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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 11, 2019 8:22:47 GMT -6
Leaning down, Fiera began to untie the rope. Yes, it was helpful to get the basic idea down, but the point of the trick was that Fern was supposed to stay WITHOUT needing to be tied down. She didn't want the rough material on Fern for too long anyway, in case the rakai managed to injure herself. Fern seemed pleased to have the rope off, wagging her tail slowly and sniffing it. The humanish wrapped it up and put it away in her bag again. "Ok Fern... now, stay." She said firmly, beginning to back away. Fern shifted from foot to foot, unsure, before walking toward Fiera slowly. "No!" Fiera said, suddenly glad she had taught Fern that first. Fern seemed a bit taken aback, putting her foot down but going no further. "Stay." Fiera reiterated, backing further. Fern lifted another foot hesitantly. "No!" Fiera snapped again "Fern, stay!" The rakai wavered in place...
Fiera: 3 Fern: Lv. 3.3/Lo 5.3
(Stay-3)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 11, 2019 8:27:44 GMT -6
And put her foot back down. Fiera sighed with relief, finally reaching a considerable distance. She waited a moment, before calling back out to Fern. "Ok, good girl! Come!" Fern's ears pricked up, but she still didn't move. Fiera put a finger up, rummaging around in her cooler again. Her fingers closed on another chunk of meat, her favorite motivational tool. "It's ok Fern! Come here!" That was all it took to garner Fern's attention- soon she was bounding across the mulchy ground. Before Fiera could react, the meat was gone from her hand and down Fern's gullet. Ah well, Fiera couldn't fault her for the enthusiasm. God knows she'd do the same to a macaroon. Fiera quickly closed the cooler however, before Fern could shove her face in it and down the whole container. A smile crept across Fiera's face. Progress was definitely being made here. But let's see if Fern could do it without the motivation of a treat...
Fiera: 4 Fern: Lv. 3.4/Lo 5.4
(Stay-4)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 11, 2019 8:40:23 GMT -6
While Fern was distracted with licking her chops for the last of her treat, Fiera took the opportunity to start walking away again. Fern looked up at her inquisitively, lifting a paw as if to follow. "Fern, stay." Fiera stated, pointing a finger at her pet. Of course, her other hand had it's fingers crossed, just in case. Fern put her paw back down, but whined nervously. "You're doing good, Fern! Just...stay there!" Fiera assured. After reaching her final point, about 20 feet away, Fiera decided to just sit there for a minute, testing her. Fern circled in place, but didn't leave. Instead, she eventually seemed to just get tired, sitting down on the sun-dappled ground. Fiera snorted. Well, at least she did the trick right. "Good girl!" She called out, walking back over to Fern. Her tail started wagging instantly, but she didn't get up again. Fiera couldn't help but laugh. "Oh no, by all means, don't get up for my sake. I'll come to you."
Fiera: 5 Fern: Lv. 4.0/Lo 6.0
(Stay-5)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 11, 2019 8:58:25 GMT -6
A quick check of the list showed only one "simple" trick left. Or at least, only one more trick that Fiera wanted to teach today. She gnawed at her pen a bit, leaving sharp teeth marks in the plastic. That was good, at least. Meant she was making real progress. She slipped the pen back behind her ear and folded up the scrap of paper, shoving it back in her pocket. She meandered over to Fern, her fel rakai-sarane. At the moment, she was luxuriating under a pine tree in the park, listening to the cicadas buzz around her. "Fern! Come here!" She said sweetly. As cute as Fern was just sitting around like that, Fiera needed her standing up in order to teach her how to sit down again. Well, sit down on command. Fern stretched and yawned, taking her sweet time. Eventually though, she got up and made her way over to Fiera.
Fiera: 6 Fern: Lv. 4.1/Lo 6.1
(Sit- 1)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 11, 2019 10:09:50 GMT -6
"Ok Fern, sit." She demanded. Fern just looked at her, of course. Fiera sighed, and got down on her knees next to the scaly hound. "Ok, Fern, sit." She reiterated, placing a hand on Fern's haunches. Fern grunted, and went to move away. "No! Stay." Fiera commanded. Fern huffed, and looked away. Fiera tried again, shoving downward on Fern's hips. Wow this "dog" was stronger than she thought. Fiera regretting not teaching this trick to her in her puppy days. Would have made things a lot easier. Finally, after putting nearly her whole weight on Fern, the fel rakai relented and sunk to the ground. Fiera sighed with relief. "Good girl, Fern!" She cooed. Fern just snorted with irritation- that is, until Fiera cracked the treat cooler again. Once a chunk of meat was in Fiera's hand, Fern always seemed a heck of a lot more motivated to learn tricks.
