Issorartuyok Endurance Trials - Day 1

Dan
Oh well, his whole situation was quite literally stuck in the mud. Maybe Octavia had not been ready after all, even though he had been so sure the beautiful extended marked girl had learned quite a lot during the few weeks she was already staying with him and his pack. Dan even attended the last faction brawl with her, and she was doing great. Not that they were placed, but that wasn’t his intent either. The young man just wanted to show the female Tokota the atmosphere, the noise and the constant buzzing of a busy place during a contest. After that, he had been sure that their bond had grown enough for his own tribes trials. Well, guess again.

A gurgly ‘blop’ brought him back to the present. He sighed, inhaling the murky air smelling of wet earth, muddy water, decomposing plants and a whole lot of other things he didn’t want to know exactly anyway. His feet were still above the swamp, but Dan wasn’t sure how long that would remain so. Even if Octavia stood up to the middle of her legs in the swamp, there was no way to bring her to turn around. She just stood there, being sure her way was best. Usually Dan let his Tokotas choose their own way as he trusted their senses a lot more than his own, but this time he knew it was wrong. After all this was tribe’s ground and he had been in this swamp before. There was no way the both of them would get on higher and safer ground again if Octavia just kept walking straight in her chosen line.

He should have listened to Tana. Not only yesterday when they ate dinner together to discuss the upcoming trial, but even this particular morning she voiced her concerns about their chosen route. His route.

Tana
She had been firm on the matter. Feeling it deep in her spirit that while it would take them longer to go around, to go through the swamp. It was hot and there was plenty of biting insects. They would be drawn to any open watersource, especially the mosquitos. Sweat was also something they liked, and not just them. Like on cue she swatted one that was biting her on her neck. The heat was hovering tightly around her, feeling like wearing a thick fur while sitting in front of the fire. Sweat was running along her back as well as her face.

Tulrujuq hung her head as she stood beside the human. While Tana had tried to braid the mane as much as possible so at least some of the little breeze there was, would be able to cool the pied female, it was still hot for her. Tulrujuq’s tongue hung out far as she panted. The long mane pushed her warm head against Tana’s side, wishing that she would get some relief from the human.

Dan was taking his time. Given it had taken a good time for her to walk around, especially in this heat, Dan should have been waiting for her rather than her waiting for him. She took her waterskin, the stomach sack of a moose, prepared to hold water. The bottom had been plugged and stitched so it wouldn't leak and the upper opening had gotten more firm opening made by a vertebra and a plug of hard rolled leather. The stomach was protected by an outer leather pouch but it didn't protect the water fully from the heat making it a bit luke warm but at least it helped against thirst. Tulrujuq had learned rather quickly to just open her mouth as Tana poured the water into the tokotas mouth. Much ran out of course, but still. Tana took some handful of water and put on the female's head and then she did the same on her own head. She had to be careful not to use too much since there was still some ways to the next point where they could get more fresh water. She could only hope Dan thought of drinking water. Heat made problems harder to solve, especially if you didn't had water to drink.

Dan
“Seriously Octavia, this is getting ridiculous. Just turn around, go back to the higher ground and let me guide you through this muddy mess. Just believe me that for once I actually do know better than you.” The young man tried to talk some sense into his Tokota. Which only resulted in a twitch of one dark-rimmed ear and another step into the wrong direction. The sole of his thin leather boots were merely inches from the surface. He sighed, grabbing for his water bag. The dark haired man took another sip, carefully doing so and actively trying to not take too much. There wasn’t a lot left and he wasn’t so sure when he’d get out of here.

It had been such a pleasant start. The grounds were familiar, the day nice - even though a tad too hot for Dan’s liking - and waving through the birch forests near the camp had been a lot of fun. Tana and him were a good team by now, and they both knew what a long way was before them. Still, sometimes a tad bit of fun had to be, just to cheer up everyone’s mind. And attract good, friendly spirits. So they had ridden a full speed slalom through the trees for a few moments, Dan laughing out loud while Octavia was enjoying herself stretching her limbs.

They had quickly come back to a calmer pace, one the big predators could maintain for a long time. This special trot - that was seen in wolves as well - covered distances very effectful without loosing too much energy. After a little while it was easy to sit as well, when one learned to keep their hips loose enough for them to swing with the rhythm of the trot. Due to her injury Dan imagined this could be more difficult for Tana than for him. Therefore he kind of shrugged away her concern about the swamp, suggesting for them to split up. He’d go directly through the swamp and would start setting up the camp for the night, while Tana walked her long maned piebald female around it. So much for the plan.

Octavia made another step. His soles touched the murky water.

