Troublesome Halfmanes
----------Mehen----------
Anik was ready for another fishing trip, a big expedition into the woods up to the stream again to catch fish there. It had been successful the last time they went, and enough time had passed that he didn't feel it was a risk for overfishing. They would be fine for sure.
He had the traps and containers loaded up on some in-training tokotas, and his curly, Vincent, who he also rode. It was a good chance for the siblings and Tabitha to learn after all, just letting them see the others fishing would be good for them. They could learn some things without having to messily work on things. That would hopefully make Alaina happy.
As for his two fishers, Nux was happily plodding along beside Riggs, tail wagging contently. Sunderland shuffled beside him, quiet and almost distracted seeming as always. It was a pretty common thing for him, and Anik wasn't too worried as long as he stayed in eyesight.
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If anything Riggs was super duper happy to be able to be with Nux again. This end part of the season seemed to have his handler extra grumpy as of late and he wasn’t capable of understanding the how or the why as to it. Nor did he seem able to actually fix it either so it was good to be out and about with his companion! From time to time he leaned a bit, half shoulder nudging against the other male happily.
While they were traveling along Ripley glanced around a bit almost curiously. It was almost disappointing that the roan male, Bishop, wasn’t there… she was slowly coming to like his dependable calmness as well. Especially given what she had to deal with normally.
Nuka and Tabitha zoomed around back and forth behind the rider and other tokotas, playing a game of catch me if you can… or at least a toko variant of it. Either way they were having a blast in the process and it was good to burn out some of the half mane female’s energy while they had the chance.
Lingering behind a bit were the siblings. Quantum shifted a little bit, casing the saddle and tack that Anik had put on her to jangle a little bit, and it was enough for Tabitha to stop her play and venture over to actually investigate out of curiosity. Although Victory growled a little bit at her in warning, not really liking the high-energy female too much, she pretty much ignored him as she reached out to start chewing rather avidly on the leather straps… seeking to chew through them if she could.
----------Mehen----------
Anik had been in a good mood lately, contrary to Alaina. His spirits were high from the season, and he couldn't really be more content. He got to work with tokotas that, for the most part, behaved themselves and minded their manners. What more could he ask for?
Well...he could have brought Bishop along he supposed, and he made a mental note to do so next time. The other male was resting at home, and he had completely forgotten to get him to tag along. Whoops.
Nux wagged his tail even more, nudging right back against Riggs every time he did so, tongue lolling excitedly out. Oh this was wonderful indeed! He got to hang out with Riggs and he was happy! That's all he needed!
The half manes were having fun at least, fwooshing about here and there excitedly. Anik was glad to see it, even as the cream tokota nearby watched them warily. Vincent was observant as well, but not in a wary manner at all- in a curious one. He wanted to get to know these strange new tokotas, but with the rider on him he couldn't exactly go sniffing, not yet anyways.
Anik noticed what Tabitha was up to though, and whistled sharply. "Tabitha, c'mere!" Calling her sternly before she could wreck the leather harness hopefully, moving to his pocket to get a treat to give her incentive to listen. "No, you don't chew the straps." Scolding her, making his point clear at least. Even with the reward for coming, it would be clear what the reward was for- Tokotas were smart animals after all.
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Considering they hadn’t been out hunting nearly as much lately Ripley already figured they were likely fishing again. Besides, she recognized the tack that had been loaded onto the siblings… she figured that it would be best to keep her attention varied, just in case, however. You never knew what you could find along the way.
Once Nuka was alone he ventured over to Riggs and Nux, completely and utterly oblivious to them sharing time with one another while they could. Instead the brown male sought to all but wriggle his weight between them, intending to separate them with silly nips and overtures to play.
Riggs wasn’t one to get angry over such a thing however. The big sphinx wuffled a bit towards his pack mate playfully, tugging on one ear while the merle was distracted trying to get Nux’s attention. Whoops.
