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Description
Prompt 8
Your tokota has met with a potentially fatal accident. Weak and close to death, they must find recovery through either a friend, stranger, or their own mettle.

+10 Handler
+10 Story (733 words)
+10 Setting (Ridge of the Elders)

Monifa trembled. Her limbs were weak. They could barely hold her. Her strength had sapped over the last few days. She couldn’t remember the last time she ate. She knew something was broken inside her. The pain had dulled with the cold but it hadn’t disappeared completely. She had fought hard and bravely against not one but two dires who thought her human and her pup where an easy meal. She managed to blind one. It scared it so bad it had run away. But the other, the other had attacked her with a vengeance in retaliation. They were brutal. Pushing and shoving and holding her with their massive force. But she was too slippery. She never let them grab hold with their sharp teeth. Monifa knew that if they grabbed her throat or nape of her neck she would’ve been done for. Monifa had gone for the tokota’s belly and carved ribbons of flesh from it with her claws and teeth. The other animal shrieked and howled. It walked some steps away before it collapsed. Its blood spread over the blanket of snow as it died, steam rising from it as it cooled and froze over.

Monifa had been hurt. And she had taken the wrong path home. Alan and her daughter, Astra were gone. She had followed her orders and taken the human away from the fight. He must be frantic, Monifa thought. He’d always come for her. Will he come this time? Did he believe she had died? Surely he wouldn’t go home without making sure.

She wandered down the mountain, limping. She couldn’t deny how beautiful the Ridge of Elders was. If she had to leave this world, this wouldn’t be a bad place to die. Monifa shook her head. These were not thoughts she needed to have. Going back home was the goal. She still had her pack to take care of. Alan would need her in the future, she knew. He was a poor fool. Like most humans. But he was hers and she was his and they worked well together. She approached the edge of a cliff and took a deep breath. Her howl wasn’t as loud as it should’ve been. Her voice drowned with the blood in her lungs. She hoped someone heard. Someone who wouldn’t seek revenge for the life she took. Her vision blurred and she laid down on her side.

A little rest. A nap and she will keep searching when she awoke. She was so tired…so….tired…

***

“Monifa! Monifaaaa! Come on girl!”

Monifa’s ear twitched. Her eyes blinked open. There was silence for a couple minutes. Her mind was playing tricks on her. She sighed and closed her eyes again.

“Nifa! Where are you!? Oh gods.”

Her head rose and her ears stood alert.

Could it be? she thought.

She looked around her but saw nothing but the snow reflecting the bright lights in the sky.

Movement over a mound of snow drew her attention and she stared intently at it. It took a lot of effort to even keep her head up. But she needed to know, she needed to— A redheaded man climbed over a couple feet of snow and froze with wide eyes staring straight at her.

Monifa whimpered.

“Monifa!” the man yelled as he ran towards her.

She attempted to stand once, twice and fell back down both times. She had help on her third attempt. Alan had reached her and let her lean against him so she could have some leverage. He was a large human. Right now she was glad for it. She sat, exhausted by the simple action. Alan walked around her and crouched in front of her. His eyes were bright, glistening. He laughed and closed his eyes. She could hear him murmuring something under his breath. She couldn’t understand his words. His hand came up to caress her face and she leaned into his touch.

“You dumbass. I can’t believe you did that. I thought you were dead. I was sure you were dead. But…I had to know. Oh gods. We’ll get you fixed up, girl. I’m so happy I found you.”

Monifa looked into the man’s eyes and saw how relieved he was. He had apparently been terrified. She felt her own eyes burn. She knew he couldn’t understand her but she still uttered the words.

I’m so happy I found you too, my friend.

Description
Prompt 8
Your tokota has met with a potentially fatal accident. Weak and close to death, they must find recovery through either a friend, stranger, or their own mettle.

+10 Handler
+10 Story (733 words)
+10 Setting (Ridge of the Elders)

Monifa trembled. Her limbs were weak. They could barely hold her. Her strength had sapped over the last few days. She couldn’t remember the last time she ate. She knew something was broken inside her. The pain had dulled with the cold but it hadn’t disappeared completely. She had fought hard and bravely against not one but two dires who thought her human and her pup where an easy meal. She managed to blind one. It scared it so bad it had run away. But the other, the other had attacked her with a vengeance in retaliation. They were brutal. Pushing and shoving and holding her with their massive force. But she was too slippery. She never let them grab hold with their sharp teeth. Monifa knew that if they grabbed her throat or nape of her neck she would’ve been done for. Monifa had gone for the tokota’s belly and carved ribbons of flesh from it with her claws and teeth. The other animal shrieked and howled. It walked some steps away before it collapsed. Its blood spread over the blanket of snow as it died, steam rising from it as it cooled and froze over.

Monifa had been hurt. And she had taken the wrong path home. Alan and her daughter, Astra were gone. She had followed her orders and taken the human away from the fight. He must be frantic, Monifa thought. He’d always come for her. Will he come this time? Did he believe she had died? Surely he wouldn’t go home without making sure.

She wandered down the mountain, limping. She couldn’t deny how beautiful the Ridge of Elders was. If she had to leave this world, this wouldn’t be a bad place to die. Monifa shook her head. These were not thoughts she needed to have. Going back home was the goal. She still had her pack to take care of. Alan would need her in the future, she knew. He was a poor fool. Like most humans. But he was hers and she was his and they worked well together. She approached the edge of a cliff and took a deep breath. Her howl wasn’t as loud as it should’ve been. Her voice drowned with the blood in her lungs. She hoped someone heard. Someone who wouldn’t seek revenge for the life she took. Her vision blurred and she laid down on her side.

A little rest. A nap and she will keep searching when she awoke. She was so tired…so….tired…

***

“Monifa! Monifaaaa! Come on girl!”

Monifa’s ear twitched. Her eyes blinked open. There was silence for a couple minutes. Her mind was playing tricks on her. She sighed and closed her eyes again.

“Nifa! Where are you!? Oh gods.”

Her head rose and her ears stood alert.

Could it be? she thought.

She looked around her but saw nothing but the snow reflecting the bright lights in the sky.

Movement over a mound of snow drew her attention and she stared intently at it. It took a lot of effort to even keep her head up. But she needed to know, she needed to— A redheaded man climbed over a couple feet of snow and froze with wide eyes staring straight at her.

Monifa whimpered.

“Monifa!” the man yelled as he ran towards her.

She attempted to stand once, twice and fell back down both times. She had help on her third attempt. Alan had reached her and let her lean against him so she could have some leverage. He was a large human. Right now she was glad for it. She sat, exhausted by the simple action. Alan walked around her and crouched in front of her. His eyes were bright, glistening. He laughed and closed his eyes. She could hear him murmuring something under his breath. She couldn’t understand his words. His hand came up to caress her face and she leaned into his touch.

“You dumbass. I can’t believe you did that. I thought you were dead. I was sure you were dead. But…I had to know. Oh gods. We’ll get you fixed up, girl. I’m so happy I found you.”

Monifa looked into the man’s eyes and saw how relieved he was. He had apparently been terrified. She felt her own eyes burn. She knew he couldn’t understand her but she still uttered the words.

I’m so happy I found you too, my friend.