Tana
Part of her longed to wash herself in the lake, but it laid behind them now. Maybe they could stop on the way back if they had time. Even if just for a quick dip. Tulrujuq liked to swim even if she wasn't that fond of Tana sorting and drying her mane and the rest of her fur later. Tana had tried to braid it to keep much of the big mass of hair out of the way. Two thicker braids on the female's neck served almost as handles when she leaned forward in the saddle. It would be nice with a break. They had started early this morning and even if her hip had it's good days, longer rides always took a toll on her. She whistled a long, rather sharp signal. If Dan was close he should hear her.

She had come to a place they had used as a campground before. The stone ring where they lit their campfire was still there. But not Dan or his tokota. There was not even tracks that showed they had been here. Now she began to worry a little. What had happened? She took the more narrow trail that lead towards the swamp. Tulrujuq flicked her ears when Tana made another whistle. Then the long maned female a made a sound, similar to the sound made when a pup was calling to either it's mother or a litter mate. It was not a howl, more of a yip mixed with a cough, ‘where are you’ kind of sound. Then Tulrujuq tilted her head, listening. The long mane was still young and it was very clear by the sound of her voice. This was one of the few times Tana had taken her out without her darkcoated brother. So far it didn't seem to be any problems. Aluaq had managed to be handled without her just fine.

By now Tana could see the swamp, but there was no sight of Dan. She cupped her hands around her mouth and made the whistle again. The sharp sound she knew was more likely to go a longer distance than just calling a name. How that was she didn't know and at this point it didn't matter either. None the less, after her whistle she did call his name as well. She only hoped he hadn't run into his spirit animal again.

“Dan??!”

Dan
It was almost unbearably hot. All over his naked arms were red, swollen dots. Scattered mosquito bites, and by the frequency of Octavia’s shaking they bit her too. He could feel the warm sweat running down his back, wettening his T-shirt. And he still stood in that goddamn swamp. His Tokota refused to move, and if she stopped the refusing for a moment she stepped only deeper into the murky water, his water bag was almost empty, it got hot and hotter and he was generally really really pissed with everything.
“Get your damn pighead out of this mess you idiot” he muttered, not knowing exactly if it was directed at his Tokota or at himself. Right now it fitted them both.

Dan couldn’t tell how much time passed when he felt the familiar tugging at what he believed his soul. Trying to rub the sweat out of his eyes (and of course only getting more of the salt in them) he glanced around. Wasn’t there a shadow, lurking around them, hiding in the deepest of the water? Dan turned around. There! A splash. Another, from the opposite direction. He should get from Octavia's back into the water and find that thing. The sooner the better.

The young man already had one leg almost over the extended marked’s back when a sharp whistle brought him out of his trance-like state of mind. Another one shortly followed. Was that? Could that be? “TANA!” he exclaimed before he put two fingers between his lips and whistled an answer. Sitting back safely on top of his mount, the bad spirit had no more power over him that wanted to lure him into the swamp. Now it was just for Octavia to realize that she had to turn around as well.

Tana
The reply whistle came from what she guessed would be in the middle of the swamp. Taking a look at the patch before her she saw that while the heat had dried much of it the sun had also made the mud that remained much thicker and harder to move through, and together with plant material it could be even trickier if you found yourself stuck. It took a little time to navigate herself between the dry and semi dry patches until she made her way to her friend. His face was red and his arms filled with the marks of the mosquitos. Luckily she had - as always - her medicine bag with her and she knew she would have to make a cooling mixture or else she was sure Dan would be scratching at it all the time like a fox with mange.

She hadn't said it this morning but this had also been a reason why it had been better to take the long way around. The tokotas they rode was young. They did not have the company of a older tokota that could boost their confidence. They needed a simple path to build it on their own. It didn't have to be much, it could just be a thing like this. A easy trail to follow and then get praise for it. Perhaps Dan knew but given how good the young animals had been so far...perhaps he had thought they were ready for the next step. Tana just looked at the young man, but she didn't say anything. A man's pride no matter how strong he was otherwise was easily wounded, especially if the man already knew that his choice might not have been the better option in hindsight. Telling him wouldn't change anything, only feed the bad spirits. Instead she looked at the situation as it was now.

Octavia looked a little bit miserable as she stood, clearly stuck with one or two paws in the muck. Still there was a soft wag of her tail as Tana and Tulrujuq came closer. The long mane shook her head, clearly not happy about the amount of insects. They were even more here and the heat seemed to be even more humid. It took a lot of persuading to get Tulrujuq close enough to put a rope around Octavia's neck. It was not intended to drag the other up, more to give that sense of ‘I got you’ and to boost the other females confidence that she would get out of the mud. Slowly but surely the marsh let go of it's victim with a sucking plop.