marking covering from his neck to his flanks, with bear marks zig-zagging through the tokota's fur.

“I don't recognize this guy, who is he?” Robyn asked, her brows furrowing as she attempted to remember if she had seen this particular tokota before.

“He's actually a loaner, he's a submissive tokota and needs more training and hunts under his fur, so to speak, before winter adds an extra challenge. His name is Barnabas. Is that Mogar?”

“Yeah, I guess he's pretty easy to recognize because of the paints.” Robyn smiled, the red lines that wrapped around Mogar's front legs, the triangles on his face that flowed with his cheek fur, and the hand print on his hindquarters all made Mogar very identifiable amongst a crowd of tokotas.

“I don't think Barnabas should cause Mogar any problems, he's been pretty well behaved so far.”

“I think once we get out of this crowd he'll be a lot happier.” Mogar's ears were back, and the tokotas brown eyes were flicking from side to side and he stood stiffly, on guard for trouble.

“We should be off then, if we don't hurry all the best spots will be taken.”

“I could not agree more oh brother of mine.”

With that both of them mounted their tokotas and soon they were outside the wall, away from the crowds and the noise. Mogar quickly switched to prey hunting mode once he determined they were far enough away, downright ignoring Barnabas who so far had been the very picture of a submissive tokota, keeping his head down and his tail tucked between his legs, not meeting Mogar's gaze and keeping a good distance away from the higher ranked male.

As the tokotas searched for prey, they rode with an easy pace, and remained close enough they could catch up as they had planned to do.

“So, what has been going on at SSWWc?” Robyn asked.

“We have obviously had a lot of coming and going, everyone's been so busy getting this contest, sometimes I do not see some of the others for weeks now, with winter coming they have also been trying to stock up on supplies, unfortunately those guest rooms and stables don't supply themselves. How are Jaime and Elena doing? Settling in for the winter alright?”

“Yeah, they have been great additions to the team so far, they work well with most of tokotas, and the tokotas they brought with them have been well behaved and getting along with ours thankfully. I think we are pretty prepared for the winter, though Jamie did have to convince me to come out here” she admitted.

Nathan smiled “I am glad he did, he seems like a good guy.” His eyebrows raised and he looked meaningfully at Robyn.

She flushed. “Its not like that, we're just getting to know one another. Besides with Elena around I feel like any kind of relationship with him might become awkward, I do not want to seem like I am playing favorites – you know?”

“They're cousins, not siblings” Nathan commented, but nodded.

“Might as well be siblings the way they act, they've practically grown up in the same tent for most of their lives, and now, well, they are still working together.”

“You mentioned in the letters that Jaime likes to mess with Elena sometimes, has he played any tricks on you guys yet?”

“Not on me, or Alex, I think he knows that I won't stand for any of that, and Alex would be too shy to say anything if the prank really bothered him. Kendrick though – Kendrick's been the receiving end of a few of his pranks, all in good fun, of course and he's gotten Jaime back.”

“Are you worried Kendrick might view Jaime as a threat and might go to far? Or vice versa?”

“A threat?” Robyn was puzzled for a moment before what her brother was saying dawned on her. “I told you me and Jaime aren't like that, and you know Kendrick and I, well we've talked about it, and we've agreed that just being friends is better in the long run.”

“You know what our poor mother would say” Nathan teased.

“Yes, that I will be an old maid with all these men around, but by the time I pick one they will all be gone.” Robyn rolled her eyes. “I'm fine, I have tokotas to look after, and its not like they aren't still my friends. Besides, I have you, and you are enough of a bother without having to worry about another guy.”

“True, but if any of them ever breaks your heart …”

“You will shoot 'em. I know.” Robyn was silent for a moment. “What about you, any romantic interests?” she teased, it was fair play after all. She was expected a no, or perhaps a non committal answer as always but when Nathan remained silent for a little too long she glanced over, to see he was blushing. “Why Nathan Beckett, I do believe you might have a crush. Tell” she demanded.

