Fish Are SO Over-Rated Anyway

Sol 871 comments.deviantart.com/1/4118…
Nivia 199 comments.deviantart.com/1/3748…
Maluk 905 Maluk Hunt/Explore/Fishing Journal
Mathias 46 NOT BEING JUDGED
Naomi 996 Naomi - Fishing/Hunting/Exploring
Nala 893 Nala - Fishing / Hunting / Exploring
-Fullbody - colored, shaded, with complex background (requires some substance to it- however, does not need to be magnificent): 5HP
-Depiction of one of the 20 original starter tokotas - 2HP+
Tikaani 16
-For every 200 words -1 HP (3,200 WORDS) 16
-Fishing picture: (can include handler and "non-commissioned art" bonuses) 2HP+
-(LITERATURE) Including one of the 20 original starter tokotas in the story (must be a valid part of the story, and not just mentioned or cameo'd - 1000 word minimum) - 5HP+
Total: 30

Story:
Though the Hunting trip on its own had proven to be a bit of a bust for the young Sol, Nivia and Maluk their hopeful handlers hadn't given up on the young animals just yet. Within the next week they had signed up for yet another young tokota class with a different dominant female. This time the ever present Tikanni was at the forefront of the small village already surrounded by a few other young animals. Nivia woofed softly as she recognized one of the males laying at the far corner of the small gathering, Mathias. The orange male lifted his regal head toward the female taking his attention off of Tikanni to acknowledge his pack mate. The two newer faces were the piebald girls Naomi and Nala. Naomi bounded over with sheer delight nuzzling up against Nivia's face anf warranting the attention of the ever lumbering and pup like Sol who flew himself at the female for some frenzied chase master across the dusting of snow. Nala approached somewhat shyly eyeing the small party warily as a protective and wary lip lifted to show her pointed teeth.
This time Tikanni stepped in placing herself in the path of the frazzled submissive and Nivia. Maluk rushed forward a bit pushing Nivia behind him to keep "his girl" from getting her cute little nose bitten off. Nivia woofed softly trying to pill Maluk back but Tikanni barked once sending the submissive skittering away at light speed almost running straight into the galavanting Sol and his new play buddy. Tikanni woofed softly touching noses with the gentle Nivia as she circled around to Maluk who still eyed her cautiously stepping one tentative foot in front of the other to approach the dominant female with a lowered head. This time Mathias was up and walking over to them giving a reassuring nuzzle to Nala as he passed the brown piebald. He woofed softly taking Nivia's attention again who let out a joyful howl and bounded for the familiar male nuzzling closer to him. Maluk growled softly but didn't budge from Tikanni's motherly gaze.
Sol continued his romp with Naomi the two playfully snapping at each others tails as they ran by making contact with the frozen lake. At first Sol took a less than graceful slide across the frozen sheen howling in terror as he fell flat on his belly and crashed into a snow bank. Naomi howled in return giving chase at first before she lost her footing as well but she only slit to a stop. Sol woofed from the Dire sized hole he put in the bank shaking some of the snow free as he made a second attempt at gaining footing. His blood pumped as his lungs heaved for the Dire Ice walking 101 wasn't a complete fail.
Tikanni woofed softly as if to encourage the Dire pup's progress in getting his footing. In return Sol let out a jaunty howl rearing up onto his hind legs just to go crashing to the ice once again. Naomi was more fortunate her ears flicking forward as she slowly got to her shaky feet almost like a pup learning to walk again. The others had now nestled close to Tikanni pressing into the heat of the dominant female as she watched the two struggle a bit longer. Sol scraped along the ice first gripping with his back legs then slowly inching his fronts into position once he was all the way up he glanced to Tikanni who held her head high to eye him with approval. The Dire began to wag in triumph slowly making his way over to Naomi nuzzling her as she gained footing as well. Nala wagged to her pack mate woofing in congratulations. Tikanni started toward the pair keeping her ears forward as she nuzzled them in affection before walking farther out onto the lake.
