literature

A Dire's Choice-Taming Attempt 4

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Selah pulled the hood of her coat tighter around her head as the bitter cold winds howled through the valley.  She and Theo had been camping in the valley now for over a week and a half.  After Theo’s encounter with the dires, the trio of massive tokotas had been frequent visitors.  It only took two days of observing their growing curiosity before Selah and Theo were surprised by the dires’ seeming acceptance of their presence.  The dires no longer charged at them or growled threateningly at them unless they ventured too close for comfort.  And all three practically ignored Kalec, Shila and Ildra, unless Ildra made herself impossible to ignore-which she tended to do with the merle male whenever she could.  But he didn’t seem to mind being treated like an alpha.  After another couple of days, Theo and Selah were able to witness their tokotas work with the dires to bring down a pair of caribou that had wandered into the valley.  There was only minor disagreements between Shila and the tawny male over who ate first, but in the end, the tawny male ate from one carcass while Shila ate from the other.  The merle male, now called Dusty by both Selah and Theo, even began to allow Theo’s submissive approach to apply the healing herbs.  The cuts on his leg were healing nicely, and the large beast seemed to realize the bitter paste was making them better.  Even Selah was allowed to approach him in either her humanoid or feral wolf form.  It was an experience of a lifetime, a once in a lifetime chance to live among and be accepted by a dangerous wild animal.  Both Selah and Theo nearly forgot that they had originally ventured to these mountains to attempt to tame these creatures…Then suddenly, the dires vanished and had not been seen now for three days.  

Selah was growing worried.  Only when they did not return was she able to come out of the fantasy world she had allowed herself to slip into.  No longer could she ignore the one simple truth-there were others roaming these mountains searching out the dires to tame them…Ildra was as disappointed as she was...

“Selah, a little help would be appreciated,” came Theo’s prodding voice.

Selah scowled as she looked at the various odd and ends of their dismantled campsite.

“I don’t see why we have to go now…Just give up hope.  Surely the dires will come back.  They disappeared before…”

“As much as I wish that were true, even you have a feeling that something is off,” came Theo’s halfhearted reply.

Selah shot him a questioning glare, but his attention was focused on stowing their bedding and keeping Ildra and Kalec from nosing around in already packed goods, before both tokotas finally gave up and headed for the lake.

“I just think it is time we leave this valley.  We may as well use this experience to explore these mountains, perhaps snag us a few pelts to trade for the next time we stumble across civilization.  Perhaps we will stumble across the dires again in the process…”

Now his ice blue eyes rose to meet her gaze. There was something in them that just struck her; something was on his mind, something that she would probably not like…

“Selah…”

And here it came…She sighed quietly as she turned to pack, nearly wishing she could join Ildra, Kalec and Shila at the lake.

“After what we have experienced this past week, I think I finally realize why you feel the draw of nature so strongly…”

Selah’s eyes widened, her ears perked, as she hesitated in her task a moment before turning back to him.  These were not the words she was expecting.  Theo’s gaze was turned out over the quiet lake.  

“It’s so beautiful out here, peaceful, despite the dangers that lurk in the shadows.  There’s such a freedom; the freedom to let that deep repressed feral side that resides in us all loose to stretch its wings…I’ve never felt so alive, never felt more whole…the pain of my old injuries has been only a memory…I can’t help but think how nice it would be to just stay out here, leave the modern world behind, live off the land, just the two of us and our tokotas…”

Selah’s heart nearly leapt into her throat…How she had longed to hear those words from her husband.  Long ago, after they’d first been married, she’d tried to convince him to come spend some time out in the wilderness, hoping to make him see the world she loved so much.  But he’d been too fearful-fearful for his health, fearful of leaving Haley behind, fearful to leave modern conveniences behind…

Both their gazes locked on the trio of tokotas that were trotting across the ice back towards them, Shila in the lead with a large fish in her mouth.  Seemed that Ildra had been teaching them a few tricks-all three now would engage in the art of fishing, though Shila still hesitated.  The large brown female dropped her fish before entering the camp and immediately went to Theo’s side.

“Hey there, girl,” he whispered as he pet the female’s shoulder.  “I see you’ve been fishing.  That’s a nice one,” he continued.  

