Dire Days Task 1

    Era looked up at the mountain path, taking a glance at the letters she was given back home. Her boyfriend Cogs had written so many letters to make sure Era knew that he loved her and all of that lovey dovey stuff. Many times he wrote ‘Love you snuggle bun’, every time the phrase would come up Era would giggle like a little school girl. Her eyes then traveled looking to one part of the letter where it said ‘Be careful of the wild Tokotas…and Fenrir.’

Whenever Fenrir was mentioned Era would become worked up, Fenrir was the last one-hundred percent dire that anyone knew of. It’s one of Era’s goals to meet the legendary Tokoata.

“Earth to Era!”

Era blinked a few times after she heard her name, then she shook her head rapidly. “Huh? Oh sorry Padfoot.”

Padfoot rolled her eyes, “Stop day dreamin Era. We’re almost ready to head out.” She then climbed up on her Tokota Clyde. Era stuffed the letters into her inside coat pocket, then she turned to her own Tokota Bonnie. Bonnie was a ten percent dire, the only dire the tribe currently has.

Era checked to make sure the straps were secured on the massive Tokota, “You ready to go girl?”

Bonnie wagged her tail, “Aroof!” Era took that as a yes in Tokota speak, then Era climbed up onto the saddle that rested on Bonnie’s back. Era got herself situated and looked towards her companions that would be taking this journey as well.

“You ready Era?” A girl with curly brown hair asked. Era nodded, “Ready as I’ll ever be Faith.”

Faith nodded back, “Now guys, I know you want to hurry up and get to the top BUT.” She paused to make Padfoot and Era were paying attention. “We need to be careful, we don’t know what is on these mountains. We know there are wild Tokotas but there could be more than just that!”

Padfoot and Era rolled their eyes, Faith was the motherly one of the tribe. She cared for everyone’s safety, especially the Tokotas.

Faith saw them both eye roll, “Well fine, when you both are hanging off a cliff and my happy butt is safe I know what I will be doing. Leaving both of your sorry asses to hang!”

“Sorry Faith” The two said in unison. “Apology accepted, now I won’t leave your asses.” Faith responded.

“Now that we’ve got that out of the way…” Padfoot paused for a minute, “LAST ONE UP THE MOUNTAIN IS A MOUNTAIN SNAIL!” Clyde howled after his owner announced that and bolted up the mountain path. Era and Faith looked at each other confused, “Mountain snail? Really that’s the best she can come up with?”

Era shrugged, “I guess so…Well I ain’t gonna be the mountain snail. See ya!” Era tapped Bonnie’s side to give her command. Bonnie howled after her younger brother and chased right after him.

After the group’s “race” they were all relaxing underneath a tree, eating some quick lunch. Four out of the six were soaking wet though…

“I can’t believe Faith and Rebel beat both of us…” Padfoot grumbled. Era angrily bit into her sandwich, “I know…” Just behind them Bonnie and Clyde were nodding at their owner’s statements.

Rebel was wagging her tail as Faith was scratching under her chin, “Well if you both would have been paying attention you would have noticed the lake but you didn’t.” Era stuck her tongue out at Faith and Rebel, of course Faith retaliated and did the same thing back at Era.

By the time everyone was done eating, the four that were soaked were about dry. Era jumped onto her feet, “Alright! Let’s get going guys.” Bonnie crawled closer to Era so she could get on, then Era hopped on the saddle.

“Why not stay here for a little bit longer?” Padfoot asked, “We still have a pretty far way to go.”

“Yeah but the sooner we get to the TCA camp site the closer we will be to the wild Tokos!” Era exclaimed, “Hell, we might even be able to bring back another dire!”

As our group of friends traveled more up the mountain it was slowly becoming colder, the colder it would get the more clothing the human travelers would put on. Soon enough it started to snow, it was a light snow at first. Then, the wind would pick up and smack everyone with, what felt like BB pellets, heavy snow fall. They all decided to tie themselves together in a single line so no one would become lost. Bonnie and Era were in the front of the line to try to protect everyone, it was kinda working but at the same time not working.

Faith was at the back of the line, “GUYS! WE NEED TO FIND SHELTER!” She yelled so one of them could hear her, luckily Padfoot did.

“ERA! FAITH SAYS WE NEED TO FIND SHELTER AND I AGREE!” Padfoot yells to the front of the pack.

Era turned her head towards the others, “OKAY! EVERYONE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR ANYTHING THAT WILL GIVE US COVER.” There was a mix of ‘Rodger’ and barks from everyone.

After traveling in the snow storm, which seemed like hours, Clyde spotted something. The sand roan Tokota howled for his sister to stop the line, in which she did. Padfoot bent closer to Clyde’s face, “What did you find boy?”

Clyde barked towards the left, which he saw a small rabbit hop off too. Bonnie got the hint and started heading towards the direction that Clyde had pointed. Every time Bonnie would lead the group in the wrong direction Clyde would bark/howl at her that she was going the wrong way and help go the right way.

Soon they were safely in a cave with a family of rabbits who were also taking shelter from the storm.

“Well” Padfoot started, “If we run out of food we can always kill the family.” Then she got a pap on the head.

