Post-Tokopocalypse

------[Mehen]

The world was no longer the one Korbin and Russell had known. It was a wasteland, free from society, a world left to go wild again. Perhaps if it hadn't been so terrifying, it would have been beautiful to see the world in such a raw and natural state. Perhaps if monsters hadn't come with it they could have enjoyed the return to nature.

The doctor rode upon a gorgeous chocolate roan, a beast called Leon. The region they'd been in with Anik and Alaina, as it turned out, was a good location- they'd built up the walls of one of the ranches and they had a haven for the time being. Which left them only with a need for supplies.

Hunting was hard but not impossible, and he and Russell had gone out to find food for the group. Leon was taking it well, they'd brought down a few deer to bring back and he carried one along with his rider. "So far so good..." He said nervously, keeping his eyes peeled.

Nothing trying to kill them, yet. Now if only the ride back to their new base could go so well.

------[Cantbreakthis]

It was certainly something that had driven the world into desolation and chaos but when it all came down to it they were, at best, survivors. Perhaps it was a thankful thing that there were people like Anik and Alaina around to help them out. Russell had always been a city boy… it wouldn’t have been as likely that, without them and Korbin, he would’ve survived.

Luis shifted his weight beneath the redheaded rider on his back, certainly interested in their surroundings as well as the tiny little toki that was bounding at his heels. Paprika was all fire and teeth, definitely suited for coming out like this with the riders – she was a sentry, keeping alert for any sorts of dangers that could, and very likely would if given even half the chance, terrorize the riders.

“Ya think anyplace close by ain’t been picked clean yet?” There were a few old buildings along the way back that could have supplies. He knew of them, they’d passed them before without stopping to even peek it, but heck if he knew what dangers might lie within them. The world was changing about them rapidly… becoming something so far different than the one they had known before.

“Paprika ain’t pcickin’ up anythin’ yet..”

------[Mehen]

In a way, Korbin would agree that he was a survivor- but he saw Russell even more so as one. He had natural talent for never giving up, and pushing forward with all the tenacity of youth. Something he didn't necessarily have any more in his older age. Russell adapted the best of any of them, and he'd taken well enough to their new world.

Leon whined softly, moving to nuzzle against Luis. The roan seemed concerned, but not due to any environmental factors. He was just on edge being out and about with the riders. Bad things happened in the outside world now, and he was reasonably wary. Not to mention the fact he was concerned for the safety of his companions. Luis and the little toki needed to stay safe too!

"It's worth looking into." Korbin said calmly. "The big grocery store, shouldn't be totally empty yet, we might find something useful." It seemed like the best place to look first, but they'd need to be prepared for anything. Luckily, if they dismounted, they should be able to get the tokotas through the big doors- which would give them a little added protection other than just weapons.

"I hope she continues not to." He chuckled nervously. "If we can go one run without running into anything nasty I'd be relieved." Surely they were clearing the area slowly? There couldn't be that many to replace the ones they killed off bit by bit. Right?

------[Cantbreakthis]

While Russell might’ve adapted quickly, his youth favoring him, it still didn’t mean he was necessarily well suited for this world. Not like Alaina was bit perhaps that was a moot point anyway… it almost seemed as if the woman was made for this world, for the metaphorical end of days, and hadn’t really had to do much adapting at all.

The curly shook himself after a moment before he moved to rest his head against the other man for a moment. Luis was certainly fond enough of his partner in crime, enjoying his company, but they didn’t have time to actually cuddle or spend quality time together right now. For one they both had riders on their backs – that’d hardly be fair to the humans. Two this environment was hostile enough.

“Might be goodta hit it up too. We’ve been needin’ to pick up some more supplies.” Russ couldn’t help but to muse out loud as he studied the hazy shape of the crumbling, damaged buildings on the horizon… contemplating them for a lingering moment.

