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Description

Sun had passed its zenith a while back, but the Aqtuquaq Forest was still bathing in its golden light. Sunlight came through the trees, dappling the forest floor. The air was still warm, but wind carried the crispness that made sure that everyone knew that the summer had run its course and they would be in for the cold and dark winter. And long. Oh, so long. Asla hated the winter here.

Asla sat on the back of her white tokota. She moved with Mikla's movement, resting her hands on his coarse, weatherproof fur. She was amused to notice how comfortable she had become on riding the massive beast. Only a few years back she had been kind of terrified of even the white, blue-eyed puppy, who was a lot larger than the small lap dogs (who were more like fashion accessories for some) she had known in the city.

She had never felt this kind of companionship with an animal. Sometimes she could swear that the tokota knew her better than she knew herself. When Asla was strangled by the anxieties of her new life (and the ghosts of her life before), Mikla would rest his head on her shoulder. He would use the weight of his big head just enough, so that Asla would feel almost hugged.

Mikla was good with other people, too. Asla's sister's fondness for Mikla was understandable, as it was her own tokota Muohta who found the puppy from Black Pine Country and managed to save it from the poachers. The other tokos in Asla's sister's pack were not so excited about the strange smelling pup, so Mikla spent most of his time with Asla's sister, and when she moved to her house, with Asla.

Overcome with sudden fondness for her tokota, Asla bowed forward and buried her face in the white fur of Mikla's neck. He gave a low, content growl, and wagged his tail.

"You are such a good boy", Asla praised him and straightened herself back up.

"Let's pick up the pace", she said and reached with her hand on the saddle bag, making sure the waterskin was still in its place. Asla wasn't a big believer in the spirits herself, but many others around here were. A Neighbour who was too old to make the journey themselves wanted water from this specific waterfall for.. something, she wasn't sure, maybe for something religious.
"I don't want to spend the night too close to the waterfall-thing", Asla continued. She had become a lot more comfortable with the wilderness that surrounded them, but she was still new to it. Mikla did as he was told, trotting forward, his tall ears attentively up.

Asla and Mikla continued their beeline towards the center of the forest. They could hear the waterfall long before they could see it. Its low rumble became louder and louder, as the air became colder and started to smell like mountains.
The Dreaming Waters came down from the mountainside. It was a lot calmer than it had been during spring months when the snow had been melting. When they got to the base of the waterfall, they could no longer hear much else than the noise from the massive amounts of water coming down. Asla got down from Mikla's back and got the waterskin out.

She wouldn't have made the journey into the wilderness to strange waterfalls without her friend.

[WC: 569]

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You know those pets who come with you everywhere? Even to the bathroom? Mikla is one of those.

Handler name: Asla
Tokota Import: Mikla 64359
Themes featured and brief summary of how they are explored: Friendship - Asla never has to do anything alone - not even fetch water. When Asla met Mikla as a pup, she had no idea what kind of bond they would develop.

Description

Sun had passed its zenith a while back, but the Aqtuquaq Forest was still bathing in its golden light. Sunlight came through the trees, dappling the forest floor. The air was still warm, but wind carried the crispness that made sure that everyone knew that the summer had run its course and they would be in for the cold and dark winter. And long. Oh, so long. Asla hated the winter here.

Asla sat on the back of her white tokota. She moved with Mikla's movement, resting her hands on his coarse, weatherproof fur. She was amused to notice how comfortable she had become on riding the massive beast. Only a few years back she had been kind of terrified of even the white, blue-eyed puppy, who was a lot larger than the small lap dogs (who were more like fashion accessories for some) she had known in the city.

She had never felt this kind of companionship with an animal. Sometimes she could swear that the tokota knew her better than she knew herself. When Asla was strangled by the anxieties of her new life (and the ghosts of her life before), Mikla would rest his head on her shoulder. He would use the weight of his big head just enough, so that Asla would feel almost hugged.

Mikla was good with other people, too. Asla's sister's fondness for Mikla was understandable, as it was her own tokota Muohta who found the puppy from Black Pine Country and managed to save it from the poachers. The other tokos in Asla's sister's pack were not so excited about the strange smelling pup, so Mikla spent most of his time with Asla's sister, and when she moved to her house, with Asla.

Overcome with sudden fondness for her tokota, Asla bowed forward and buried her face in the white fur of Mikla's neck. He gave a low, content growl, and wagged his tail.

"You are such a good boy", Asla praised him and straightened herself back up.

"Let's pick up the pace", she said and reached with her hand on the saddle bag, making sure the waterskin was still in its place. Asla wasn't a big believer in the spirits herself, but many others around here were. A Neighbour who was too old to make the journey themselves wanted water from this specific waterfall for.. something, she wasn't sure, maybe for something religious.
"I don't want to spend the night too close to the waterfall-thing", Asla continued. She had become a lot more comfortable with the wilderness that surrounded them, but she was still new to it. Mikla did as he was told, trotting forward, his tall ears attentively up.

Asla and Mikla continued their beeline towards the center of the forest. They could hear the waterfall long before they could see it. Its low rumble became louder and louder, as the air became colder and started to smell like mountains.
The Dreaming Waters came down from the mountainside. It was a lot calmer than it had been during spring months when the snow had been melting. When they got to the base of the waterfall, they could no longer hear much else than the noise from the massive amounts of water coming down. Asla got down from Mikla's back and got the waterskin out.

She wouldn't have made the journey into the wilderness to strange waterfalls without her friend.

[WC: 569]

---

You know those pets who come with you everywhere? Even to the bathroom? Mikla is one of those.

Handler name: Asla
Tokota Import: Mikla 64359
Themes featured and brief summary of how they are explored: Friendship - Asla never has to do anything alone - not even fetch water. When Asla met Mikla as a pup, she had no idea what kind of bond they would develop.