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Post by Ashe on Oct 8, 2021 2:20:59 GMT -6
Ashe might be getting hopeful, or Boomy might be starting to get it. He seemed to be staying behind the branch with less fuss each time. Ashe was thankful that he wasn't smart enough, apparently, to realize he could back up and go around the trees... He was that focused on Ashe and the treats in his hand that he didn't have time for any more puzzle solving. His whole tiny brain was focused on getting to Ashe! That helped a little bit, and now, finally, after Ashe nearly going hoarse saying that one word so many times (not really), he finally seemed to be making progress. Ashe latched onto this and doubled down. He would say, "Stay!" and back away a few paces. Boomy would actually stand still! It was so much easier than fighting to go after Ashe! If he just stood still, he would get some berries. He was starting to learn this. Progress. Ashe fed him a berry and patted his head.
Boomy: +7 4/5 Ashe: +2 13/20 Post 54 *Yang VMM Event post 19/25
[Stay - 6]
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Post by Ashe on Oct 8, 2021 2:25:26 GMT -6
Ashe did this a few more times, until Boomy was consistently not moving from his spot. No more pushing on the branch at all! Ashe decided to step it up a notch now, and he took the branch down. He laid it at Boomy's feet, so it was still there, symbolic as a barrier, but not physically restraining him anymore. Ashe wasn't sure if he'd know the difference. He knew some Equillion could be so dead broke that you just drop the rein and they would stay there, thinking they were tied up and unable to move. Ashe was trying to use that method here. He called out the command and backed away from him. Boomy stayed. He still thought he was confined! Just as Ashe had planned. Ashe called the command again and left him standing for thirty seconds, then he went and rewarded him. While he had the branch down but still present, Ashe decided to up the time he was leaving him stand there.
Boomy: +8 0/5 Ashe: +2 14/20 Post 55 *Yang VMM Event post 20/25
[Stay - 7]
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Post by Ashe on Oct 8, 2021 2:30:46 GMT -6
Ashe managed to get and keep Boomy's attention for a whole two minutes, by the time Ashe was done and satisfied. Even then, Boomy never moved, but he did start to get restless and Ashe could feel his mind wandering. Two minutes was a heck of a lot longer than zero seconds from earlier, if Ashe did say so himself! So now that he had Boomy staying comfortably behind the branch, in two different ways... It was time to remove it completely. Ashe did, but said the word right there, and held up his hand. "Stay..." And then he backed up. Boomy stayed! He hurried over and praised him, then did it again. Several more times, for varying lengths and distances.
He stayed, but Ashe was worn out. He decided a break was in order and he called for Boomy to come. The dino took a while, so Ashe turned to look, and he was looking confused. "Come!" Ashe called to him. And finally he did, stepping high as if over the branch itself. That wasn't there.
Boomy: +8 1/5 Ashe: +2 15/20 Post 56 *Yang VMM Event post 21/25
[Stay - 8]
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Post by Ashe on Oct 8, 2021 2:34:17 GMT -6
Ashe pulled out a bottle of whiskey. It had a cinnamon flavor to it that Ashe had taken a liking too, and it didn't have to go with something to be drinkable. He popped the top off and took a swig, letting it burn down his throat in a sweet cinnamon fire. He took a second shot, just to make sure he was going to keep warm in case the skies did open up soon, then he corked it and put it back in the sack. "Come, Boomy. Lets find you some water." He took the bag of berries and took one out, holding it in his hand so Boomy would understand no more stay, they were 'come'ing now. He followed after Ashe and the man led him to a pond. This was normally where he found his lotine when he looked for her, but right now it appeared still, save for a small waterfall that fed into it. Boomy saw the water and eagerly pushed past Ashe.
Boomy: +8 2/5 Ashe: +2 16/20 Post 57 *Yang VMM Event post 22/25
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Post by Ashe on Oct 8, 2021 2:39:50 GMT -6
Instead of stopping at the edge of the water to drink like a normal creature, Boomy continued right into the water, splashing all about him. Ashe stepped back so he would be out of the danger zone, laughing and putting his hands up defensively. Boomy went until the water touched his belly, then he arched his neck down to take a drink. Ashe could see the muscles in his neck working as he sucked up the water and swallowed it down. What a thing of evolution, having such a long neck so the creature could reach the high leaves on trees, but then with the long neck came the longer trip to the stomach, and the body had to work that much more for it. He watched Boomy for a little bit, then he walked to the edge of the pond too and found a dry spot to sit. He was just lowering himself to the ground when he noticed something watching him from across the water.