Shila looked awful proud of herself as she glanced back at the fish.  She then lowered her head to seek the approving head scratches she liked so much.  Theo chuckled quietly and gave the scratches before Shila turned and went back to her waiting meal.  

Kalec paused before Selah and glanced over the preparations and half loaded packs.  His golden orange eyes met hers before turning out over and up at the towering peaks around them.  Yes, he knew they were preparing to leave.  She almost sensed a hint of excitement from him.  Selah was abruptly bumped to the side as Ildra tried to nudge in between her and Kalec.  The small snow roan had been a little depressed lately when her new friends had up and disappeared.  It had been all either she or Theo could do to keep her from wandering off.

“But we can’t leave the modern world behind…not completely.  Neither can what is wild be taken to the modern world,” Theo said, continuing his earlier thoughts.

Selah’s eyes widened.  “What are you saying?” she finally asked when the conflicting thoughts finally hesitated.  

Theo sighed.  “We came here in search of the dires, with the idea in our heads to try and tame them.  I was caught up in the idea before ever leaving home.  To have a dire would be a dream come true.  But then we came here, experienced what we have experienced, and I find myself questioning the whole notion.”

“I don’t understand.  You are the one who convinced me to go on this adventure, got me all worked up and excited about it…Now you are changing your mind?  I don't think even Ildra will go for that-she's quite infatuated with that merle dire...”

Theo shook his head.  “No, not exactly.  Its that…After being out here, after being around those dires, I realized that my thinking was rather selfish.  I wanted a dire and I was prepared to give my all to tame one.  I never realized that taming one would mean taking it away from everything it has ever known.  These animals are wild, were born wild, and no matter what happens, they will always be wild.  What kind of life would they have being taken away from all of this?  I’m not so sure anymore that it’s right to do such a thing…”

Selah’s ears swiveled back as she slowly walked over to put her arms around him.  He was finally seeing her original misgivings about the whole idea.  She’d tried to tell him in the beginning that it was not right to take animals from the wild and force them into captivity.  She felt Ildra's wet nose bump her from behind, felt the snow roan's questioning gaze boring into her.

“So we are giving up?”

Theo’s embrace slackened as he took a small step back to gaze down into her eyes.

“Not exactly…”

“Wait…you just said,” she started in frustration.

“I may not think it is right to try and take them from all that they know, but at the same time, I realize they will be tamed.  There are people all over these mountains right now trying to track down and tame these dires.  One way or another, they will be leaving these mountains.  I’d still like us to be the ones to tame Dusty, but I will not force him or coax him into it; it has to be his decision.  Any other way and it will never work.  A miserable wild animal in captivity, besides being a heartbreaking thought, is a dangerous animal.  None of us needs that, including Dusty.”

Selah’s ears fell back as she glanced aside.  Yes, deep down, she’d already known this, knew it even before she had returned home to bring Theo back.  She’d just got so caught up with everything lately.  She finally glanced over to the waiting Ildra, the snow roan seeming to now understand the mood that had settled over the camp.  She whined softly, sadly, before backing and glancing out over the lake and tree line.

“Come now.  Let’s get this all packed up and get on the trail.  There is so much more for us to see and experience, perhaps find out where our elusive dires have gone,” he said and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“Alright,” she huffed with a sigh and turned back to her task.

“Selah, just please don’t be too disappointed if Dusty does not choose us.”

She hesitated before casting a sorrowful glance over her shoulder.  “I’ll try not to.”

***

Selah had just helped Theo strap the last bundle of supplies to Kalec’s harness when Ildra suddenly began to whine in excitement and nearly dropped to her belly with full tack on.  Shila shifted uneasily while Kalec’s dark ears fell back and he nudged ever so closer to Selah’s side.  Before she had a chance to voice her confusion, a low eerie howl rang out from the tree line and was quickly followed by another more distant howl.  Selah’s ears perked-she knew that howl!

“Theo, it’s Dusty!  They’re back!” she whispered in excitement.

But where were they?  Why were they hiding in the trees?  Selah’s excitement was short lived.  Kalec’s nervous movements and now Shila’s bristling made her hesitate.  Even Ildra seemed uncertain.  A flash of color and shadow in the trees caught her attention.  It lingered just out of sight, moving from vantage point to vantage point before finally making its presence known.  A brown and gray speckled head emerged and violet eyes locked on them briefly before darting out over the landscape.  