Just as Nathan was about open his mouth to protest, Mogar caught a scent, distracting Robyn. Mogar broke out into a lope, his paws flying across the leaf littered ground. The cold fall air stung Robyn's cheeks, and she found herself focusing on the terrain ahead as Mogar twisted his way through trees, going down a hill.

Barnabas, despite his trepidation to approach Mogar did not want to be left out of a hunt, so he quickly caught up to the brown tokota, tongue lolling, and it almost looked like the tundra was grinning. The thrill and anticipation of the hunt had quickly swept Robyn's attention away from Nathan and he breathed a sigh of relief before also focused on moving his body with his tokota's, ducking under branches and bracing himself for any sudden movements.

A flicker of light and the smell of water was all the warning Robyn had before she found herself and Mogar splashing in and then out of a creek, the cold water finding every opening it could to chill her and at the same time get Mogar dirtier then she thought would have been possible. Oh well, at least the tokota was already brown and it was not as if hunting was dependent on looks, if it was many tokota owners before her would have been screwed.

Nathan also got rudely splashed with the water, but at least he was prepared for it, having just seen Mogar and Robyn go through.

Mogar paused on the other bank, lowering his nose, sniffing the banks as he tried to figure out where the prey he had been following had gone and Robyn spotted the familiar, and fresh hoof prints of deer in the mud by the creek.

Within minutes the brown male had found the trail again, though his speed was not quite as breakneck as before, they must be getting close. Robyn signaled to Nathan to stay quiet, not that he needed it, but out of habit more than anything. She readied her bow, drawing an arrow from the quiver and she knew Nathan would have untied his spear and now held it with one hand and the reins with the other.

The tokotas slowed to a crawl, creeping through bushes with as much silence and grace something the size of a very large bear could muster. Robyn and Nathan crouched low over their tokota's necks, trying not to give themselves away as they inched forward.

Robyn spotted the antlers first, and her heart began to race, they were so close now, and Mogar's eyes were alert with excitement, and for the first time in days there was not a drop of tenseness in his body, and he moved freely, loosely, as if he were a giant cat instead of a giant wolf-bear-dog thing.

Leaping forward Mogar became a blur of brown fur, Barnabas tried to follow suit, but tripped over his own paws, and the deer leapt away, startled, it ran forward. Mogar did not care though, now he got to chase. Robyn knew by now that she had to just hang on and she closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and clung to the reins as Mogar sprung into a full, headlong gallop.

The deer did not stand a chance, Mogar's energy combined with his skills quickly brought the buck down, and they had their first kill of the day, quickly they shot up a flare, marking their kill, the volunteers would be there soon to pick up the deer and take it back to wall, and soon they were once more on the hunt for prey.

“So,” Robyn let the word hang in the air for a moment, she had not forgotten what they had been talking about like Nathan had hoped she would. “I believe you were about to tell me the name of this lady friend that has got you blushing like a tomato. Anyone I would know?”

Nathan mumbled a response, and looked down, and he urged Barnabas in front of Mogar trying to escape his sister's curiosity.

“Aw, c'mon Nathan, she can't be that bad, and if she is, I'll break both your arms.” Robyn was so busy teasing Nathan she did not notice the way Mogar's ears went back as Barnabas, who before had been very respectful of the brown male's personal space, not only equaled him, but was getting ahead. Well, that was just not happening, not on his watch. With a warning snort, Mogar extended his pace, passing the gray tundra.

It was only the scent of another deer that kept Mogar from further threatening the youngster, the promise of another wild flight, and an eagerness to feel the deer's neck snap between his teeth. Soon Robyn had her hands full once more just hanging on to Mogar as he plotted their course, Barnabas and Nathan fell back, just where Mogar had wanted them.

