(Location)

The barn is where all of the tokotas on Laughing Owl Ranch shelter for the night or during storms, as long as they are not caught out in them. Tokotas and farm animals alike stay in the barn until they are let loose. Each night, "inventory" is taken of all the animals to make sure that no one has gone missing. With 20 to 30 chickens to keep watch of and feed, it's important to make sure not a single one has gone missing due to predators. A small herd of 10 goats gets penned up each night and let out each morning after milking. The goat's milk is used to make soaps, cheeses and other products that would be nearly inaccessible or hard to get without taking a long drive or ride to town. 

Istaqa's very old Chevrolet truck rests beside the barn near the driveway, the leather interior crackling from age. No one is sure if it's even worth trying to turn it over at this point, but at least it's been paid off since Ista was born.

Timeline