If anything Victory suddenly snapped out towards the younger half mane, seeking to nip her hard and by surprise on her rump in punishment for bothering his much more evenly tempered sister. While Tabitha yipped loudly and whirled on him, teeth bared, Quantum took that chance to extract herself from the situation uncertainly… ears pinned backwards and the strap that the younger female had been chewing on nearly chewed through.
Although Anik’s words were noticed and there was the wonderful smell of a treat it wasn’t enough to lure Tabitha over towards him. Victory bit her! For that she moved forward with every single intention on biting him back.
----------Mehen----------
With Ripley on task there was little to worry about, especially when it came to things sneaking up on them. She'd notice any tiny little detail that was worth alerting over, and he was content with that knowledge really. She did well, she always did.
At first, Nux wuffled confusedly as the halfmane squeezed between them. Finally, however, he moved to lick his cheek and snuffle at him curiously. He didn't mind at least, it was more fun! More friends!! He wanted to be with Riggs, but they could fish together, and walk back together, and rest at Anik's together before Riggs went home. That was good enough for him!
Anik saw the whirl of aggression and quickly he was off. Vincent wasn't much of a mediator, but he was a good wall of flesh at least, and didn't seem to mind a few bites if it came down to that. He steered him to try and get between Tabitha and Victory. "ENOUGH!" He commanded to the two of them. "Victory, you should know better!" He was usually so well behaved too. "Tabitha! Calm down, go play with the others. The siblings don't want to be bothered, okay?" Explaining it to her calmly but firmly, assuming she'd at least sort of understand.
They had a fishing spot to get to! There was no time for these shenanigans, especially not when someone might end up hurt over it.
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In the long run Riggs didn’t mind exceptionally much. There would be time before he had to head back to Alaina’s place after all! And Nuka wasn’t the bad sort either, he was a good pal that the big sphinx didn’t mind even remotely. He nipped at his other ear, light and playful, causing for him to shake his head comically from side to side as he alternated between more of those playful overtures towards both males.
The moment Anik spoke the male half mane immediately stopped, although hears were pricked forward and his eyes narrowed in challenge. He was a fairly sensible creature but even his patience had its limits and they were admittedly even shorter when his sister was concerned. Quantum just looked about ready to creep more off to the side, not wanting involved in the conflict at all.
Tabitha, on the other hand, was still livid. The young female paced back and forth with an overexcited whine, clicking her teeth together audibly towards the older tokota despite Anik’s efforts. He bit her! That wasn’t fun!
For a moment Ripley had swiveled her head back towards the commotion but it was only enough to draw a snort from her before she turned away… heading towards the closest water. If she reached there before it ended she’d simply carefully and calmly pick her way into the water itself… seeking to catch a few fish to pass the time before they all remembered why they were out here.
----------Mehen----------
The piebald certainly didn't mind, and was just happy to have company. He would spend extra time doting on his best friend when they got time to relax together later, and they would fish together! He was fine with that.
The happy noises were returned at least, Nux's tail still wagging a mile-a-minute.
Anik was glad when the male backed down without needing further reminding of why he had done a bad thing. He seemed to understand at least, even as his sister shrunk more into the background. This was a problem that could be sorted out though.
"Tabitha, calm down." He spoke to her, tone firm but not angry. Trying to get her to settle down and stop being so annoyed. "You need to behave." She was energetic, high-strung, but not stupid. Surely she would know to just let it go by now? Apparently not. "He's been scolded, it's over." Talking as if she were an actual child. Whoops.
Sunderland whined softly, before slinking off after Ripley, not wanting to be involved in the mess that was unfolding. He shuffled to the bank and looked at the water before gently stepping in. Fluidly he moved forward before finding a spot where he could lay down with his head above the water still, leatting his mouth open into the water while keeping his nose above still. It was an odd method, but he seemed confident in it's ability to work for some reason.
He was an odd one for sure.
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It was certainly such a good and happy time to be able to spend with his friend! There could always be chances later to be able to spend without a wiggly interruption but really Riggs didn’t mind said wiggly interruption at all. With another nip he finally left off Nuka ears and all but cannonballed into the water, not minding the splash that sent water everywhere!