This time Mogar managed to sneak perfectly up on the young stag, and best of all there were more deer with him, so he could have both a chase and a kill. His teeth sunk into the deer's jugular vein just as he had imagined it and with a shake of his powerful jaws and a soft crunch as the deer's neck broke and its blood leaked onto the forest floor, soaking into the dirt slowly, he had made his second kill. Robyn couldn't even get Mogar to stand still long enough to send up a flare, his energy was spinning in a hurricane of blood lust now. He strained against the tug of the reins, bursting forward, his head bowed as he fought Robyn's instructions, dancing to the sides as he ran, trying to escape the pressure of her heels as she tried to get him to turn in place to slow his progress.

Still it wasn't enough and she had soon left Nathan and Barnabas behind with the task of taking care of the second corpse and catching up with them.

Branches lashed out at Robyn, and Mogar was covered with mud, blood still dripping from his mouth as he ran. If he was not going at such a breakneck speed she might have jumped and left Mogar to his devices, let him work out his energy as he chased the deer, but that thought seemed insane now. Soon another deer was in sight, and with another spurt of determination and raw power Mogar rushed forward, his teeth clamping around the deer's ankle, tripping it, bringing it to the ground with a crash.

In an instant the tokota was upon the animal, his paw crushing its throat, and if Mogar had been human perhaps he would have laughed manically at the moment with the blood lust coursing through him, adrenaline kept his heart racing, and he enjoyed the metallic tang in his mouth. Robyn watched as the life slipped from the deer's eyes and it ceased to struggle.

This time she managed to send up a flare, as Mogar stood there for a moment, sides heaving, panting from the chase. Seeing her chance, Robyn took control of the reins once more, guiding the tokota in small circles until his breath was even, watching as the hungry look had left his eyes, and he responded to her commands once more. She slipped off the tokota, legs shaking and she took a long swig of her water before pouring some of the refreshing liquid down Mogar's throat.

By the time Mogar was back under her control Nathan and Barnabas had caught up, trotting up to them and Nathan whistled at the sight of the third corpse.

“You were not kidding about Mogar's killer instincts.”

Robyn chuckled dryly, then her face grew serious. “I was lucky there were not any more deer or prey around otherwise I do not think he would have stopped.”

“Are you alright?” Nathan asked, his voice full of concern.

“it was quite the ride, but I will be alright. I can take care of myself you know.”

“I can't help it” Nathan said, unapologetic, “I am your big brother after all.” He offered her some jerky and she chewed on the snack gratefully, and got out the food she had packed for Mogar who snarfed it down then sniffed her for more. “Sorry boy, no more, but I'm sure we'll have a feast tonight” she scratched the tokota's face gently, her fingers playing with the locks of hair in the tokota's dark mane.

“Think he'll be alright for more hunting?”

“Well he did take down three deer, if that wouldn't wear him down, I don't know what will. Besides, I think Barnabas needs a turn at taking down some prey.”

Nathan nodded his agreement, after all that was why he had volunteered to bring the tundra tokota along, and now that Mogar had quenched his blood lust it would be easier for the more aggressive male to work with the youngster, instead of on his own, or at least that was the idea.

They worked together in silence after that, instead concentrating on letting Barnabas get the scents and take the kills when possible, sending up one flair after the next as the sun crossed the sky, and the day marched on.

Finally as it grew dark and both the tokotas and their riders could not chase down one more prey they headed back, it had been a long day.

Description
Killer instincts. Sharp, pointed teeth, deadly, finely honed claws, it was really rather amazing Robyn thought to herself as she groomed Mogar, that humans had ever managed to tame tokotas at all. She was glad they had though, it was good to have such a fierce predator who could take down a bear, or moose on its on her side. Their instincts now included protecting those who brought them food at the very least, and many cases there was a true bond between tokota and rider that went deeper then survival. Today, she would be once again using Mogar's instincts and training, in one of his favorite things to do, hunt. She just hoped the brown male would get along with the tokota her brother, Nathan would be bringing with him. It had been a long time since she and her brother had hunted together and she was looking forward to catching up with him.

