Taming Attempt 1: WM15

Of what use in this world was there for a healer woman who traveled but didn't have enough for her supplies? No use at all, and that was what created trips like this when they popped up for supplies that had dropped below reasonable amounts.  This was something that Areiya questioned through the duration of this trip time and time again, as she had on others in the past. It was cold. It was hard. The trek was long. And all of it was for a few much needed herbs during the season that she couldn't get any other time. Or so she at least was telling herself to reason her own stupidity in having gone out here without Danaen and her Tokota. Thank goodness she liked her job because otherwise, she’d be in a lot of trouble for nothing instead of for a reason she could hide behind and pretend was a smart idea at the time.

However, it had seemed like such a tiny issue at the time when she left. It wasn't like she couldn't handle herself and what really made it so that she had to take someone else with her each time she wanted to go outside? Nothing. She knew enough about survival. She could handle herself. She could...freeze on her own out here. Starve to death. Not find what she's actually looking for.

Pulling her cloak tighter beneath her chin, Areiya sighed. Dark brown hair tied back in a ponytail was starting to come loose, but at least her gloves and boots were warm. If nothing else, she supposed the negativity she was mentally going over in her mind really was pointless. Nothing she said now would change her decision and frankly, she needed the supplies. That's all there was to it and the elements were hardly anything anyone could control. In fact, if they could, she was certain they’d make far more money than the top Tokota breeders ever in existence.

It just would have been nice if she wasn't lost. Her friend was going to mock her relentlessly once the woman managed to sort herself out and make it back to camp. Her only hope would be making it back to the camp before her friend came to find her. Otherwise, she’d never live this one down.

Glancing up at the trees around her, Areiya felt the edges of her lips quirk in amusement. There, not even ten feet in front of her, were the herbs she had been searching for right in a circle of trees that had the kind of light that they grew best in. Almost immediately her mood lifted slightly, encouraged by the fact that her trip hadn't been a total waste of time. Adjusting her gloves firmly on her hands, she approached the plants before kneeling down, beginning to pick the bits here and there she deemed the best to bring back.

“Well mixed in a strong alcohol, this can create a tincture that will help with infection an-” Areiya began talking her way through her work when the crack of leaves and bushes attracted her attention to something other than her task. Heavy breathing and a faint growl told the healer all she needed to know about who was behind her. Guiltily, she said, “I don’t know how you found me Dan, but I’m really glad you did. I wish I had listened but you know ho-”

Turning as she spoke, knees still pressed to the ground. Areiya’s eyes began to widen. That which stood before her was most certainly not her friend. No. That was definitely not Danaen and her beast. Not in the slightest.

What stood before her was easily one of the most beautiful Tokotas she’d yet to have run into, and the only thing from stopping her from fully admiring the beast was that there seemed to be no handler around him. At all.

That meant he was wild and she in a whole lot of trouble.

Amber eyes widened  before she took a deep breath, urging herself to calm before she slowly put the plants she was holding down. The creature in front of her appeared to be of a dire build, and she didn’t want him to think she meant him any ill will at all. Besides, if she wanted to run and he to chase, he could likely take her down with little to no effort at all.

No, it was up to her to make sure she not only got out of there safely, but also did so with her limbs attached and hopefully with her gloves too.

The padding of the creature told her of annoyance, as though he had found something he really wish he hadn’t run in on and Areiya found she probably couldn’t blame him. There was an intelligent gleam in those violet eyes and if she had to guess, there had probably been numerous attempts to make friends with the large creature. He had multiple scars over his body, and she assumed that there might have been a few run ins for him that were less than favorable.

Something about him told of perseverance, and it was inspiring. Biting her bottom lip, it suddenly came to her that she wouldn’t mind being this tokota’s friend. If anything, she felt she could learn quite a bit from him and that before anything else was inspirational. Besides, if those scars hurt him at all, she could easily handle that.

So, deciding to bite the bullet in what was quite possibly one of the most reckless things she had ever done, Areiya reached over to her right hand and pulled her glove off. The cold air instantly chilled the hand, but it wasn’t painful and would at least afford the canine-like creature a chance to take in her scent and hopefully determine that she was a friendly existence that meant him no harm.

Dropping her voice to the soothing tones she used when talking to distraught children, she spoke, “....Hey there big guy. I’m sorry if I startled you. I’m just a little lost, but I hope you can forgive me.”

Quietly, Areiya altered her posture so as to make herself seem less assuming. Dropping her chin, she watched him but was careful to not be taken as something that would challenge him in his own territory. “That would have been more foolish than getting lost in a forest while pretending to be on an errand for the better good….as some people were known to do. Whoever THEY were.”

Taking a small step forward, and then another, she began to raise her hand to the great wild being before her, hoping, willing him, to take that sniff from her hand like so many much smaller dogs had done in the past. To gain his trust, she had to show him that she was willing to trust him. “I’m Areiya. And I’d like to try to be friends. I can probably at least help with any pain you might have in those scars too. I’m sure we can find a few herbs to mix up for you. Salves are pretty simple depending on what you need.”

She smiled gently and took another step, doing her best to make sure her movements were easy to follow and held nothing intimidating about them as she moved forward before finally holding her hand out as close as she felt the Tokota would be comfortable with her coming. What happened next was entirely in his paws, but she hoped that this was enough.