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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:41:41 GMT -6
Current Quest
*Equipment currently in Possession*Foldable black mesh net Taking the quest felt more exciting than actually experiencing it, she couldn’t help but think. She and Taka have been camping at the summer house which is in her opinion more like an estate for five days now, enough time that she would think whoever or whatever is stealing tools, would try pretty soon again, and was able to gain permission from the owners to make some simple traps around the estate in the hope of catching the one who does it. Just a simple trip wire that when touched makes a small bell tinkle in their tent with vaguely the corresponding location to which bell, and she has been digging a large hole at both the front door of the workshop outside, and some of the windows. Covering that up with branches and grass, it’s still beginner level tactics so there is certainly a higher chance of the traps getting spotted, but she just hopes this will be enough should it turn out to be a creature and not one of the big ten races, eleven if one includes the Draconics with it too. But they are unlikely to come to the city. Yawning she leans against Taka’s side, taking care to not put too much pressure on her folded wings while watching the house in the distance, Taka only flicks her ear a little to the side to show that she isn’t entirely asleep right now, but not awake enough either to raise her head off her paws.
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:43:12 GMT -6
With how the moon is slowly starting to lower in the sky again she feels it might be best to start her patrol, none of the wires have made any of the bell tinkle, but the system isn’t a sure bet either of working when it could just as well be another human she is up against. ‘Which would still have made it be an odd case when they keep coming back.’ Surely thief’s would be smarter than that, right? Adding another log to the campfire she has built at the start of the night to prevent it from burning out, she wonders what type of animal could be persistent enough to keep doing this. She did get enough details from the owner to know that it seems to mostly be after anything that is metallic and shiny, not even their heating equipment was safe from the thief, and had caused quite a stir. Apparently, that was also the final straw for the owners with hoping the thief will just go away, and took the action of hiring someone against the problem. “C’mon Taka, we’d better go and check things out.” She says while petting the large dog on her head, the thumping of her tail certainly indicated she likes that type of attention. Standing up she goes in the tent for a moment to gather the flashlight near her sleeping bag, some meat treats for Taka that she pockets in her coat, and an easily foldable net she brought along. Tucking the net against her left side she turned on the flashlight. Blinking at the harsh light coming from it.
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:43:28 GMT -6
Turning the light to face the ground she tries to blink away the white spots in her vision enough to be able to walk out of the tent again, and unfasten the leash from the metal pin she had hammered in the ground a few days ago. She knows it will be a while before she could gain Taka’s loyalty enough to be assured she would stay near her even when off the leash. “Let’s go Taka, it’s for the best we look around again.” She mutters as the Vulticus slowly starts standing up with a couple of tugs from the leash, knowing it’s time to move. Shaking her whole body for a few seconds and unfolding her wings to stretch those too before folding them in their usual position, she made a low grumble before looking at her newest master. “Good Taka, let’s take a look around now, neh?” She says when Taka seems to be focused on her now, the eyes reflecting a white yellow color as they pass the campfire, hopefully the light of the moon won’t do the same thing, but she isn’t going to put too much focus on that issue right now. Rather, she is trying to ensure that they aren’t walking right into any of the traps she made. She knows some of the trip wire is close by.
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:43:39 GMT -6
They managed in the end to avoid her own trip wire that is halfway to the workshop, something she hadn’t succeeded at doing so on the first night, but it took a bit of convincing to have Taka jump over it, both because she doesn’t understand why it needed to be done every time and because she hadn’t been taught such a command that is essentially just jumping over things. “Careful Taka.” She murmurs when they get close to the workshop, so far she hasn’t seen anything strange yet or out of place. So she doubts anything is amiss this time as well, just like the last couple of nights nothing strange has been going on around or inside the workshop to indicate the thief has returned again, nor did the owners report to be missing something else again. The large dog at her side just huffs a breath of air out of her mouth at those words, flicking her ears only for a moment flat at her head before they are aimed straightforward in concentration for what might be up ahead. ‘I wonder if we’d be here for weeks?’ She couldn’t help but think slightly morosely at that. She certainly hopes it wouldn’t come to pass like that. Even if Taka doesn’t seem to mind these trips too much at night. Squinting her eyes at a sudden movement on the ground, just barely a glimmer of light that gets reflected as they are close enough to the next set of trip wire she knows should be there. She aims her torch at that small glimmer, letting the light hit the ground and showing exactly what is going on, she watches in surprise how it is moving. ‘Its almost as if it is getting dragged?’ She thinks while looking at the silver wire. Turning away from it for just a moment she aims her torch close to where the workshop is located, the earth at the door still remains undisturbed from what she can tell thanks to the light of her torch.