Behind them the village smoked warmly giving off the warm heat all of the young tokotas knew o so well. Tikanni scratched at the ice pulling at a rope that had been imbedded by the tribesmen. The pups gathered in a huge circle around the female eyeing her with interest as she worked at the rope. She growled once and heaved yanking a 9 inch thick block of ice out of the lake. Sol woofed softly at it sniffing it warily as the other gravitated to the hole taking turns sticking their heads into the cavernous maw of ice. Tikanni woofed softly scattering the pups as she knelt down at the side of it. Mathias went to her side nudging her softly as if worried shed fall over the edge. Mathias growled this time eliciting a worried whine from Nivia as Tikanni dove in. Mathias' teeth napped after her worried shed be swept under the ice and lost but to his fear the dominant female had vanished. Sol, Naomi and Nala hung to the side whining softly as they stared at the hole unsure of what to really make of what had just happened.
Bubbled erupted from the circle and Mathias snarled barking at the others to back away from the ice. Maluk clung to the side of Nivia still heavily unsure of the whole happening. Nala flattened her ears snapping at Mathias who growled right back pushing his average weight over her submissive status. Nala backpedalled whipping around with an annoyed look to smack into Sol. The dire sniffed her curiously and Nala snarled nipping him right over his curious nose. The Dire pup hollered in surprise whipping behind Naomi to fend off her annoyed pack mate. Naomi woofed gently flicking her ears back and forth before she rubbed up against Nala's side soothing the other brown piebald softly.
The bubbled whirled and Mathias was drawn back to the hole just to be met with the head of a great salmon. Tikanni shoved her top half up through the hole climbing her way up the side of the ice with the fish in tow. The pups scattered woofing and growling at the new sight to behold as the female simply just rolled her eyes. Solw as the first to approach the fish nudging it once before it gave it's dying kick. Mathias let out a vicious snarl pushing Nivia and Maluk back as Sol squealed in terror wheeling away as he skid across the thick ice to land behind Nala and Naomi who looked thoroughly un unimpressed.  Tikanni woofed gently and shook some of the icey glacial water free of her thick coat eyeing the pups once again. She sighed and nosed the fish again making it kick half heartedly before biting it's head off. The younger tokotas watched in awe as she spat the head back into the fishing hole minding the blood that had surfaced incase an orca decided to pop its nose up. Th dominant female lay down with her catch ignoring the prying eyes of the youngers as she dined on the rich salmon.
Nivia was the first to woof at her gently coming over low to the ground. Tikanni sighed and ripped off a small scrap nudging it to the lower ranking pup. Nivia hungrily scooped up the crap licking her chops as Maluk came over to investigate her face more closely. Mathias in turn nosed her curiously as well making sure she hadn't been hurt by the strange thing she had just consumed. Of course all 6 of the younger pups recognized fish they had caught some in streams and their masters had fed them fish all while they grew up but ice fishing was completely foreign to them. Mathias and Nivia were familiar with the bass and trout of their familiar home even the small sardines but she had never seen a large salmon like the one Tikanni had pulled from the deep ice hole.
Sol began to paw at the ice hole biting at the sides of it with his massive jaw to make sure he could fit. To join him Naomi began to scratch at the edges dipping her feed into the glacial freeze gently before bravely sticking her head in. Nala howled in ernest nudging her pack mate in worry as she came back up. Naomi licked her for reassurance and pushed off diving into the water head first. The water chilled her to the core and for a second she panicked kicking and fighting the blue abyss as it threatened to swallow her whole. Nala paced around the hole above whimpering and pining for her pack mate to be safe. She couldnt take the stress as Tikanni sat by and simply watched. There were no bubbles no sounds from the rippling water not even a glimpse of Naomi's white splotched coat. Not being able to handle the thought Nala dove in as well paying at the water viciously fighting to find Naomi. She kicked and flailed seeing nothing but blue in every direction as panic set in she opened her mouth attempting to let out a howl but immediately silenced by the rish of water.