With a practiced ease, she swung the saddle onto Mogar's back, quickly working over the buckles and making sure the tack was in good condition. Her quiver was full of arrows, she had inspected her bow for any weaknesses in its curved shape, her knives had been honed to a sharp point, their leather handles freshly oiled, looking like new.

Consulting her map of SSWWc she led Mogar through the wide stone halls, his claws clicking on the floors as they walked until they reached an exit, she swung the door open, her eyes taking a moment to adjust to the cold morning light.

“Hey! Little sis' over here!” she heard her brother's familiar voice call. She squinted, the courtyard was a lot more crowded then it had been yesterday with contestants, and she scanned the group, eyes searching for where Nathan's voice had come from. “Over here!” Nathan called again, and this time she saw him waving, she led Mogar carefully around the other tokotas and riders, trying to avoid getting the wary male too close to any other aggressive mounts.

Nathan was holding his own tokota, a graying tundra male who had a dark gray blanket marking covering from his neck to his flanks, with bear marks zig-zagging through the tokota's fur.

“I don't recognize this guy, who is he?” Robyn asked, her brows furrowing as she attempted to remember if she had seen this particular tokota before.

“He's actually a loaner, he's a submissive tokota and needs more training and hunts under his fur, so to speak, before winter adds an extra challenge. His name is Barnabas. Is that Mogar?”

“Yeah, I guess he's pretty easy to recognize because of the paints.” Robyn smiled, the red lines that wrapped around Mogar's front legs, the triangles on his face that flowed with his cheek fur, and the hand print on his hindquarters all made Mogar very identifiable amongst a crowd of tokotas.

“I don't think Barnabas should cause Mogar any problems, he's been pretty well behaved so far.”

“I think once we get out of this crowd he'll be a lot happier.” Mogar's ears were back, and the tokotas brown eyes were flicking from side to side and he stood stiffly, on guard for trouble.

“We should be off then, if we don't hurry all the best spots will be taken.”

“I could not agree more oh brother of mine.”

With that both of them mounted their tokotas and soon they were outside the wall, away from the crowds and the noise. Mogar quickly switched to prey hunting mode once he determined they were far enough away, downright ignoring Barnabas who so far had been the very picture of a submissive tokota, keeping his head down and his tail tucked between his legs, not meeting Mogar's gaze and keeping a good distance away from the higher ranked male.

As the tokotas searched for prey, they rode with an easy pace, and remained close enough they could catch up as they had planned to do.

“So, what has been going on at SSWWc?” Robyn asked.

“We have obviously had a lot of coming and going, everyone's been so busy getting this contest, sometimes I do not see some of the others for weeks now, with winter coming they have also been trying to stock up on supplies, unfortunately those guest rooms and stables don't supply themselves. How are Jaime and Elena doing? Settling in for the winter alright?”

“Yeah, they have been great additions to the team so far, they work well with most of tokotas, and the tokotas they brought with them have been well behaved and getting along with ours thankfully. I think we are pretty prepared for the winter, though Jamie did have to convince me to come out here” she admitted.

Nathan smiled “I am glad he did, he seems like a good guy.” His eyebrows raised and he looked meaningfully at Robyn.

She flushed. “Its not like that, we're just getting to know one another. Besides with Elena around I feel like any kind of relationship with him might become awkward, I do not want to seem like I am playing favorites – you know?”

“They're cousins, not siblings” Nathan commented, but nodded.

“Might as well be siblings the way they act, they've practically grown up in the same tent for most of their lives, and now, well, they are still working together.”

“You mentioned in the letters that Jaime likes to mess with Elena sometimes, has he played any tricks on you guys yet?”

“Not on me, or Alex, I think he knows that I won't stand for any of that, and Alex would be too shy to say anything if the prank really bothered him. Kendrick though – Kendrick's been the receiving end of a few of his pranks, all in good fun, of course and he's gotten Jaime back.”

“Are you worried Kendrick might view Jaime as a threat and might go to far? Or vice versa?”

“A threat?” Robyn was puzzled for a moment before what her brother was saying dawned on her. “I told you me and Jaime aren't like that, and you know Kendrick and I, well we've talked about it, and we've agreed that just being friends is better in the long run.”