Boomy: +8 3/5 Ashe: +2 17/20 Post 58 *Yang VMM Event post 23/25
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Post by Ashe on Oct 8, 2021 2:43:09 GMT -6
It was gone in a flash of movement. Ashe didn't even have time to look at it properly before it was gone, just a blur out of the corner of his eye. Ashe frowned, wondering if he was seeing things. Boomy didn't even seem to have noticed and he was rightfully submerged, laying down so the water went over his back. He was having a grand time of splashing and playing by himself. While he was behaving Ashe took advantage to look around, keeping an eye out. It could have just been his lotine, but then... She wasn't that fast, and why would she have been watching him from there anyway? It didn't make sense. There was no other proof... Here. Keeping a side eye on Boomy, Ashe started to walk around the large pool of water and make his way to the other side. Along the way, he kept an eye out for tracks, maybe tufts of fur, if it was a furry beast. Scat would be a good indicator too.
Boomy: +8 4/5 Ashe: +2 18/20 Post 59 *Yang VMM Event post 24/25
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Post by Ashe on Oct 8, 2021 2:46:29 GMT -6
Ashe nearly stepped on it, it appeared so suddenly. A paw print of some sort! He stumbled, preventing his foot from messing up the track and nearly taking a tumble in his haste. He glanced back at Boomy and saw the dino rolling in the shallows now, his feet appearing above the surface. He shook his head and rolled his eyes. He hadn't realized Boomy liked the water so much! At least he was enjoying his break. Ashe stooped to check the track out, wondering if he could identify it. There were plenty of common monsters that he knew the tracks and scat of, but there were always new monsters, or ones Ashe hadn't been able to study enough to memorize. This one looked like a feline paw print, but he couldn't be sure... There was something off about it. But he would put his money on a cat. Which meant predator. Which meant... Did it think it could eat Boomy? Or, hell, himself? Ashe looked around, alert.
Boomy: +9 0/5 Ashe: +2 19/20 Post 60 *Yang VMM Event post 25/25
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Post by Nadia on Oct 8, 2021 8:30:45 GMT -6
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Yang
Flea Market Artist
Posts: 1,001
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Post by Yang on Oct 8, 2021 14:07:30 GMT -6
plip,plip,plip Only the lightest sound of droplets gave-way to another being that lurked around the large pool. A beast had been drinking from the waters not 10 minutes earlier, and at the sounds and movements, had crept quietly into the thick underbrush of a nearby, low-growing bush. Its un-blinking eyes watched the beings' step into the space, making good use of the water it had been lapping up not a moment before. The one in the water was big- far too big for the cat to even consider engaging in any form. The sentient though, looking about and trekking around the waters edge- Estharne weren't always friendly, but they weren't outlandishly ruthless either, a big-cat made for humane companionship. Still, this one, with a mostly-empty belly as well as having been disturbed from it's drink, mulled in its primeval brain about The Hunt. To act or not, it decided to move, stalking closer as its ethereal flames licking the lower-leaning brambles and tree-branches.
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Post by Ashe on Oct 10, 2021 1:51:49 GMT -6
Boomy was completely unaware of the game of cat and mouse going on across the pond. Ashe treading carefully, tracking the creature, and the creature in turn prowling, filled with curiosity. No, Boomy was too occupied with the way the water felt rolling off of his back, and the noise it made when he stomped in it.
Ashe felt eyes on him. He thought he might just be paranoid, having the feeling a cat was watching him was a little more eerie than if, say, a canine of some sort was eyeballing him. He would rather not be food for either sort and he had the magic to defend himself, but all the same... he was sure there was something watching him. He followed the last visible pawprint around a tree and- he let out a startled yelp as he nearly ran smack into the estharne. The cat leaped back and hissed, flames roiling wild. Ashe stumbled backward and tripped over his own feet.
Boomy: +9 1/5 Ashe: +3 0/20 Post 61 *Yang VMM Event post 1/20
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Post by Ashe on Oct 15, 2021 0:10:53 GMT -6
Ashe was startled, no doubt about it. He wouldn't admit it, of course, but his heart was pounding from the sudden appearance of a flaming skeletal creature that he had never seen before. And it just appeared, silent, without warning! In the way that felines do, he supposed. But now that they were face to face, and it didn't run away... What did that mean? Was it going to attack him? Normally, wouldn't a feline be startled into retreat, and it would come around and try from the back or something? He would expect a Vulticus to hang around, wait for an opportunity, but a cat needed surprise... And this cat was just looking at him.