Nuka was no less graceful splashing into the water, ignoring the cold as he immediately started chasing the fishies. It was enough that a flushed one was snatched up by Riggs and tossed to shore for whenever Anik wasn’t distracted anymore by silly things, and he ended up chasing a few fish off into Sunderland’s direction too. It wouldn’t be long before he landed first one than another of his own, carrying them to shore to drop them off by where Ripley had been flinging the fish she’d snagged out at.
It really was good to be able to relax like this. Even the roan female appeared completely and utterly at ease when it came towards all this, surely only enjoying being able to work without too much hassle.
Victory didn’t like it, reeeeally didn’t like Tabitha’s high tension energy. But he had settled enough. The nip had been well deserved he felt – she had been tormenting his poor sister after all and Quantum was just too good natured to stop her. No amount of scolding from the handler would shake that from him.
The little half mane female on the other hand wasn’t really amused at all. Since it was clear that she wasn’t going to be able to get to Victory to bite him she finally moved away, ears pinned backwards a bit and clearly sulking. Anik was no fun! What a meanie.
----------Mehen----------
Nux followed Riggs into the water eagerly, splashing all about as he practically galloped through the water, making happy noises. He wiggled a bit, sending water everywhere before finally prancing over to fish beside his sphinx friend, delighted by the chance to spend time with him like this.
Sunderland was grateful for the fish coming this way as he finally snapped one up. Looking around he slowly shuffled through the water to the shore to gently set the fish down. He hesitated a moment before shuffling slowly back to where he'd been and waiting once more for another fish to swim to his mouth.
Once the troublesome pups were finally willing to let it go and move along, or at least appear like they were, he nudged Vincent forward. When they reached the shore he dismounted and nudged him off to go relax on the bank if he wanted to. The curly eagerly set off to bother Tabitha, wuffling at her in a friendly manner and trying to nose at her cheek in a friendly and comforting way. She was trouble. He liked her.
It could be the beginning of a wonderful and mischevious friendship.
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It really was nice! The water might be cold but Riggs moved fast enough through it that it didn’t bother him too much at all, catching fish on and off and he went. Those would all find themselves on the shore – left to wiggle and flop there helplessly – as the big sphinx continued to fish on. Nuka didn’t go far from them but he continued to try to flush the fish back and forth to the others, catching one or two in the process, and certainly seeming to enjoy the exercise.
They didn’t get nearly as much of that in the wintertime.
Ripley barely paid to mind the other’s antics, far too focused on what she was doing. She didn’t mind it in the long run – they certainly had a place – but she had a goal to attain…. And that was catch as much fish as possible.
From the shore Tabitha surely wasn’t remotely pleased at all. There were occasional whines from her, a little irritated still, but when the curly finally ventured over to her he almost nearly ended up getting nipped out of that frustration. She couldn’t vent it at Victory, she’d vent it at Vincent instead.
The siblings weren’t in the least bit concerned by the young half mane female now, both of them settling down to relax and watch as well.
----------Mehen----------
Nux was quick in the water, despite his water-logged fur making it much harder to be so. It was tough but he was confident in his abilities because he was doing so well. He was with Riggs too, and that made him even more confident and capable. It was awesome to be able to do so much with his friend!!
The exercise was good too, getting out and moving was excellent.
Sunderland didn't mind the fact he was being ignored. He didn't mind at all! He had things to do, and didn't care if anyone watched him do the things in question. So long as they got done, he wasn't a tokota that needed the limelight.
Vincent snorted when she didn't seem interested in him, sulking a bit as he backed up a step and wuffled again. He wanted to be her friend! She was interesting! She made his rider frustrated! He wanted to play with her!!
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In the long this was something rather exceedingly enjoyable, wasn’t it? Even if the water was chill against fur and skin their movements were enough to keep them from getting too cold. Riggs and Nuka both worked to catch what fish that they could as well as, almost certainly in the case of the big friendly sphinx, spend what time he was able to with Nux before he had to go back home again. Who knew when Alaina would let him go out with Anik and his group again!