“You know what our poor mother would say” Nathan teased.

“Yes, that I will be an old maid with all these men around, but by the time I pick one they will all be gone.” Robyn rolled her eyes. “I'm fine, I have tokotas to look after, and its not like they aren't still my friends. Besides, I have you, and you are enough of a bother without having to worry about another guy.”

“True, but if any of them ever breaks your heart …”

“You will shoot 'em. I know.” Robyn was silent for a moment. “What about you, any romantic interests?” she teased, it was fair play after all. She was expected a no, or perhaps a non committal answer as always but when Nathan remained silent for a little too long she glanced over, to see he was blushing. “Why Nathan Beckett, I do believe you might have a crush. Tell” she demanded.

Just as Nathan was about open his mouth to protest, Mogar caught a scent, distracting Robyn. Mogar broke out into a lope, his paws flying across the leaf littered ground. The cold fall air stung Robyn's cheeks, and she found herself focusing on the terrain ahead as Mogar twisted his way through trees, going down a hill.

Barnabas, despite his trepidation to approach Mogar did not want to be left out of a hunt, so he quickly caught up to the brown tokota, tongue lolling, and it almost looked like the tundra was grinning. The thrill and anticipation of the hunt had quickly swept Robyn's attention away from Nathan and he breathed a sigh of relief before also focused on moving his body with his tokota's, ducking under branches and bracing himself for any sudden movements.

A flicker of light and the smell of water was all the warning Robyn had before she found herself and Mogar splashing in and then out of a creek, the cold water finding every opening it could to chill her and at the same time get Mogar dirtier then she thought would have been possible. Oh well, at least the tokota was already brown and it was not as if hunting was dependent on looks, if it was many tokota owners before her would have been screwed.

Nathan also got rudely splashed with the water, but at least he was prepared for it, having just seen Mogar and Robyn go through.

Mogar paused on the other bank, lowering his nose, sniffing the banks as he tried to figure out where the prey he had been following had gone and Robyn spotted the familiar, and fresh hoof prints of deer in the mud by the creek.

Within minutes the brown male had found the trail again, though his speed was not quite as breakneck as before, they must be getting close. Robyn signaled to Nathan to stay quiet, not that he needed it, but out of habit more than anything. She readied her bow, drawing an arrow from the quiver and she knew Nathan would have untied his spear and now held it with one hand and the reins with the other.

The tokotas slowed to a crawl, creeping through bushes with as much silence and grace something the size of a very large bear could muster. Robyn and Nathan crouched low over their tokota's necks, trying not to give themselves away as they inched forward.

Robyn spotted the antlers first, and her heart began to race, they were so close now, and Mogar's eyes were alert with excitement, and for the first time in days there was not a drop of tenseness in his body, and he moved freely, loosely, as if he were a giant cat instead of a giant wolf-bear-dog thing.

Leaping forward Mogar became a blur of brown fur, Barnabas tried to follow suit, but tripped over his own paws, and the deer leapt away, startled, it ran forward. Mogar did not care though, now he got to chase. Robyn knew by now that she had to just hang on and she closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and clung to the reins as Mogar sprung into a full, headlong gallop.

The deer did not stand a chance, Mogar's energy combined with his skills quickly brought the buck down, and they had their first kill of the day, quickly they shot up a flare, marking their kill, the volunteers would be there soon to pick up the deer and take it back to wall, and soon they were once more on the hunt for prey.

“So,” Robyn let the word hang in the air for a moment, she had not forgotten what they had been talking about like Nathan had hoped she would. “I believe you were about to tell me the name of this lady friend that has got you blushing like a tomato. Anyone I would know?”

Nathan mumbled a response, and looked down, and he urged Barnabas in front of Mogar trying to escape his sister's curiosity.