Fiera: 7 Fern: Lv. 4.2/Lo 6.2
(Sit- 2)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 11, 2019 14:25:42 GMT -6
She snapped the cooler shut again, another piece of meat palmed in her hand. Fern couldn't see it, but she sure could smell it, and that seemed to make her more cooperative. She trained her eyes on Fiera- or more accurately, her hand, and sidled up next to her, snuffling at it. The humanish made sure, however, to keep it well out of Fern's reach. "Fern, sit." She said, using her other hand to push down on Fern's hips. "Sit down." Fern's legs shuffled, and she tried to jump up instead. "No!" Fiera said, causing Fern to recoil. Once again, she shoved Fern down firmly. Her haunches finally hit the ground, albeit awkwardly. Fiera sighed with relief, "There we go. Good girl! You've earned this!" and she unpalmed the meat, offering it to Fern. The rakai sarane happily scarfed it down, with her tail whipping up leaves off the ground.
Fiera: 8 Fern: Lv. 4.3/Lo 6.3
(Sit- 3)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 11, 2019 14:50:42 GMT -6
Fiera lifted up the cooler, rummaging around in it once more. Fern got up from the ground, dancing around her heels. "Hang on now..." Fiera muttered. How impatient! At least it got Fern to stop sitting though, so Fiera could try again in teaching her the trick. Once again though, she was very glad for Fern's natural sense of politeness- any other rakai sarane would have knocked her down already and gone to town on the box full of snacks. Fiera was glad that her cooler came with a clasp- she wouldn't have to worry about any of her pets breaking into it until she got around to training the ones with thumbs. "Fern, sit." She asked, holding the meat above Fern's head, the cooler under her other arm. Fern continued dancing around, focused entirely on the meat. "Fern! Sit!" She said again, sharply. The sharper tone seemed to get her attention- she finally sat down at Fiera's feet.
Fiera: 9 Fern: Lv. 4.4/Lo 6.4
(Sit- 4)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 11, 2019 15:04:54 GMT -6
Excellent. Fern finally seemed to be making some progress- a few more repetitions, and she was sitting effortlessly with the help of treats. Still, eventually she would have to go without. Fiera left her for a moment, plunking down the cooler on a nearby stump. Wouldn't need that anymore. Well, hopefully. For the moment. If she had done this right. She glanced over her shoulder back at Fern. She showed no sign of thinking anything was different, wagging her tail absent mindedly. Fiera straightened up, hands on her hips. No meat here, not anymore. "Fern, sit." She said, staring at the rakai. Fern's tail slowed, as if she were thinking. "Come on, Fern. Sit!" Fiera encouraged, really hoping that she didn't have to break out the cooler again. Finally, Fern's haunches sank to the ground. Fiera let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness! She had a chance of weaning her off the treats still.
Fiera: 10. (Level added!) Fern: Lv. 5 /Lo 7
(Sit- 5)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 12, 2019 9:40:32 GMT -6
Fiera sighed, and looked over her list of things to teach Fern. Gone were the basics. She was grateful for them, yes- Fern knowing that no meant know would come in handy if she started crunching down on Fiera's arm too hard- but it also meant that she'd have to be more careful from here on out. Fern was a lot less likely to be tolerant of what was coming up, and someone could get hurt. The humanish cracked her knuckles. Well, with any luck that's what this next trick would be for. Tolerance. Not something that was meant to be commanded necessarily, but instead just building up Fern's resistance to being pulled around. That calm would be needed after she was taught to spit venom and crunch through bones and whatnot. Ready to get started, Fiera took out a brush that she brought with her. Ideally, she'd be able to use it to bother Fern, but in a controlled manner. She also got out, of course, the meat treats. Fiera: 1 Fern: Lv. 5.1 /Lo 7.1 (Tolerance- 1)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 12, 2019 10:50:40 GMT -6
Each item was for a different purpose. The brush was for grooming, obviously. Learning to tolerate grooming tools was important for Fern's health, but the movements required (picking up paws to clip claws, moving legs to brush under the body, pulling the tail to brush it, etc.) were also things that veterinarians would need to do to Fern for inspections. Fiera REALLY didn't want Fern biting the vet, so it was best to get her used to it. Being able to move bits of Ferns body without her getting upset might also be useful for future training. Additionally, getting her used to random things touching her would be good for future stressful situations. Fiera held the brush in one hand, a chunk of meat in the other. "Fern," She called gently. "Here, girl!". The rakai sarane came trotting over happily, tilting her head with curiosity. Fiera offered the meat, and held up the brush as she came near.