It was that cue when there was a snarl from Paprika. The merle toki’s tail was high as her stubby legs shot the fearless animal forward, teeth snapping towards the rat-like creatures that had been studying. One on one they were nothing, but when they traveled in groups – swarms, almost – they were dangerous to creatures many times their sizes. Perhaps thankfully the suddenness of the little female’s actions had been enough to cause the collective bunch to panic and scatter into the wastes.

------[Mehen]

Almost none of them were really perfectly suited for it, but Alaina seemed the most suited. It was almost odd how well she seemed to fit in compared to the rest of them. Like she'd spent her whole life waiting for the world to end so she could have her time to shine. Weird.

Leon licked Luis' muzzle softly, tail wagging a bit. When they got back to safety they could relax in one another's company, but not now. Not now. Now they needed to focus, be alert and aware because monsters could be lurking around any and every corner.  

"Yes....medical supplies are running low, and we need things other than just meat." Maybe there was bread left that wasn't stale yet- or unbearably so anyways. Maybe they could even get seed packets, start growing more food. They already had a decent garden but well...anything helped. Anything.

His head snapped up to look around when the toki growled. He saw the rats, saw them flee, and he relaxed a bit. "Let's keep moving, we're not too far away....the rats shouldn't bother us now, they're too scared." Dangerous in groups as they may have been, at least they were still cowards.

He nudged Leon a bit, taking the lead to trail forward towards the grocery store, stopping only when they were outside of it. The roan male seemed disappointed to be pulled away from his friend, and once stopped he immediately moved to nuzzle Luis when he came back close enough. Korbin dismounted, getting his gun from one of the saddle bags. "Ready?" He looked to Russell, resting a hand on Leon's side as he did so, making sure his partner was actually ready to act, in case they ran into trouble inside.

------[Cantbreakthis]

Alaina hadn’t really adapted. Not like they had. She didn’t have to in the long run… she seemed to understand this world better than at the very least Russell could ever dream of. Where others died, succumbed to the harshness of their new reality, she simply thrived.

It was almost a little scary at times.

These tiny moments were rather… nice, weren’t they? Luis enjoyed them in the long run, completely relaxed and calm despite the day’s circumstances. The red-brown curly even moved to give his partner a lick and nuzzle in return, almost amused, but all that dissolved away quick enough. His ears pricked forward. Senses alert.

“Probably won’t be anythin’ like weapons..” Those had been stripped clean from most places pretty damn quickly. “Maybe some parts. Paprika would be ableta carry some things if we really push it.” And if they weren’t too heavy. She was small but she was still over four hundred pounds of pack animal if they were pushed that far. She made a far better sentry than anything else however, too tenacious and fearless even against the fiercest of creatures. It was something to worry about at times.

Paprika certainly wasn’t happy. While she chanced the mutated rats a few steps she was certainly well trained enough to stop once it was clear they were going and weren’t likely to come back, but she still stood there for a moment bristling and growling a challenge off in the direction the animals had skittered.

“I hope not..” Russell frowned before he whistled to Paprika, calling her back, and soothed a hand across Luis’ shoulder. The culy curled his neck around to lick that hand beofr ehe licked Leon again, sneaky sliding his muzzle over the back of his companions neck to wuffle towards Korbin as well in a winsomely playful manner.

Moving carefully the redhead slid off his mount’s back, looking into the shadows of the store as he pulled out the heavy spiked baseball bat his favored from where it was strapped to Luis’ saddlebag. “Yep.” On hindsight he moved to send the toki in first, using the hand signals he’d taught her, and she moved forward… on high alert, watchful and wary. There were both human and… other… threats that made abandoned structures like these ones their homes.

------[Mehen]

Everything Alaina did was a little scary. She was an intimidating and powerful woman, and it wasn't so surprising in the long run that she knew how to make it in a wasteland like this. If anyone could it was probably her.

Even if they were out in the dangerous wilderness, Leon felt safe with Luis around- albeit a little concerned for his security. If anything happened to him he could never forgive himself, he loved the other tokota too much for that. He needed to protect him! He needed to keep him safe from all harm!

