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Post by Xentus on Apr 9, 2024 23:44:05 GMT -6
The quarter mile mark was reached, and a short break was earned. Long enough for praise and some watering, then it was time to get back on track. Eden again struggled to get the cart moving from a complete stop, but it didn’t take too long to get back to their previous walking pace. The nyssa lumbered on, seemingly determined to best this challenge. It was hard to read its body language, but given the time they’d spent together, Xentus got a sense that it seemed to be enjoying this to an extent. Eden hadn’t gotten much of a chance to start ‘working’, but now that it was given a task (and appeared to understand said task), it seemed to take it on seriously. The water reward helped, but it seemed to even enjoy the stress test itself. A good quality for a future garden guardian, no doubt.
Eden: Sta Training 4
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Post by Xentus on Apr 9, 2024 23:44:20 GMT -6
The half mile mark came and they stopped for just a moment to recuperate. “Feeling alright, Eden?”, Xentus asked the plant while watering its feet, “Xentus hopes he doesn’t put too much on you” Its leaves were drooping in scattered places throughout its canopy. If he had to guess, it was getting fairly tired, but not quite yet exhausted. There was still plenty of energy left to push through. The nyssa’s golden eyes stared blankly at the man. It didn’t seem to mind anything thus far, and it didn’t seem like it would start now, tired or not. A soft chuckle escaped the leopard as he beckoned to get things moving again. The sapling liked him well enough, and liked the water he gave it even more. It was simple to please. The exercise was engaging for it, even if a strain on its bark. More groaning and creaking of wood sounded as the wheels of the cart turned and the nyssa’s hobbling resumed.
Eden: Sta Training 5
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Post by Xentus on Apr 9, 2024 23:44:37 GMT -6
As the duo pressed on their path along the track, their speed slowed. Xentus was determined to make it to their goal, though even he was getting drained. He slowed to a walk, and comparatively, Eden was at a crawl. The crawl wasn’t too much slower than its normal pace though. The pair moved more side-by-side than one leading the other, and it was surprisingly comfortable for the both of them. Eden felt assured that it could press forward with the leopard beside him. It eyed the man every few steps just to make sure the watering can was still at the ready. Little did the sapling know, it was nearly empty. Xentus was tiring himself out far too much by carrying around the sloshing water and decided that it would be best to get refills as needed. Unfortunately, this meant he had little to offer for their upcoming break. Fortunately, the fountain was just another quarter mile away.
Eden: Sta Training 6
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Post by Xentus on Apr 9, 2024 23:44:53 GMT -6
If their pace continued like this, they were looking at another hour out here on the grass. Thankfully, neither the nyssa nor the leopard minded this all that much. There wasn’t anything else the man had planned for his day aside from more training and bonding with the young sapling. As for Eden, as long as the sun was out, it was happy to engage. The three quarter mile mark was passed, and the last of the water was drizzled on the tired tree. There was just one final push to go through, then they were done. “Come on, Eden, we’ve almost made it”, Xentus encouraged with a chipper, yet tired voice. The nyssa shook its leaves in response, as if to show that it was ready to go on. If only Xentus were just as eager. While he sounded upbeat enough, he was just about ready for a snack and a catnap. A quick exhale out to shoo away thoughts of relaxation, and the two were off once again.
Eden: Sta Training 7
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Post by Xentus on Apr 9, 2024 23:45:07 GMT -6
The only downside to circling the track was the growing monotony of the scenery. The wide open space was far from thrilling to gaze upon. The leopard’s eyes grew restless, trying to find entertainment amid grass, dirt, concrete, and hills. There were a couple of people and their beasts out here training as well, but he felt that watching them was rude. Nobody wanted to be stared at while trying to workout. With little else to turn his eyes to, they fell upon the waist-high nyssa beside him. Eden was content enough with nothing in particular to look at while it hobbled along. The grass was the best thing to watch scroll by with every step. It was growing familiar with each blade and their roots, seeing more than just plain grass. Xentus could only watch with wonder as to what kind of senses processed in its mind. Ah, what was it like to be a walking tree?
Eden: Sta Training 8
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Post by Xentus on Apr 9, 2024 23:45:24 GMT -6
Xentus slowly let himself get dragged through the mental wanderings of plant-creatures and their biology. He was most familiar with Lotine, and they were such fascinating creatures… And as the second mile was completed, the leopard was snapped out of his thoughts and back to reality thanks to the sounds of agitated bark. “Ah, worry not Eden, Xentus wouldn’t forget your prize…” He blatantly lied to the sapling, for it would remain none the wiser to his deception. After a quick trip to the water fountain, the nyssa was showered in water once again, giving a touch of life back to its drooping leaves. “Let us finish one more round about the track and call it good”, Xentus said decidedly to the young tree. Eden was impartial to his words, but shook a few leaves to show that it listened. After their short break, the two began again to finish the last leg of their journey.