“Dusty…” Selah called hoarsely and started to move out to meet him.

“Selah, wait…Something’s not quite right,” came Theo’s warning.  
Dusty moved out of the tree line, his hackles raised and his ears laid back.  Selah froze as the large merle male stalked stiff legged towards them.  She slowly backed until further retreat was blocked by Kalec’s imposing figure.  She could feel the tension in the large male, felt his confusion and worry.  Not even Ildra's quiet inviting whines seemed to calm him. What was wrong with Dusty?

The large merle stopped a safe distance from them, sniffed the air, his violet eyes searching, before lifting his head and releasing another powerful howl.  Selah flinched, the volume of it making her cringe and want to cover her ears.  The three tokotas around her danced in place, high pitched whines of worry sounding from them.  The white female, whom they had begun calling Ghost, emerged from the trees following the howl and quickly trotted towards them.  She hesitated briefly beside Dusty, her eyes searching their small group warily before she headed on over to the lake.  Both seemed very skittish.  When Ghost had passed, Dusty began to step quickly around them.  He remained a safe distance, and if he got too close, he flinched back with bared teeth.  Even Ildra’s feeble attempt at greeting him was met with a threatening growl, causing her to quickly retreat back for the first time ever.

“Theo, what’s wrong with them?” Selah whispered without turning to him.

Dusty was coming closer and closer in his movements until he was very nearly amongst them as he sniffed and nosed around, obviously searching for something.  When he didn’t find what he was looking for, he turned and headed to join Ghost, who was searching the area around the lake.
Theo subtly moved as quickly as he could over to Selah’s side.  Both Shila and Kalec were instantly standing guard next to them, while Ildra dropped to her belly before them, watching the near frantically searching dires.

“Big Boy is missing…”

Selah’s eyes widened.  Yes, the large tawny male had not presented himself, and that was highly unusual.  He was usually the first to appear and make sure it was safe for the others to come out.  As she watched the two search, be became very evident that they were looking for him.  They were searching all the places the tawny male had been over the past week, searching for trails…Where was he?

All they could do was helplessly watch as the pair of dires searched the area.  After twenty minutes, Dusty began to make his way back their direction.  His ears were swiveled back, his head and tail nearly drooping.  He looked so sad, so lost, and it broke Selah’s heart.  She didn’t know how she knew, but she had a pretty good idea what had happened to the tawny male, especially after the conversation she’d just had with Theo.  Dusty paused before their small group, his ears and nose twitching in uncertainty.  When his violet eyes made direct contact with hers, he sighed out a rather anguished high pitched whine.  Ildra’s ears fell flat and she responded in same as she crawled forward.  This time the large merle did not bristle or growl at her.  His head dropped as she arrived at his feet and stood to sniff him.

Selah couldn’t stand it any longer.  Her ears fell back as she lowered her gaze and she allowed her tail to sway gently behind her as carefully stepped forward.

“Selah!” she heard Theo whisper behind her, but she ignored the warning call.  She trusted Dusty.

Over the past week, if anything else, she had formed an odd bond with the large dire.  In a way, she felt they were kindred spirits, wild hearts that could never be fully tamed.  She understood him, and felt that in his own way, he understood her.  Even now, pleading violet eyes met hers as she approached, eyes that were full of questions and confusion.  She slowed as she moved in beside Ildra and carefully lifted a hand to place it on his thick gray mane.  Somewhere under all the fur, strong muscles twitched at the touch.  But he did not growl or tense…Just stood there in what seemed like defeat.

“I’m so sorry, Dusty,” she whispered.  “I know what it’s like to lose part of your family, to find yourself lost, alone and confused.  I won’t lie and say the pain goes away.  But it can fade and get easier, especially if you are surrounded by those who care.  I would like to be a part of that number, the ones who care for you-Ildra definitely cares for you...  I’d give just about anything for you to come home with me.  But I will not make you.  Others may try-I’m sure others have tried.  They got to Big Boy, and I sincerely hope he is happy, wherever he is.  But it will have to be your choice to come with us, as it was my choice when I chose the life I now live.”