The fight to breath became too much and she poked her head back through the hole gulping down huge breaths of air before diving straight back down. This time she felt something ram into the side of her leg she spin so come nose to nose with Naomi who was happily clutching a fish between her teeth. Granted the Salmon wasnt as big as the one Tikanni had caught but the look of triumph as still the same for the young piebald female. Naomi broke for the surface paddling for the hole she had come from as she was happily heaved from the water by a curious Sol. Nala pursed in determination not to be shown up by her pack mate she dove in in the hunt for her own catch.
From above the peanut gallery consisting of Sol, Mathias, Nivia and Maluk watched as one by one they surfaced. Naomi was first with her catch of a good sized fish and then Nala had come up a few minutes later clutching 3 smaller ones that she had managed to pull from the depths. Mathias was next to paw the water not to be shown up by the girls he made a go at diving in shuddering from the cold but pressing for a catch of his own. Above it was Nivia who had begun to whine slightly as Sol took up position as hole sentry. He figured his great job would be to yank anyone and everyone out of the hole whether they needed his help or not. Tikanni watched in amusement noting how Maluk stuck behind Nivia like a little hawk pacing when she paced whining when she whined even pawing the water when she made a go for it. However the 2 piebald females had done great both laying back leisurely with their catches for their first fish meal that they had caught all on their own.
Tikanni had felt a form of pride for her little students they had begun to learn and important part of life but the driving factor that she had wanted to tease was their taste. Their taste their want and their need for the fresh caught salmon. In deed she had felt the hunger in her normal years and this time around she wouldn't gorge herself till she couldn't pull herself out of the hole but she knew for these newbies it would be a tough fish to swallow and at least 2 of them would eat themselves into a small fish comatose.
Nivia could feel Maluk on her heels as her worry for Mathias grew she had seen him go down but still there was no sign of the male as of yet and her worry weighed in her empty stomach like a fishing weight. Sol woofed softly and stuck his head under just to yank it back up abruptly to avoid the annoyed blue eyes that met his. Mathias had been fine as her scrambled back up the ice with a rather fat salmon eyeing Sol in irritation as the invasion of the Dire's massive head at the opening had almost knocked him unconscious.
Mathias' grumblings lowered an octave as he lay down across from Tikanni. Nala and Naomi began to circle back licking each others faces for scraps they could of missed but what Tikanni had aimed for had begun to ring true the pups had begun to crave the fish. The two muscled past Sol still laying in his protective position over the hole and dove in, no hesitation this time straight in front of an awe struck Nivia. Maluk nudged the tawny female to encourage her but she was still very much afraid of the possibilities the hole proposed. Maluk took the charge this time, with tentative steps and backward glance to the wide eyed Nivia he dove in after the two brown females making sure to not breath in water. The chill had rattled the young sub making him almost want to give up and swim to the ever ready jaws of the Hole Guard Sol.
Tikanni shook out her long coat again shaking some of the frost from it's thick layers as she moved to another spot along the lake. Nivia curiously followed hoping that there was a shallower area that the female would allow her to hunt but to her surprise that wasn't going to happen. Tikanni found a rope much like the first one and pawed at it insistently looking at Nivia over her shoulder. The pup stared at her dumbly before the dominant female issued a clipped growl sending Nivia into a frenzy of short whimpers. She trotted over to her side and grasped the rope between her teeth making sure that she had good hold of it before even attempting a tug. With a heave Nivia jerked the ice block, and much like Tikanni's efforts on the first one it didn't really budge. The female growled softly and dug her toes into the ice wiggling her butt and jerking once again this time it flip flopped sloshing water up through the cracks. With a short wag she yanked again this time harder than the second heaving with all her might as the cube screeched free from it's hold.
