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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 8, 2019 10:08:16 GMT -6
Fiera waited until Desert had finished eating before getting another chunk of carrot ready. "Ok Desert, let's go!" She said, moving the reins in a snapping motion while applying pressure to his sides with her heels. Predictably, that didn't do much, and he didn't seem to feel like moving at all. Then, Fiera tried it again- but this time, she threw the carrot ahead of him, making sure it landed in his line of sight. Just as she was hoping, Desert trundled forward to get the carrot. She'd have a heck of a time cleaning the bit after this, but it was worth it to teach Desert how to use the bridle properly. She tried that a few more times, and soon enough all it took to make him start moving was a flick of the reins and a slight squeeze with her feet. He had finally gotten it down!
Fiera 10 (Level up!) Desert 16.0/16.0 Bridle Knowledge 5
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 9, 2019 16:56:24 GMT -6
Fiera was finally satisfied with Desert’s knowledge of equipment. She clapped her hands and rubbed her hands together- now they could learn some fun stuff! Then she wilted a bit- well, sort of fun stuff. She didn’t need to teach Desert anything more about how bridles and saddles worked, but they weren’t quite on to fancy attacks and pulling carts yet. She still needed to teach him some directional stuff. He knew how to turn left and right, and how to stop (thank goodness), but the longer she thought about it, the more Fiera realized she never taught Desert to...start moving. She sighed as she realized she’d have to rectify that, and went to grab a few more carrots as treats. When she was sure she had enough, she shoved them in a bag and went to get on Desert’s back, hefting herself up into the saddle.
Fiera 1 Desert 16.1/16.1 Go 1
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 9, 2019 17:06:39 GMT -6
Desert didn’t seem to mind at all as she got herself situated. That was the nice thing about Desert- the thundergug’s sense of stubbornness outweighed any possible fear, making him a stoic, unruffleable creature. He didn’t budge in the slightest as Fiera wiggled herself into the saddle, setting the bag of treats evenly between her knees so they wouldn’t fall off. Finally, she took hold of the reins, ready to go. “Ok Desert...go!” She cried, pointing forward. Yeah, that wasn’t going to work. Sighing, she fiddled with the treat bag for a second before pulling out a carrot. She drew her arm back like a baseball player, ready to toss. “Ok... NOW go!” She said, and threw it in front of both of them, about 15 feet away. Desert made a snuffling noise, and trundled toward the carrot. “Good boy, Desert!” She praised as he walked. “Good go!”
Fiera 2 Desert 16.2/16.2 Go 2
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 10, 2019 19:44:42 GMT -6
Soon enough (which wasn't very long at all for a thundergug his size), Desert had reached the carrot, picked it up, and was crunching away. Fiera realized that if Desert was going to learn to continually 'go' though, she needed to keep up his momentum. So, before he could come to a full stop, she lobbed another one out ahead. "Go, Desert, go!" She shouted, and Desert immediately noticed the new treat. He grunted, and meandered toward that one as well, still chewing on the old one. She kept doing that for a bit, slowly wandering from their original site, where her bags were. When that happened, Fiera was quick to tell Desert left or right to adjust him. Soon, they had come back around to Fiera's training bag, having travelled about fifty feet back and forth in a straight line. Fiera hopped off, ready to refill her carrot supply.
Fiera 3 Desert 16.3/16.3 Go 3
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 10, 2019 19:50:35 GMT -6
Fiera shoved more carrots in her pocket, shoving Desert away to keep him from stealing any, and managed to wrestle her way back into the saddle. She was too short for this. Soon enough however, she was back in the saddle. However... she wanted to see if he was to the point where he understood the trick without needing a treat. She gently tapped him with her ankles, and gave the command. "Desert... go!" The thundergug looked around, as if looking for a treat... and didn't move. Fiera sighed, and got out another carrot. "Brat..." She grumbled, and tossed it in front of them, then shouting "Go!". Sure enough, Desert almost immediately trudged forward dutifully, approaching the carrot. He picked it up, but then much to Fiera's relief, kept going. At least she didn't need to continually give him treats to keep him going anymore- his momentum was enough now.