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:44:36 GMT -6
‘It has to have happened just moments ago after we left the tent, else the bells would have started tinkling quite a bit. Or perhaps in the five or eight minutes it took to get here? That could be it too I suppose. Right then, that means we’d better follow the wire and see where it gets dragged towards.’ She decides, and tugs slightly at Taka’s leash to make her follow further along with her as she aims her flashlight at the silver wire. Perhaps the thread was just shiny enough for the creature to make a grab at it? Though she hasn’t spotted any footprints yet, she’ll likely come across it soon. A small grumbling from Taka as she walks at her side made her grin. Taka, she thinks, might have thought that with the quick visits she had made these past few days with her at night to check the workshop, that they should have turned around by now and get back to their camp. Which isn’t something she is planning to do, not now that they finally have their first lead on who is stealing all the equipment! It has to be somesort of creature that is dragging it, anyone else would have looked for something more expensive to steal then this wire.
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:44:49 GMT -6
She kept the torch aimed at the ground as much as possible as they followed the movement of where the wire is being dragged too, since the yard of this estate contains mostly grass and large bushes that shaped into creatures such as the pure Equilions or the old Balgors, she feels that there is very little chance of getting spotted so long as they aren’t too close to their target yet from what she can assume, as the bushes are scattered close enough that from a distance it could appear like a strange wall. And it is double so for how the wire is being dragged, without a pause that makes her think whoever does it, isn’t close enough to either see or hear them coming. Still she does makes sure they both are keeping as quiet as they can be while walking. There is something else that is bothering her though, how exactly did whoever has been doing it been able to cut the wire? She hadn’t heard any bells before they left the camp, so it must have been cut off at some point the moment they left, and she knows that wire isn’t exactly weak either. “We’ll have to prepare ourselves Taka.” She says softly to her companion. Taka wasn’t at first all that interest with what is going on, but the longer they started chasing after the wire and sees it moving, the more her own focus at it started to increasing as well. Occasionally sniffing at the ground, but she has yet to start barking. Which is good, as she doesn’t want to alert the thief they are after them. Or it could be thief’s? There is always a chance a thief might be working together with other thief’s to get what they want.
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:45:04 GMT -6
‘This might be it or their footprints.’ She thinks as she tugs on Taka’s leash for a moment to stop her from continuing in following the wire for now, bending down she looks at the grass that is bend and has some parts enough ripped out that it shows the brown color of dirt, she finally sees it is a creature that is trying to drag the wire along from what she can tell by how much the grass is crushed under its foot when it sees it has resisted in that moment. But she honestly doesn’t quite know from what type of creature it could be that has only two claws, and with another three. It at least doesn’t look by how the footprints are made that it are two creatures. Opening the package in her pocket for a moment, she takes out two meat treats. Taka has done quite well with keeping quiet for now and following her, she certainly deserves a little something. “Here Taka.” She murmurs as she opens her palm and shows her companion the treats. She didn’t even need to wait that long for Taka to sniff at her palm and lick up the treats as soon as she notices they are being given to her. She wags her tail for just moment as she starts eating it, and when done, sniffs her hand for more. “That’s enough for now Taka, don’t be greedy, you’ll get more at some point.” She mutters, petting her on the head before standing up again. They need to continue further before they lose track of where the wire is going. Even with the footprints she can see now that are clearly in the grass, she sees it seems the creature came from another direction, she still isn’t certain what exactly it did to snap the wire. Nor does she remember precisely if she had installed the trip wire at this part of the estate tonight.
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:45:18 GMT -6
Tugging on the leash lightly made Taka move again with her, ears flattening slightly before rising straight up as she seems to look from the ground to something much farther up ahead. Though, how successful she is in it, she can’t say for certain as Taka seems to squint more when trying it. ‘We’re almost at the fence now.’ She noticed when the bushes started to become less like statues and seemed more natural in shape. Slowing her walk she tries to tread as softly as she can on the ground where it seems the owners haven’t taken all that much care to that part of their garden, Taka’s own pace only slightly made any leaf litter on the ground crackle, hopefully it is not enough to warn their thief. ‘What’s this?’ Aiming her flashlight at the white stone wall that serves as a fence she notices the wire moving further ahead under some bushes, slowly coming closer she pushes it aside as best as she can, and aims her flashlight at it, noting a large hole that leads under the stone fence. ‘So this is how the beast came into the yard.’ She muses. ‘I’ll need to close that hole in the morning then, and alert the owners to it. Still.’ She looked at the fence, it might only be one and a half meter tall, and she could try her hand at climbing over it, should she succeed, that still leaves the problem on what to do with Taka. She can’t exactly let her stay at this spot in case she needs her, nor was she certain what Taka would do when being left alone in a strange environment.