She hesitated as she gently dug her fingers into his thick mane.  The large male gave a quiet sigh, his eyes nearly closing as he stood there.  No telling how tired he was, either of them were, after searching for who knows how long for their missing pack mate.  Selah cast a careful glance to where she saw Ghost sitting not far away, but closer than she had ever come.  Even the elusive white female looked distressed.  Kalec, Shila and especially Ildra seemed to understand the mood, all three becoming quiet and sullen.

“You and Ghost both are welcome to join us as we leave here and explore these lands of yours.  Perhaps you can show us interesting places to see?”  

Dusty’s large ears twitched at her more upbeat tone, but his overall countenance didn’t change much.  A quiet whine from Kalec somewhere behind them drew her attention.  She tried not to get flustered, but she felt as if her large overprotective companion was urging her to cut this encounter short.  She didn’t want to, but she knew they couldn’t stay here, knew the dires would not stay here.  She turned her focus back to the dire.

“I can’t know what you will choose to do-stay, come with us, go with any of the others who have made contact with you…  I only hope that whatever you choose, that it will be your choice and that you will be happy.  I hope this is not good bye but…”

Selah paused again as tears nearly came to her eyes.  She threw caution to the wind, ignored Ildra's quiet whine, and leaned into the large male, carefully putting her arms around his thick mane as far as she could reach.  She felt muscles twitching, but sensed no hesitation or aggression.  A large presence registered around her and she felt warm breath on her ears.  Then a large snout bumped her, breaking her attempted embrace.  She turned her head to find herself nearly eye to eye with him.  But she felt at complete peace.  There was something in his violet eyes that spoke of gratitude, even respect and friendship.  It was then that she knew that no matter what he chose to do, he would be alright.  She smiled before slowly backing toward where Theo, Kalec and Shila waited in silence.  

“Come on, Ildra.  Time to go, “she called.

The snow roan cast her a pleading glance before finally heeding Selah’s call.  She and Theo finished tying down the last of their supplies on Kalec’s harness and on their mounts before climbing up into their saddles.  As the small group finally turned and began heading up the trail back to the mountain passes, a chorus of howls arose behind them.  Selah didn’t know what came over her, but she abruptly pulled Ildra to a stop and threw her own muzzle to the sky, releasing her own song to blend with theirs.  It was not long before all three tokotas had joined in, leaving Theo to sit and listen in amusement.  

When finally the song was done, the two dires silently disappeared back into the trees and their small travel party began moving again.  A warm smile played at Selah’s lips as they rode in silence.  After a while, she felt Theo’s curiosity get the better of him.

“You seem rather content,” he mused.

She cast him a sideways smirk.

“It is a good day,” she replied simply, to which he arched a brow.

“Anything I should know?”

“They are still out there, following us.  I can sense their presence, as can Ildra,” she replied and motioned to the rapid movement in the snow roan’s ears.  “There still may be a chance that they will choose us.”  

***
3288 Words
Wild tokota's reference sheet (link or thumbnail):WM15 by TotemSpirit
-Pack mates included: WF16
-Handler name: Selah Wyntr
-Faction (prestige breeder or pack leader): Pack Leader
-Tribe (if any):
-Items or companions (if any):

1st Attempt: A Game Well Played-Taming Attempt 1
2nd Attempt: To Help a Dire-Taming Attempt 2
3rd Attempt: Dire Whisperer-Taming Attempt 3
4th Attempt-Here!

1 in 600 chance
+2% for pack leader
+5% for including pack mate

*******
3130 Words

Was having a bit of a hard time getting this one to flow...hope I didn't fail at presenting the mood I was after...

HP for Ildra: 18 (+15 for word count, +2 for handler, +1 for non commission)
Link to import sheet: Ildra 3218
Link to (hunting/fishing/exploring) journal: Ildra 3218 Tracking Journal
Items/Companions: NA
Defects/Health Issues: NA

HP for Shila: 18 
(+15 for word count, +2 for handler, +1 for non commission)
Link to import sheet: Shila Rae 4420
Link to (hunting/fishing/exploring) journal: Shila Rae 4420 Tracking Journal
Items/Companions: NA
Defects/Health Issues: NA
© 2015 - 2024 SelahAnn
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