Fiera 4 Desert 16.4/16.4 Go 4
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 10, 2019 19:54:32 GMT -6
Fiera kept going, steering him around, going left and right around trees before straightening him out. He was comfortable both with spoken orders and with the bridle set. Fiera was quite pleased with the bridle- she'd have to get one for herself soon instead of renting! Before she knew it however, they had come back around to the bags again. Fiera gave the command to stop, and sure enough Desert came to a stop right next to the bags. Fiera checked her back pocket for the treats. Well, at least if they needed to keep practicing, she had more than enough for both of them. Fiera turned back around, fully ready to start throwing carrots again. Still, maybe it would be best to try it one last time... "Desert... go!" She said firmly. She nodded, expecting this reaction as Desert didn't move... until he did. Slowly at first, one foot after the other, but soon at his regular pace. Fiera breathed a sigh of relief- she wouldn't have to waste any more carrots.
Fiera 5 Desert 17.0/17.0 Go 5
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 10, 2019 20:01:52 GMT -6
Fiera had just finished giving Desert a rub down and lunch, putting the cloth away as he finished the last of his lunch. He had been given a veritable barrel of fruits and vegetables to eat, but hopefully still had enough room for treats. Or at least, she was hoping he would. He had now moved on to chewing up as much of the forest as he could reach with his face, hoovering up fallen leaves and still green sticks. Fiera started to scold- "Come on man, you're going to spoil your appetite for..." what? Second lunch? Early dinner? "...Your training treats." She finished lamely, and Desert didn't even flick an ear in response. Fiera supposed that was to be expected. He was an awfully stubborn creature after all. She wasn't sure she could get those leaves out of his mouth if she tried. He'd probably just eat her hand too.
Fiera 6 Desert 17.1/17.1 Pull Buggy 1
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 11, 2019 15:43:20 GMT -6
Instead, Fiera went about getting the main tool of their training done. A proper buggy, she did not have. She tried looking up the prices to rent one for the day, like his bridle, but immediately gagged at every one she saw. So, like most things with Desert's training, she had to improvise. The closest thing she had to a buggy or a wagon was her mining cart... so that was what she had brought. She was careful to unload it of any valuables in the case of disaster, and instead she had put a couple of plain rocks in it instead, just for the sake of weighing it down. She also didn't want it to be practically flapping in the breeze with how strong Desert was. She had taken off the usual pulling reins, and had attached two leads instead, which she went and hooked up to Desert's saddle. Fiera 7 Deset 17.2/17.2 Pull Buggy 2
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 11, 2019 16:10:41 GMT -6
The savannah thundergug hardly noticed the presence of the cart, which was about half his size and several times more light. The size wasn't important though- it was the concept of pulling something behind him that Fiera was interested in teaching him. She could always upgrade the cart to get him to carry more weight later. This was just to get the technique down. The goal was to get him as comfortable with pulling a cart as he was carrying her on his back. The big question, however, was whether or not she'd be able to get him to start moving to start with. He was perfectly comfy there on the ground, after all, and getting Desert to stand up when he didn't want to was as hard as holding onto a soap bar in the shower. Still, she approached him regardless, going to get herself up onto his saddle.
Fiera 8 Desert 17.3/17.3 Pull Buggy 3
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 11, 2019 18:18:50 GMT -6
A bit of scratching and scrabbling against the fabric of his soft saddle later, and Fiera was situated on her thundergug's back. She did her checks- his bridle was in. The saddle was secure. The mine cart was well tied, and flat on the ground. She was ready to go... but wait! Darn it! She hopped off again and ran back to her bag. She took out some carrots- his favorite treat. Then, she scuttled back to Desert, who was still lazily eating some plants he ripped out of the ground, roots and all. He turned to look at her as she scrambled back onto his back. There was no doubt that he had noticed the treats in Fiera's hands, now frantically stuffing them into pockets. At least the sight of them was a little bit more motivating. As soon as Fiera was sat on him, he stood up without needing to be asked.
