Tokotas: Exploring the outdoors

As Maria and Leyron made their way along the sunlite path, the leaves crumbled beneath them. Fall was certainly here and the trees were finally showing it. All shades of red, auburn, and old illuminated the forest as the light shone through them. It almost seemed that the forest was in a blaze by their colors, even if the coolness of the air denied it. 
Maria found herself slouching slightly, leaning on Leyron's tack as she took in all the colors. The slow and smooth pace was almost lulling her to sleep as she closed her eyes and sighed. "What a beautiful morning."
Leyron's ears flicked towards her as if agreeing, but returned forward and alert. He had picked something up and they came to a stop.
Leyron was as still as the air. Maria was looking around to compensate for what or whom he had heard. She couldn't see anything out of the ordinary, so she aligned her sights with Leyron's and looked closer. What she had missed before, but Leyron hadn't, was a doe in the clearing ahead. It's pelt was so dull against the bright colors she thought she would've seen it. But the deer made it's camouflage in the tall grass nonetheless.
It was so peaceful standing there, clearly enjoying the morning as her and Leyron just were.

A low growling from the sphinx could be heard, but a quick pat from Maria changed it's tune to an impatient whine. Leyron was ready and willing to get the deer, they honestly weren't that great a distance away, but Maria gave another dismissive pat. "We're not here to hunt today, just to have a look around." 
Leyron was a little miffed by the decision, he really wanted that deer. Maria stroked his neck as a reassurance and Leyron wagged slightly in response. Leyron turned his head to a different location this time, as if he had spotted something else. Maria looked to but she couldn't seemed to spot what he had, so she made her decent from Leyron's tack to investigate.

Meanwhile, the deer was still enjoying its time in the clearing, completely unaware of the two in the distance. Leyron's focus was still on the deer, but he looked back to make sure Maria was occupied with the false lead. He began to slowly inch towards the deer, stealthily of course.

Maria searched through the brush for awhile, leaving Leyron to his own business, she was sure he'd be there when she turned around. But, lo and behold, he wasn't. "Leyron?" she asked in a low whisper, "Leyron?!" her voice rose slightly. She quickly made her way through the brush and searched the spot she was just feet away from. How could he get away from her so fast? Then, as quickly she remembered, her attention was drawn to the clearing. "Oh no, he didn't."
She rushed towards the clearing as fast as her legs could carry her, a full sprint.

Leyron was already inches away from the deer, pleased with how close he could get without it noticing. He observed his prey for a little while, wondering why it was so dumb as to not notice him. But what he didn't count on was his handler rushing in screaming,

"LEYRON. DONT GET THAT DEER, I SWEAR-"

The doe immediately reacted to the rush of noise and it fled for its life. Leyron was about to give chase but was slapped on the behind before he could. A signal most Tokotas took as bad. It sort of made him jump, he didn't think he'd get caught.

"Leyron what in the heck were you thinking?!" Maria shouted, "I told you no!"

Leyron's ears retracted and his eyes wouldn't meet hers as he sat there. A six foot sphinx being lectured by a five foot lady was certainly an embarrassing sight to see and he was not enjoying any second of it. But once his handler was done blowing off steam he looked back at her.

Maria glared at him, she couldn't believe he'd go behind her back like that, animal instinct or no, he knew better. She could tell. But as Leyron lowered his head and stared into her eyes, she softened. Puppy eyes, of course. Sighing, she gave her tokota's muzzle a hug, "please don't disobey me again, Leyron."

The sphinx embraced the hug, but his eyes flicked backward. He had gotten caught this time, but that wouldn't happen again. He wagged his tail to reassure her that he "understood."
Maria smiled at him before proceeding to get back on his tack, "We still need to explore the rest of the clearing before sun-high. I'd like to be back in time for lunch now, wouldn't you?" She giggled at the sound of Leyron's tail thumping the ground. "I'll take that as a yes."

With a quick whip of the reigns, they were up and walking again. This time at a little faster of a pace, the clearing was a little easier to spot things, but not by much. It was a while before they managed to reach the end of the clearing and by then Maria was feeling a little disheartened.
She began to pull the things they had discovered out of her satchel and listed them one by one. 
"So far we managed to find a stick," she dropped the items as she went, "another stick,"
Leyron's eye's followed the items as they dropped to the ground.
"yet another stick," she held the bag open, "And some trash." She sighed, "I hope we find something useful in this area..."
Leyron rolled his eyes, he remembered coming here before with Maria, the trails were visibly used from previous explorations and he was pretty sure the place was cleaned out by now.

Maria looked up towards the closest mountain, "I guess we'll have to go up further-"
Leyron disagreed with impatient grunts and scuffing of his paws; he was tired, hungry, and most importantly: done. He shook his head and his short fur ruffled. He was so close to getting that deer and Maria had stopped him, for no good reason! This memory only made him more frustrated and noisy as he shook and scuffed some more.
Maria yanked at the reigns, "Leyron, stop! Stop it right no-whoa!" she slipped off the tack as Leyron sat down abruptly. He snuffed and turned his head away from Maria in a frustrated pout.
Maria was getting near her patience's end as well with Leyron, "You don't think I'm not frustrated too?! All morning we haven't found a single, useful thing, and on top of that: you won't listen to me!" She paced a few times beside Leyron, who continued to look the other way. "I'm not asking much! It's not like we have been out here all day! I want to go home too! But..." she sighed as she slouched up against Leyron's back, "I wanna find something...I wanted to explore with you....even-"
Leyron looked slightly back.
"-even if we didn't find anything, I just wanted to spend time with you."
Leyron turned his head a little bit more, he knew what she meant. His breathing pushed her back and forth while she was sitting there sadly. He looked away in thought for awhile before turning back and planting a wet one on her cheek.
Maria giggled, "You're a good boy Leyron." Through his eyes she could tell he was smiling too.

In the midst of their sappy moment, a glint in the grass caught Maria's eye. She slowly stood up and walked towards it, "What could that be?"