Exploring: Ice Cave

Link to import sheet: 

Noka
Registered name: Noka
Nickname(s): Nokie, Trouble
ID number: 188
Owner: Kieath
Species: Tokotas
Gender: Female
Age: 2 year
Genotype:
ee/aa/Tt/nPb/Gg/Cc/nM/nA
Phenotype:
Graying marked piebald tundra with collar and accents
Height: 168 cm
Weight: 825 lbs
Heirarchy status: AVERAGE
Rites of Fertility: 0/3
Rites of Dominance: 0/5
Health status: Perfect condition. Fit, active, and in good shape.
Items: 
Personality: Noka's presence is notorious for bad news and she has been nothing but trouble since she was born. This pup seems to thrive in chaos, and it almost seems like she seeks it out. She has a generally goofy demeanor, but does not

Upon closer inspection, it was not merely a crevice as they had both originally suspected. The crack split into what appeared to be an opening, all formed of ice which seemed to almost glitter an aquatic blue. Ice caves were not particularly the ideal location for survivalists, however there was an inexplicable allure to the almost magical environment they seemed to create.

“Curiosity killed the cat…” Tala muttered, looking downwards towards her partner in crime. “Buuuut, it seemed to work for everyone else.” An audible rumbling snort was the response she received from the Tokota. There was perhaps little to gain practically from entering…but practicality in itself could bore one to death. Besides, there were legends which haunted places like these…calls of lost treasures, unseen beasts, and even the unexplainable. On the other hand, ice caves were notoriously dangerous. The wrong step could easily lead to the worst imaginable outcomes for even the most experienced explorers.

Without warning Noka lurched forward, sliding through the narrow entrance, and immediately entranced by the almost mystical environment. Neither of them could explain exactly what they were seeing, nor possibly understand it. But both of them knew one thing for sure – they had to see more of it.

EXPLORING!!!  SO EXCITEEEED!

I'm kind of bummed out by how this image turned out however I tried out a few things, and despite taking way longer than my usual drawings, it looks way crappier. I don't think I'll ever get the cartoonish style to work with me And it was a really bad idea to try and combine it with the painterly shading. I also did a full gradient mapping which meant painting it out in greyscale (which I think turned out actually better  You can see it here if you're curious) and painfully adding in the colours afterwards. I guess the bonus to this method is I can go back and change the colouring at any point with relative ease. The problem is that I struggled horribly to get it even remotely to what was in my head. I really like the gradient-mapping for a simply-pattered Tokota, or as a way to spice up shading, but I really don't think my brain is cut out for making it work with full images. At least it was a learning experience xD! Plus I'm always looking for an excuse to draw these two :3 Now for that faction brawl...