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:45:31 GMT -6
Aiming her flashlight at Taka, she sees her squint at the sudden light directed at her, lips pulling up in a snarl as she unfurls her wings, she quickly aims the light downwards. “Sorry Taka.” She mutters, petting her companion in apology. What should she do? It really doesn’t seem like a good choice to let her stay here alone. And tying her leash against the bushes isn’t a great idea either, not with how strong her breed is. ‘Maybe I can make her use her wings?’ She wonders for a moment, but with how often they are folded up, she wasn’t sure if Taka used her ability to fly with them much either. Still, jumping is an option too she muses. A playful push against her back, brings her to the present again courtesy from Taka’s head as she tried it a second time made her quickly stand alert again, on what is happening around her, and sees Taka wagging her tail slowly. Looking playfully at her. Grinning, she pets her on the head. She can at least try it. Taking out a couple of the meat treats from her coat pocket, she allows Taka to take one of them, and keep the rest in her hand. Letting go of the leash for the moment, she takes out the foldable net from under her left arm, and throws it to the other side of the fence, she hears a small thump when it lands. And sees the wire stop pulling when she aims her flashlight at it.
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:45:59 GMT -6
‘It must have noticed us!’ She thinks in panic, waiting tensely for a moment as she tries to hear what is happening at the other side of the fence. She doesn’t any unusual sounds from what she can tell, just the general sounds of nature when focusing. No hurried footsteps going away from the fence, or an unusual squeak of surprise. The footprints she has been following didn’t indicate anything birdlike, so she isn’t surprised to not hear any flapping of wings at least. Checking the wire again when she thought she hears subtle scratching, she sees it is getting pulled again. ‘The thief must be farther away than I thought./’ She muses. And if that is the case, then this should work out quite well. “Taka look!” She whispers softly to her companion, showing the treats in her palm, and closing it into a fist the moment it seems like she wants to snatch up those same treats. Catching her interest in it. “Go after it.” She calls out just as softly as she throws the treats to the other side of the fence. With how big Taka naturally is, she could jump over the fence easily if she doesn’t want to fly over it instead. Taka watches with surprise on her face how the treats get thrown away to the other side, and then look back at her in confusion.
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:46:10 GMT -6
Seeing as Taka doesn’t understand what she is trying to make her do, she sighs softly, giving her a scratch behind the ears that makes Taka lean into her hand. ‘I think if what I am going to do next isn’t making you want to follow after me, I’ll need to leave you behind for a while then.’ She muses sadly, unsettled at the thought, but she also doesn’t want to wait another week in order to solve this case. Taking her hand away from Taka, she turns off the flashlight, bringing complete darkness around them, and it takes a moment for her to adjust to it before she brings it to her mouth, biting down on the sides of the torch and stepping closer to the fence. She decides to take the part with the least amount of plants growing near it from where she remembers it is at, and uses her now empty hands to take a hold of the top. She has at least thirty centimeters more that she is in height compared to the wall, but that doesn’t she can actually see what is beyond it, not with how dark it is, nor does she want to dare try it. Chances are very high she’d get spotted that way. The moonlight gives just barely enough light to see, let alone walk around, but it isn’t enough to warn you of the fact the next step might leave you stumbling because of a tree root or a hole in the ground. Taking one last look at Taka’s direction, she can’t really tell what her companion might be thinking. It’s unfortunately become too dark now to see her face or body language properly. Gripping the top of the stone fence more tightly, or rather, as best as she can when she doesn’t feel the edge of where it ends, she starts lifting herself up slowly, and uses her feet as best as she can to find any protrusions or indents in the wall itself. She smiles with the flashlight in her mouth when she catches with her left foot an indent in the wall that is just enough to allow her to lift herself up all the way on top of the wall, and then carefully lower herself to the opposite side. Landing as softly as she can manage in the leaf litter and crouches down to the ground. Hoping she isn’t spotted.