The hole they'd uncovered wasn't much bigger than the first one maybe big enough to fit Sol in but the Dire was still very much occupied with the job of harassing the first entrance to the water. Much to the two female's surprise Maluk poked his head up into the hole Nivia had uncovered woofing softly to his lady he pawed at the rim of the ice wiggling up and onto the shelf with a little more effort than he'd of liked. The brown male huffed and lay down next to the opening content with his small catch as he dug in.
Tikanni stood silently staring at Nivia the last of the pack to fish, she wouldn't tolerate no participation in her activities especially one as moral building as fishing. The dominant female woofed at her softly at first attempting a coaxing tone with her authority but Nivia still didn't budge frozen in her place like a midsize toko statue. The dominant female raised her voice this time commanding her to get in the hole. This time Nivia let out an arguing yowl closing her eyes as she lay on the ice flat hoping that kept her safe from the plunge. Tikanni growled in irritation and grabbed the pup by the scruff yanking her to the opening as Nivia's eyes bulged and she scrambled for purchase but the dominant female was too strong. With a splash Tikanni tossed her into the deeper hole backing up as Nivia was completely submerged in the icy water. She came up screaming like someone had cut off her leg scrambling for the edge of the opening to get back up but Tikanni wasnt going to have it. She snarled and snapped biting Nivia's paws with each attempt at making a break for land. Finally she gave up sinking into the water pathetically as she whined for a good twenty minutes. Tikanni rolled her eyes and lay down at the hole till finally Nivia began to paddle at the water swimming in small circles.
By this time Nala and Naomi had re-arrived with their 2nd 3rd and 4th catches each time the fish getting a big bigger and their needs for air getting smaller. Nivia whimpered one more time before ducking under the ice her empty belly getting the better of her as she made her way into the depth in search of food. Her fins wasn't so disappointing as large schools of the very salmon Tikanni had caught flurried past her very nose. The young female snapped at the first fish she saw forgetting all about the water and it's fears. She paddled relentlessly  chasing the red beasts from corner to corner each stroke less shaky than the last this time Maluk was back so was Mathias. The 3 of them herding the fish to one and vise versa catching their filling as they made their way back to the surface. Nivia made her way to the hole where Tikanni waited and this time the alpha female backed up allowing her to pass and rise to the top.
Sol had soon grown bored of his guard duty thumping his short stub tail over the ice he barked to Tikanni and the others who looked at him a bit dumbfounded. The Dire was hungry and he wanted in on the fish action as well his nose wiggled curiously as the others began to rip into their individual catches. Sol huffed making it a goal for himself to get the biggest fish possible from the lake. He stood pawing at the ice circles before wandering over to the one Nivia had uncovered with Tikanni. The females Stood back as the Dire plunged into the water with sheer determination it was a bit impressive but he had hit the surface like a rock. They waited each chewing happily one a fish as their eyes set on the hole, wait, watching wanting to see what Sol could come up with.
Tikanni didn't doubt the Ire of the Dire for one second half expecting the beast to resurface with a whole school of Tuna, maybe a seal or two or even a beluga whale hell if he really wanted to the Dire male could eat and Orca calf. With growing curiosity they gathered closer as bubbled pilled at the surface of the hole each tokota stopped chewing to watch as massive paws set on each side of the hole to heave the great white body from the jaws of the deep. Sol shook furiously throwing half the water he had been soaked with all over Tikanni and the five decorating them with soft white hairs and glacial spray. The Dire held his head high presenting his catch to his peers as he was thoroughly impressed with himself after all it had to be the best catch theyd all seen in ages since Nanook had first gone fishing.
Yes the Dire himself puffed out his chest and clutched his catch gingerly seeming to rub it in everyone's face. Yes he had caught the biggest, the brownest the most frozen stick anyone has ever seen. With sheer pride of himself Sol lay down in the middle of the small pack gnawing on his prize as everyone went back to their fish because fish were so overrated anyway.
Total: 

3279 words