“WE ARE NOT EATING THE BABY BUNNIES!” Faith exclaimed. Era laughed, “It’s okay Faith, we won’t eat them. Right Bonnie?” Bonnie was looming over the frightened rabbit family, she nodded and wagged her tail in agreement to Era.

Padfoot crossed her arms, “Fine…I hope we get stuck in here for a couple of days to prove you wrong…” She whispered to herself, Clyde nodded in agreement for he wanted to eat the rabbit family. They would be a nice snack he thought.

After agreeing not eat the rabbit family, the group started taking the saddles of their Tokotas and pulling out necessities like wood, flint, food, and water. They all decided to split up the responsibilities that needed to be done. Era started building a small fire, Padfoot was preparing dinner, and Faith was making sure everyone had beds including the family of rabbits. The three Tokotas were keeping watch at the cave’s entrance for danger and the snow.

When Era was done building the fire, making sure it wasn’t going to go out anytime soon, Padfoot started to cook a stew over the fire. She made sure there was enough to last a couple of days if need be, she was hoping they wouldn’t be stuck in the cave that long. Pretty soon the stew was done, Padfoot started pouring the stew into three normal sized bowls and three huge bowls.

Faith whistled for the Tokos, “Guys, dinner is done!” There was a flash of fur in front of their eyes, the handlers turned to see their Tokotas wagging their tails while eating. “Looks like you have their approve Padfoot!”

Padfoot nodded, “I’m hoping the rest of us will enjoy it as well Faith!” She then blew into the bowl to get rid of some steam.

Faith held up her bowl, “Good food, good meat, good God let’s eat!” Then she took a big spoonful of stew. There was no talking what so ever, just slurping and chewing and the occasionally burp. Usually when there is a burp it turns into a burping contest, and of course the one who would win would be Bonnie since she could make the deepest, loudest burp.

Era leaned back onto Bonnie and patter her own belly, “Gotta say even though we’re stuck in this cave this is one of best memories I’m gonna have.” Bonnie licked Era’s cheek and in return Era scratched behind her ear. “We have our bellies filled, friends by our sides, and we’re on an adventure. I can’t think of anything better besides seeing Fenrir.”

Faith nodded in agreement, “The thing is we could be seeing Fenrir soon, since he is one of the wild dires that we could be researching.”

“I hope so or even get to take a wild dire home with us!” Padfoot added. She grabbed a blanket out of a pouch, “As much as I want to stay awake and chat with everyone I’m tired. Nini” She rolled onto her side, snuggling right next to Clyde.

Faith laughed moving closer to Rebel, “I can agree on that! Night Era, Rebel, and Bonnie.” Rebel barked in reply.

“Eraaaaaaa” Sang someone, “Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa”

Era grumbled sleepily, “Faith, five more minutes pleaseeee” A minute later Era was soaked, not as soaked as she was the day before just enough to wake someone up.

Era jumped into the air, “Well good morning sleeping beauty” Faith smiled, all dressed and ready to go. Era looked behind her to see Padfoot got the same treatment that she just got, Padfoot was slowly packing everything up.

“Faith, what the hell?” Era asked. “Why can’t you wake us up like normal people?”

“There’s no fun in that! Besides the storm stopped while we were sleeping, in a couple of hours we’ll be at the TCA camp site.” Faith explained.

“Well shit! Let’s hurry up and get going!” Era then poked Bonnie on the cheek, “Bonnie, it’s morning! Let’s get go!” Bonnie slightly opened her eyes and glared at Era for waking her up. “If you get up now I will give you half of my stew tonight.”

Then Bonnie jumped onto her paws tail wagging, she was ready for Era to put the saddle on her. Era smiled at the dire female, even though she was the newest Tokota in Era’s pack she fit right in.

After a rude awakening and bribing of the Tokotas, everyone was all packed up from last night and seated on their saddles. There was a lot of snow from the storm that night before but it didn’t stop the group to finish that part of their journey.

Soon enough they had saw cabins with people going in and out of them. They had finally reached the TCA camp site.

Era smiled, “We did it guys! We made it!” Bonnie howled, happy to see the camp site. Of course everyone at the site looked toward the howling and saw the group, some people waved at the group that was coming their way.

“Welcome travelers! I take it you are here to help the TCA study the wild Tokotas that live in the area?” A man asked as the group walked in.

Faith nodded, “Yes sir! My name is Faith and this is Rebel.” Rebel barked at the man to greet him.

“Ello, my name is Padfoot and this is Clyde!” Padfoot greeted while Clyde wagged his tail.

Era hopped off of Bonnie and shook the man’s hand,“Name’s Era and this is Bonnie, our tribe’s only dire Tokota.” Bonnie stood there in pride.

“Please to meet everyone! My name is Chad, I am the head researcher here. If you need anything please come ask me” Chad smiled.

“Well, can you point us to an empty cabin? We’re all still tired from our journey up the mountain” Faith asked politely. Chad nodded and guided them to an empty cabin that was able to fit everyone in, including the Tokotas.

The group took that entire day to relax and rest up since tomorrow they were going to see wild Tokotas!