Because of his attitude and irresponsibility, Alan Harper, has been banned from handling Tokotas, let alone own one. Which makes him want one even more. This prompts him to sneak into the village's pack resting area one night so he can try and ride one of the animals and show people he can handle one of the stupid over-sized dogs. A very bad idea. The Toko he chose was a timid thing, easily scared. He spooks him so bad that the alpha of the pack intervenes and tries to attack Alan. If the racket hadn't attracted senior handler Alan would've become a chew toy.

News of his adventure spread fast and the village chief and other elders decide to intervene. Alan was given a choice. Take on an assignment all villagers have failed before him and succeed, or choose not to and never be allowed to handle or own a Tokota in his life.

It was a no brainer. He accepted the challenge almost immediately. There was no doubt in his mind that he would succeed.

The next day the chief, two handlers take him to the limits of the village. A group of curious villagers trailed behind them with his mother in front with a concerned look on her face.

"So, what am I supposed to do, Chief?"

The old man smiled, "You will have to prove beyond all doubt that you have what it takes to tame any Tokota."

Alan scoffed, "That's it?"

The chief scowled. "Yes."

"And how do I do that?"

The old man motioned to one of the handlers and he stepped forward with a halter and pushed it against Alan's chest.

"You will take that" - the chief pointed to the halter- "And put it on her"- the chief pointed to a shape laying under a huge pine tree behind him.

Alan followed the way the man was pointing and his eyes widened. His jaw almost dropping to the floor.

He could dimly hear the villagers' laughter.

There, beyond the chief, the handlers and the mocking villagers, was one of the biggest Tokotas he had seen in his life. Its fur was so dark that it nearly vanished in the shadow of the tree. It raised its head to look at the gathering and one of its ears twitched. This was the semi feral Toko that the young children were warned about. The very one that sometimes stole the hunters' kills. The one that terrorized outsiders and made even the natives nervous. This was the animal that made the village's pack leader seem like a grumpy puppy.

Oh, shit, Alan thought. I have to tame The Dark Terror.

---

With the villagers laughing behind his back, Alan advanced. The great Tokota lay resting underneath a huge pine tree; the spot was one of the few places not covered by the first snow of the fall. The halter Alan carried in his right hand felt heavier than it should have been. How in hell was he going to accomplish this? Put a leash around The Dark Terror? The last time someone tried that they ended up with their whole left side frozen and bruised after the female dragged them down a cliff. Poor Kit, the man was an ass, sure, but nobody deserved- Okay so maybe Kit did deserve it.

“You’re stalling!”

Some jerk yelled from the crowd and made people behind him laugh.

Alan frowned, he had barely moved a couple feet. He took a deep breath and closed in on the sleeping animal. The very dangerous, unpredictable and infamous animal he was not at all afraid of.

Shit, he thought. I am going to die a virgin.

His hands trembled and he told himself it was because of the cold. The snow that crunched beneath his feet reflected the morning light and every ray attacked his vision with stabbing needles of pain that made his eyes water. He stumbled once, the picture of finesse. Pathetic.

Then he stopped, keeping a respectable distance from the animal. He raised the halter and the metal rings that kept the rope together clinked. The sound carried through the clearing toward the Tokota. Her ears twitched…

Tokotas©noebelle