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:46:27 GMT -6
Focusing intently, she could hear the soft whine coming from the opposite side of the stone fence where Taka is after a minute, the small scratches of the wire getting dragged along further is something she can still hear, but as it is softer then Taka’s noises that she makes when whining, it takes her a while to realize it is still happening. Hearing that noise comforts her greatly in not being spotted, even if the wall is quite white and more visible then the rest of what is around her. ‘It likely would have been better for us if the thief had tried it tomorrow when it is going to be a moonless night.’ She contemplates while slowly standing up and looking over the wall. Taking the flashlight out of her mouth, she aims it over the wall and more to the ground where she thinks Taka might still be if the noises are any indication. It took her a little while of fiddling with the flashlight to find the switch to turn it on, but when she did, Taka quieted down again. She could just see the head and tail of Taka as its highest part when the light hit her.
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:46:46 GMT -6
“Taka, come girl. Got some treats for you.” She calls out softly as she takes from her pocket another couple of meat treats, and throws one over the fence. The moment she did that she didn’t see Taka as her companion moved away. But she listens intently, hearing the sniffing and then the slight crunching of her teeth as she is eating something. “Come Taka, you can do it.” She says softly, even though she knows Taka likely doesn’t understand what she is saying or even learned to do it on command, she hopes that any previous loyalty she might have harbored from her previous owner would make her at least somewhat aware what is asked of her. “Taka?” She calls out softly, slightly nervous for standing so long against the white wall. What if the thief sees her? A small sound, more a grumble then anything came from Taka’s direction, and she flinched backwards when the head of Taka pops up so unexpectantly. “Good girl Taka!” She says after she recovers from her surprise as she sees Taka is using her front paws on the top of the fence in order to lean on to it, and make her able to see what is going on at the other side of the fence. She drops a treat on top of the fence quickly, not wanting to make her wait and think this isn’t something she should be rewarded for.
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:47:01 GMT -6
Taka only sniffs for a moment where she dropped the treat before gobbling it up and starts looking at her with gaze that expects it to happen again. She smiles slightly at that and brings her fist closer, the one she clutches the treats with, allowing her to sniff and lick at her hand before retreating from the wall, and taking a small distance away from her, aiming the flashlight close to her feet as she crouches down in what is more earth with dead leaves that have become soft with rain from the previous night then grass. There is a bit farther away from her still a couple tall bushes that she hopes is blocking the thief’s sight from them, and trees are spread around in the area from what she can see when the light of her torch hits the trunk of one. If she just focuses on the sounds around her, the wire is still being dragged, but at this part the glimmer of silver is even less noticeable as it gets dragged against the dirt. Losing its shine. “Come Taka, you can do it.” She says softly again as she uses the flashlight to show her fist opening and uncovering the many treats she could still get from her. A huff of what made her think out of frustration escapes Taka’s mouth at that, and the shadow she associates as Taka’s head disappears for just a moment. ‘Is she going to follow me?’ She thinks while wondering if those few nights spend together would be enough to create a bond to make her want to follow after her, or if it solely for the sake of the treats.
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Oct 23, 2019 16:47:16 GMT -6
A moment later, she didn’t have to wonder about it. A large shadow jumped over the fence, and flapped its wings only once to stabilize its landing in making it a soft thump amongst the leaf litter that is still louder than the foldable net she has thrown here somewhere. She extends her hand in an open palm so that Taka can take the treats from her, which she did by only needing to use her long tongue to lick at her palm once to grab all of them as she starts folding her wings again. She listens carefully. She doesn’t hear the wire moving again. Maybe if they wait it will happen again, but those minutes spend waiting are perhaps better expended on searching for that net, and following the wire now that she won’t have worry about a high fence getting in her way. “Good girl Taka.” She murmurs softly to her companion, using her now empty hand to scratch her behind the ear as an extra reward, and then starts feeling around at her collar for the leash, glad that she hadn’t needed to use the metal one for a while now, or the sound of her landing could have been a lot louder. When she finally gets to the leash part, she follows it with her hand till she reaches the end and takes a hold of it. Using the flashlight, she aims at the ground to have the bundle of light make the small parts of grass, dead leaves and dirt more apparent, it took a bit of searching to find the black net again this way. As she has to be careful in not aiming it too high and allowing the thief to notice where exactly they are. And when she did finally spot the net, she feels rather surprised she had been able to throw it that far from the fence.
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