"Nah...maybe some kitchen knives and other utensils but hardly anything useful." Not that he thought a grocery store would have had guns to begin with but america was a surprising place. Well, had been before shit had gone to hell in a hand basket. Maybe it still was though, just with more monsters. "She should be able to carry any supplies we find, I can't see them being too heavy." Besides, she was big enough and tough enough. She could do it.

At least she knew to back down from the rats. They were no longer a threat to them for the time being.

Leon wuffled happily at the lick, tail wagging even more. As Luis leaned over to wuffle at Korbin the doctor laughed, and pet his snout affectionately. "Good beast." He praised, smiling to him. "We should have nothing to worry about from the rats..." Now if only the building would be empty.

As the Toki entered, Leon looked to Luis, and moved to follow her, sniffing the air inside the building. He sensed nothing. Any smells there were old, and from the dust nobody had been in there in a long time, likely not even any creatures. Everyone must have assumed it was too picked over to matter perhaps.

Either way, Leon thought it seemed safe. So far.

------[Cantbreakthis]

In the long run she was an exceedingly fierce and frightening woman. Russ had the sneaky thought from time to time that man, he was certainly glad she was on their side… loosely, because she always seemed to have her own motives in mind, but still not… directly against them or anything of the sort like that. A darn good thing there.

Luis perhaps wasn’t the biggest of fighters. The curly was smart, darn smart, but he was not built nor suited for combat when it arose… not that he couldn’t defend himself. He could, perhaps surprisingly well, but he’d leave the willingness to fight to Leon when it came down to things.

“Might be ableta find some tools at least.” Power tools were virtually useless at the moment, not until the grid got back up and running, but other tools would be good ones to bring back. In the initial panic they certainly wouldn’t have been something that would’ve been snatched up as well – left behind to rush away. “Gotta keep her mobile too. We can’t load her too heavy.” One would’ve thought the tokis would’ve gone extinct after the world ended but the animals proved to be even more adaptable than their handlers. Paprika was a certain prime example of her species, her small size helping rather than being off-putting.

While the rats would’ve been fun to chase Paprika knew that they had to stay focused. Russell had put so much work into her and it clearly showed – she was more attentive on him then her own wants and wishes.

There lingered that stale empty scent in the air. Even Luis noticed it as he moved in behind the roan, ears forward and senses alert. Russell adjusted his grip on the baseball bat as he headed in as well, looking around as his eyes tried to adjust to the gloom and darkness of the building’s interior.

“Don’t see nothin’..” Mused words. Even the tokotas, while on high alert, didn’t seem too alarmed or showing any signs they noticed something amiss. Perhaps it was their lucky day after all and the building was actually clear.

------[Mehen]

Alaina was a terrifying woman really. Korbin had an inkling of a thought that she might have done something less than savory in her life before. She just had that air to her, but he said nothing on it. In theory he and Russell were killers for hire, they didn't exactly have room to judge. At least she was on their side though, he agreed with that.

Leon was glad to be the fighter of the two. While he didn't really like fighting, he liked protecting, and he was a damn good fighter because of it. Beneficial to anyone he was protecting, of course. If he didn't know how to fight he'd be a poor guardian.

"Yeah." Korbin agreed. Tools would be useful, even just some wrenches, hammers, anything to help along with building. Tools were always handy, and hell they could double as weapons too. "I doubt we'll find anything heavy enough to slow her down here. Leon can carry a few more things too." The deer wasn't so heavy as to be a hindrance, and adding some tools to his saddlebags wouldn't lower his ability to fight or run really.

Tokis certainly had adapted well though. Smaller and faster than their non-dwarf counterparts, it left them able to better evade mauling and their senses made them valueable companions. Nothing like having an alert toki to keep you safe.

Korbin followed them in, looking around. "If the tokotas aren't on alert, it should be fine. I don't hear anything....or see anything." Though it was stuffy enough that he could almost tell nobody had been there in awhile. "Let's get going, find what we need and get on the road..." Staying in one place out here for too long was dangerous after all, and the quicker they looted, the quicker they could get home with their loot.