Fiera 9 Desert 17.4/17.4 Pull Buggy 4
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 11, 2019 18:32:31 GMT -6
Fiera grabbed onto his crest as Desert rose to his feet, watching as the ground fell away. Goodness, this was a big animal. She was glad he was gentle and listened to her- well, listened to her most of the time. "Ok Desert..." She said, glancing back at the cart. "Let's go!" She commanded. He went to take a step, putting a foot forward... but didn't go any further. She glanced back to find his tail lashing, bumping against the cart. He shuffled uncomfortably, twitching his haunches against the reins going back toward the cart, instead of forward toward his head. Ah. Fiera supposed that was to be expected. He'd just have to get used to it however, just like he got used to Fiera sitting on him. Still, standing up with it was good progress, and she decided to give him some incentive. "Good boy, Desert!" She praised, and tossed him a carrot.
Fiera 10 (Level up!) Desert 18.0/18.0 Pull Buggy 5
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 12, 2019 10:57:34 GMT -6
After Fiera gave him the carrot though, Desert still didn’t want to move. She tried every trick in the book- nudging his sides, pulling on the reins, sighing loudly, but nothing worked. She realized that he’d have to be a bit better motivated to be convinced to move with a buggy on him. She whipped a carrot out of her pocket, aimed, and threw it in front of Desert. “Desert, go!” She said, flicking the reins. Desert groaned, but started to walk, but ambled after the carrot, sniffing for it loudly. Fiera looked back. He still seemed uncomfortable with the cart, twitching his hide and sweeping his tail against the leads, but at least he wasn’t throwing it off. “Good boy, Desert!” She praised as he continued to walk. Hopefully, the thundergug would get used to the cart’s presence soon and it would become a non-issue.
Fiera 1 Desert 18.1/18.1 Pull Buggy 6
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 14, 2019 7:28:51 GMT -6
Soon, Desert found the carrot and swept it into his mouth, crunching loudly. She praised Desert constantly as he walked, appreciating the progress and watching as the cart left tracks in the fallen leaves. When Desert slowed down after eating the first carrot, she tossed another. "Let's keep up the momentum, Desert!" She urged, flicking the reins as he started up toward the next treat. He seemed even more eager to get to this one, picking up the pace a bit and sniffing loudly. Fiera grinned- if he was distracted by the treats, that meant that he wasn't paying attention to the cart and how uncomfortable it was. "That's it, Desert!" She laughed. "Faster!" Desert then snatched up the next crunchy, tasty carrot, but kept going, moving between the trees of the park at a solid trot. Fiera watched happily as the scenery passed by. Things were going so well!
Fiera 2 Desert 18.3/18.2 Pull Buggy 7
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 14, 2019 9:05:27 GMT -6
Fiera quickly realized however, that her things were getting...pretty far away at this speed. “Slower, Desert.” She commanded absent mindedly, thinking about it. Right, he’d need to get used to turning with the cart, too, not just going straight. As she watched her things fade away between the trees, she realized he’d need to learn that sooner rather than later. “Ok Desert, go left.” She said, tugging on the reins. Desert shifted to the side, but stopped part way as the cart made its turn slower than he did, pulling on him. Fiera urged him forward, keeping an eye on the cart to make sure he didn’t pull it over on its side. “It’s ok, you can do it!” She reassured as Desert started moving again, at a snail’s pace. “Keep going, Desert! Left!” She even tossed a carrot that way to encourage him forward.
Fiera 3 Desert 18.3/18.3 Pull Buggy 8
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 14, 2019 9:20:29 GMT -6
Finally, Desert creaked his way around, in a wide enough circle that the cart didn’t even wobble. Despite Desert’s hesitance, he had actually be doing quite well in terms of actual behavior. A more rambunctious beast likely would have knocked the cart over several times already, if not having outright broken it. Fiera kept urging Desert onward, reducing the number of carrots needed to keep him going. Sometimes he’d overcorrect as the cart leapt over a bump or got stuck in a rut, but over time he got more and more used to it. The cart was designed for the hard stone of the mines, so the fallen leaves were a little difficult for it to traverse. Thankfully however, Desert’s strength was more than enough to compensate for the cart’s weaknesses. That was the benefit of being genetically designed to be a pack beast, Fiera supposed.
Fiera 4 Desert 18.4/18.4 Pull Buggy 9
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