Boomy, aloof as ever, discovered that he could walk in deeper, submerge his whole body up to his neck and still breathe fine. But he also found out that if he kept his head under, he couldn't breathe, so he didn't try rolling in the deeper spots.
Boomy: +9 2/5 Ashe: +3 1/20 Post 62 *Yang VMM Event post 2/20
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Post by Ashe on Oct 15, 2021 0:15:30 GMT -6
So Ashe looked back at it. He looked over its beautiful skull, the flames lapping around it - and the tail! How strange. He wondered if it still functioned as a tail, for balance and such, or if it was just light as air now. And this thing could eat? Without a visible esophagus? So many questions! He needed to get this thing home and study it. "Hey, pretty kitty," Ashe crooned to it, dropping lower to a kneeling position. He was eye to eye with it now, reaching out a hand slowly so as not to startle it. The feline moved its gaze from Ashe to the hand, then back again.
Boomy found he was growing tired of playing in the water, so he wandered back onto the shore and stood on the bank. Thirsty again, he lowered his head to the water and took a drink. He saw Ashe across the pond when he did this.
Boomy: +9 3/5 Ashe: +3 2/20 Post 63 *Yang VMM Event post 3/20
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Post by Ashe on Oct 15, 2021 0:28:18 GMT -6
Slowly, carefully, it inched forward, watching the human for signs of movement, and it sniffed at Ashe's hand. He was relieved it was curious and not outright violent or skittish. He let it sniff him until he was bored, then he leaned further forward and tried to pet it on its head. Maybe if he could get it to accept its touch, he could better lead it home. Or tame it enough to hang out with him. The cat, however, leaned away from his hand, not quite ready for that kind of action yet. Ashe stopped when he noticed this, and just held his position; closer, but not too close. Letting the Estharne get used to this new closeness without pressing further. He waited; the feline eyed him, sniffed him. His fingers were so close to those fangs...
Boomy saw a shiny new friend standing with his human. This was a creature he didn't know! But the dancing flames looked extra shiny, and drew on his curiosity.
Boomy: +9 4/5 Ashe: +3 3/20 Post 64 *Yang VMM Event post 4/20
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Post by Ashe on Oct 15, 2021 0:31:27 GMT -6
One wrong move and that Estharne could pierce Ashe's hand with those fangs... The mouth drew closer... Ashe held still, forcing himself to keep his hand in the danger zone. It didn't seem like this cat wanted to bite him... And then those fangs parted. Here we go, he thought. But instead, he felt the sensation of a tongue licking him... even though he couldn't see the tongue. He felt it. That was weird enough to make the hair on Ashe's arms stand on end - how was that possible? "You got a bit of magic in you, don't you?" He murmured to the cat. "Good kitty... Nice kitty... Want to come home with Ashe?" He asked it. He was still holding his hand still, and while he felt like he was being licked by a moist sandpaper tongue, his hand didn't feel wet either.
Boomy started walking through the shallows of the pond, around the pond, toward Ashe. He was bored with the swimming and the wallowing and was feeling left out now.
Boomy: +10 0/5 Ashe: +3 4/20 Post 65 *Yang VMM Event post 5/20
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Post by Ashe on Oct 15, 2021 0:35:15 GMT -6
"I don't see your tongue, but it sure feels like you're tasting me!" Ashe informed the cat. "Do I taste good? Huh?" He smirked. Eventually, it was done, and went back to sniffing and inspecting Ashe's hand. The man took advantage of this and rolled his wrist, then touched the side of the cat's face. He stroked gently, touching bone and feeling a warm heat that didn't burn his skin over the smoothness of bone. He stroked, crooned, and kept his eyes on those fangs. So far, so good, no attacking. But you never knew with cats! Ashe was more of an equine person, neither dogs nor cats. He could see what an Equillion was thinking in those large eyes... An Estharne not so much.
Boomy plodded along, making big splashed because he didn't bother to lift his feet too high. It was more fun this way, sending up a spray of water with every step. Along the way, he got distracted again and started splashing, just to mar his reflection.
Boomy: +10 1/5 Ashe: +3 5/20 Post 66 *Yang VMM Event post 6/20
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