“Aw, c'mon Nathan, she can't be that bad, and if she is, I'll break both your arms.” Robyn was so busy teasing Nathan she did not notice the way Mogar's ears went back as Barnabas, who before had been very respectful of the brown male's personal space, not only equaled him, but was getting ahead. Well, that was just not happening, not on his watch. With a warning snort, Mogar extended his pace, passing the gray tundra.

It was only the scent of another deer that kept Mogar from further threatening the youngster, the promise of another wild flight, and an eagerness to feel the deer's neck snap between his teeth. Soon Robyn had her hands full once more just hanging on to Mogar as he plotted their course, Barnabas and Nathan fell back, just where Mogar had wanted them.

This time Mogar managed to sneak perfectly up on the young stag, and best of all there were more deer with him, so he could have both a chase and a kill. His teeth sunk into the deer's jugular vein just as he had imagined it and with a shake of his powerful jaws and a soft crunch as the deer's neck broke and its blood leaked onto the forest floor, soaking into the dirt slowly, he had made his second kill. Robyn couldn't even get Mogar to stand still long enough to send up a flare, his energy was spinning in a hurricane of blood lust now. He strained against the tug of the reins, bursting forward, his head bowed as he fought Robyn's instructions, dancing to the sides as he ran, trying to escape the pressure of her heels as she tried to get him to turn in place to slow his progress.

Still it wasn't enough and she had soon left Nathan and Barnabas behind with the task of taking care of the second corpse and catching up with them.

Branches lashed out at Robyn, and Mogar was covered with mud, blood still dripping from his mouth as he ran. If he was not going at such a breakneck speed she might have jumped and left Mogar to his devices, let him work out his energy as he chased the deer, but that thought seemed insane now. Soon another deer was in sight, and with another spurt of determination and raw power Mogar rushed forward, his teeth clamping around the deer's ankle, tripping it, bringing it to the ground with a crash.

In an instant the tokota was upon the animal, his paw crushing its throat, and if Mogar had been human perhaps he would have laughed manically at the moment with the blood lust coursing through him, adrenaline kept his heart racing, and he enjoyed the metallic tang in his mouth. Robyn watched as the life slipped from the deer's eyes and it ceased to struggle.

This time she managed to send up a flare, as Mogar stood there for a moment, sides heaving, panting from the chase. Seeing her chance, Robyn took control of the reins once more, guiding the tokota in small circles until his breath was even, watching as the hungry look had left his eyes, and he responded to her commands once more. She slipped off the tokota, legs shaking and she took a long swig of her water before pouring some of the refreshing liquid down Mogar's throat.

By the time Mogar was back under her control Nathan and Barnabas had caught up, trotting up to them and Nathan whistled at the sight of the third corpse.

“You were not kidding about Mogar's killer instincts.”

Robyn chuckled dryly, then her face grew serious. “I was lucky there were not any more deer or prey around otherwise I do not think he would have stopped.”

“Are you alright?” Nathan asked, his voice full of concern.

“it was quite the ride, but I will be alright. I can take care of myself you know.”

“I can't help it” Nathan said, unapologetic, “I am your big brother after all.” He offered her some jerky and she chewed on the snack gratefully, and got out the food she had packed for Mogar who snarfed it down then sniffed her for more. “Sorry boy, no more, but I'm sure we'll have a feast tonight” she scratched the tokota's face gently, her fingers playing with the locks of hair in the tokota's dark mane.

“Think he'll be alright for more hunting?”

“Well he did take down three deer, if that wouldn't wear him down, I don't know what will. Besides, I think Barnabas needs a turn at taking down some prey.”

Nathan nodded his agreement, after all that was why he had volunteered to bring the tundra tokota along, and now that Mogar had quenched his blood lust it would be easier for the more aggressive male to work with the youngster, instead of on his own, or at least that was the idea.

They worked together in silence after that, instead concentrating on letting Barnabas get the scents and take the kills when possible, sending up one flair after the next as the sun crossed the sky, and the day marched on.

Finally as it grew dark and both the tokotas and their riders could not chase down one more prey they headed back, it had been a long day.