Fiera: 2 Fern: Lv. 5.2 /Lo 7.2
(Tolerance- 2)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 12, 2019 10:58:23 GMT -6
Fern leaned in to chew on the meat, still in Fiera's hand. The humanish was careful not to let go of it, so Ferns head would stay in place, allowing her to groom it. She brought the brush down, and gave it a few quick strokes across her head. Fern immediately recoiled. She didn't growl, as it wasn't the rakai's style, but she definitely looked wary, eyes flicking between the meat and the brush. Fiera supposed it was a foreign experience for her. She licked her lips nervously though, and came back to the meat, gnawing more pieces off. Her ears kept flicking however, and her eyes stayed trained on the brush as it ran over her head. "Shh, shh." Fiera comforted. "You're being a good girl, Fern!" Eventually, the meat was nearly gone, and Fiera had managed to brush Fern's entire head, neck, and even her ears without them flicking too much.
Fiera: 3 Fern: Lv. 5.3 /Lo 7.3
(Tolerance- 3)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 12, 2019 11:05:09 GMT -6
As Fern snapped up the last of the meat, Fiera decided to try something different and, she really hoped, not that dangerous. She kept brushing Fern's cheeks, now only met with vague flicks of the ears, and then slowly brought her hands up and tried touching Fern's face. Now THAT was unwanted. Fern snorted, immediately pulling her head back. "No no, shhh, it's ok Fern!" Fiera said, reaching out. She pulled her hands back quickly though- she didn't want to push the rakai too far, too fast. That's how people got hurt. She got out another chunk of meat. It was smaller this time, enough for Fiera to easily close her fingers around it. Fern immediately sniffed at them, and grunted as Fiera brought her other hand in. The rakai tolerated her presence as she scritched the top of her head, but winced as Fiera brought her fingers further down. "Shh, it's ok." Fiera cooed.
Fiera: 4 Fern: Lv. 5.4 /Lo 7.4
(Tolerance- 4)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 12, 2019 11:10:57 GMT -6
Fiera brought her hands down across Fern's face, slowly but gently. Fern wagged her tail with discomfort, but unlike before, she didn't shy away. "Good girl!" Fiera praised. Now, there was one last test for the face. Using a couple fingers, Fiera gently opened her lips, examining the rakai sarane's gums and teeth. The sensation was likely uncomfortable for Fern, but for Fiera it actually stung a bit, making her wish she had brought gloves. The saliva of a fel rakai sarane was venomous, but apparently it was caustic as well, making her fingers feel dangerously itchy. Still, she kept Fern's mouth open for just a moment, and just it would appear she could hold on no longer, just when Fern seemed like she was going to pull away- Fiera popped the meat chunk into Fern's mouth. "Good girl, Fern!" She said, letting the rakai's mouth snap closed, rubbing her snout.
Fiera: 5 Fern: Lv. 6.0 /Lo 8.0
(Tolerance- 5)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 12, 2019 11:13:54 GMT -6
Fern seemed pleasantly surprised, noshing on the meat while wagging her tail. She even seemed eager for more, sniffing around Fiera as she brought the treat cooler a bit closer. Fern tried it again, with a smaller piece of meat, and this time Fern seemed almost relaxed, letting Fiera get a good look at her mouth. Fiera let out a breath. That was one of the hard bits of teaching Fern tolerance. She figured she was 'over the hump' now. Next was... well, the rest of her body. She started with the scales, gently lifting them up and peering under them. It was an uncomfortable sensation, but Fiera had read that the protection of scales also meant that it was an ideal place for ticks and fleas to hide, and thus it was important to be able to clean around them. Using more comforting words and increasingly smaller treats, Fern got used to that rather quickly.
Fiera: 6 Fern: Lv. 6.1 /Lo 8.1
(Tolerance- 6)
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 12, 2019 11:19:48 GMT -6
Once Fiera was sure that Fern was ok with her touching her scales, she decided to go for more delicate areas. She began to gently tug on Fern's tail, guiding her with treats. Fern kept pulling it right out of Fiera's hands, whining with discomfort. After a few tries she hardly seemed to mind it, but it was equally difficult to get her tail to stop wagging after that. Eventually, after about fifteen minutes of fiddling, Fern flopped down on her belly. Perfect for the next task. Fiera gently started moving her legs, making sure to grab her by the paw- she needed to get used to people touching her feet as well. Fern didn't like that at all, immediately snatching her paws back. Fiera got out more treats, which made Fern's tail wag some more, but didn't exactly make her offer a paw. That was alright though, it only required a little more work...
Fiera: 7 Fern: Lv. 6.2 /Lo 8.2
(Tolerance- 7)
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