As long as they did their jobs Ripley had no issues. And didn’t bother her while she was focused and working – that was an important one. The one known as Sunderland seemed to know his place at the very least, keeping out of her immediate way as she continued to catch fish and fling them to shore.
Tabitha snorted audibly towards the curly maned male. Under normal enough circumstances she probably wouldn’t have minded him too much… probably would’ve even wanted to befriend him, knowing her. She was young and a firecracker but generally she was a fairly good-natured creature. Generally.
Seems when she was irritated she wanted nothing of it. The siblings weren’t in the least bit impressed by the glares she shot towards them – mostly directed towards Victory of course – but they made no overtures towards her either.
----------Mehen----------
The water was freezing, but they were having fun at least! It was fun despite the cold, and Nux would never think otherwise. He kept close to Riggs as he fished, eager to make sure he remained at his friend's side because he would miss him terribly when they had to part. The piebald couldn't know for sure when he'd see him next, because his grumpy owner seemed not to like him very much! Or at least, that's how Nux took it.
Sunderland knew not to get in the way of other tokotas. He'd done it with Nisha once by mistake. He was never, ever making that mistake again- because he knew what it led to, and what it led to was never fun. Not ever. It usually involved being bitten. A lot.
Vincent sniffed at her once, before sighing defeatedly and slinking off to flop over by the shore while Anik moved to set the traps out. They had time to do a bit of trapping at least, and once they were set the rider moved to begin collecting the fish and putting them in containers retrieved from the twins. He'd worry about Tabitha once she calmed down and mellowed back out.
If she did anyways- which he hoped she would, because he needed to not be bitten when loading her up.
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It wasn’t entirely a lie. Alaina supposed that Nux was a decent enough tokota for what he was needed around for but, for the most part, that attachment that he and Riggs had was bothersome enough. Attachment was weakness after all – something that shouldn’t be tolerated, and needed to end before something happened like Anik selling the fella and she ended up with a useless mount on her hands.
She was pretty merciless in that regard.
Either way, for right now Riggs snapped his teeth shut on one last fish before he waded his way back to shore, starting to get a bit cold all things considering. Nuka snapped up one, tossed it out of water, before grabbing up a second to follow easily enough.
Was it time to head in? The roan female moved her head to track the others, head tilted slightly to the side in consideration, before she smoothly worked her way back towards shore… knowing that the temperature was starting to dip further. The colder it got the more dangerous it go, especially for humans and those with less fur.
Victory remained shock still as he felt the baskets be loaded up, no longer any trouble now that Tabitha wasn’t going out of her way to be a pest. Meanwhile the always friendly and loving Quantum moved to wuffle and try to lick Anik’s face a few times sweetly, tail flopping from side to side.
Speaking of the little half mane she was still rather busy sulking and being irritable. Good job.
----------Mehen----------
Their attachment made them a perfect team, and Anik saw that as strength. The fact that tokotas were pack creatures that liked to be with others meant that their bonds were actually ideal- even if Alaina was confusingly opposed to such interactions. She needed to learn that it was good for tokotas. On top of that, he never planned on selling Nux, never ever. Nothing could pry his piebald from his hands.
Nux caught a final fish as well, shuffling over to set it on the shore. He nuzzled Riggs, licking his ear before moving over to Tabitha- his pup. He knew she was family, he knew she was in a mood too. It was his job to deal with her now, because she was his own family. He had this though!
Sunderland was slow to climb out but finally he was out and shaking off eagerly. He moved to sniff at Vincent curiously once, before wandering off a bit down the path towards home and stopping to wait for the others. The group needed to catch up!
Anik loaded up all the fish he could on the twins before finally moving to haul his traps in. From there he moved to load up the last of the fish and the traps on Tabitha, or at least attempt to until he was successful. Then all they had to do was head back!
They had caught a fair deal of fish, and it was about time for them to go be warm.
The tokotas were going to get some warm food and a rest up in a heated stable together. They deserved it, they'd done well that day, even Tabitha he guessed. She was still learning, so he couldn't be too angry with her- she'd learn in time.