Eden: Sta Training 9
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Post by Xentus on Apr 9, 2024 23:46:06 GMT -6
This was it. No stops, only forward and around, then finish. It seemed both underwhelming, yet a great achievement all at once. Trudging for three miles was no huge feat on paper, but when one considered all the extra weight to endure, it turned out to be a lot more challenging than one might think. Xentus with his water, Eden with its cart. The two pushed through the ever growing exhaustion, one step at a time. The finish line seemed so far away, and yet with every passing moment, grew closer and closer. It took time, finishing that last mile. It felt like ages had passed before it was in reach. “Almost there, Eden. Almost there…”, Xentus said, encouraging both himself and the sapling. Eden started taking pauses between every few steps, just for a moment to recharge and get the energy to continue. And eventually, with labored, trudging steps, they’d finally made it to their goal. The third mile came and the pair celebrated their progress. “Well done, Eden!”, the man cheered exhaustedly, “Now, let’s have a nice, long break…”
Eden: Sta Training 10
- Checkpoint! Eden Stamina Training (+1) -
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Post by Xentus on Apr 10, 2024 22:16:55 GMT -6
> Training continued... After a few days to recuperate from their last training session, the leopard and his sapling found themselves back at the gym for another round. This time, strength was the goal. Even at this young age, the nyssa was much stronger than himself. When he thought about it a bit more, he was fortunate the sapling was placid enough in nature that it didn’t try to simply bulldoze him for whatever it might want. “Alright, Eden. Let us get set up here”, Xentus announced as he looked for a spot claim. The nyssa was being a bit fussy about being indoors, rattling its branches together, but followed after the man. After a moment of deliberation, the chosen scene was a sand pit, weights, and a punching bag. There were a few ideas Xentus had in mind for Eden to try. To knock the punching bag as far into the sand pit as it could. To push the punching bag around in the sand. Lifting weights… This would be interesting.
Eden: Str Training 1
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Post by Xentus on Apr 10, 2024 22:17:07 GMT -6
The training routine was a bit challenging to figure out, but he figured they’d at least start with the weights. They’d need to build up more robust trunk muscles - that’s where all the heft of a nyssa was. Its arms were far too scrawny for pumping iron after all. A set of sandbag weights were draped over the nyssa’s shoulders and back branches, giving it a heavy shawl of sorts. Eden rustled its leaves, uncomfortable with the strange sensation resting on its branches. “It’s ok, Eden. Take time to get a feel for this”, Xentus hushed the sapling in a soothing voice, petting its bark. He knew it struggled with unnatural textures, so overcoming that would be the first of many hurdles. Once it seemed comfortable enough with the first set, another batch of weights were added on top. And it was now that Xentus was thankful for the short stature of the young nyssa making this a lot easier. Wearing weights was one thing, moving around with them was another.
Eden: Str Training 2
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Post by Xentus on Apr 10, 2024 22:17:24 GMT -6
To test the waters, Xentus beckoned the sapling to follow after him for a few hefty steps. It was hard to tell if he was loading it up with too much… But Eden seemed to take on the challenge without much complaint. Xentus grinned at its resolve, then began conjuring up a motion that would target strengthening up its trunk. He envisioned something which was somewhat like a deep squat. He pushed down on the sapling from behind its neck to encourage it to bend down. While his touch hardly offered any additional weight, Eden seemed to get the idea after a moment of consideration and heeded his direction. “That’s it, Eden, good job!” Its head and torso lowered down, legs bending as it folded its body down. Strained creaking sounded from the nyssa’s trunk due to the added pressure from the weights. Xentus supported the sapling to ensure it didn’t buckle, acting as a spotter.
Eden: Str Training 3
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Post by Xentus on Apr 10, 2024 22:17:37 GMT -6
Going down was only half the battle. Getting back up was the next. With a helping hand lifting up from around its arms, Eden was able to stand up after a good deal of effort. Its leaves were already beginning to droop from all the energy this was taking. There was no stopping after just one squat though. “Again, Eden. Take it slow, go down…”, Xentus instructed while giving tactile guidance to the waist-high sapling. Eden resisted the man’s touch for just a moment while it tried to regain its bearings before taking the next squat. It lowered itself shakily. The sound of its groaning wood assured him this was no easy task. If they could manage one more squat after this, Xentus would be satisfied enough to call it for that set before going for a break then trying again. Two sets of three reps wasn’t very impressive until given the amount of weight at play.
Eden: Str Training 4
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Post by Xentus on Apr 10, 2024 22:17:50 GMT -6
Going down was just as tough as coming back up, but with Xentus’ aid, Eden was able to manage it. Its legs quivered from the exertion. “One more time, Eden! Let’s do this”, Xentus chimed encouragingly, trying to give the sapling the strength it needed to try again. It was given just a brief moment to catch its metaphorical breath before being instructed to lower its body down once more. Xentus tried his best not to wade into thoughts of the plant’s respiratory cycle and the needs of its muscles… But he did suppose a fan blowing on the creature might be a nice added touch to their breaks from now on. Eden’s bark almost seemed to whine as it lowered down and louder as it started to come back up. More of Xentus’ help was needed, but he was more than happy to lift it up and keep it from faltering. “Xentus has you, Eden, fret not”, he told it warmly as he knelt beside it, “Let’s take a little break now, hm? That was a very good warm-up.”
Eden: Str Training 5
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Post by Xentus on Apr 14, 2024 17:13:38 GMT -6
Perhaps they should’ve taken it easier for a ‘warm-up’... But the training just began, and he needed to push the sapling’s limits. Eden was looking worn down already, with its leaves drooping and threatening to yellow and wilt. Some plants could be quite dramatic with expressing themselves through their leaves, and this nyssa was no exception it seemed. Xentus removed its weights, got a fan blowing air over the poor thing, and gave it a healthy watering to get it to perk back up. Eden appreciated the moments reprieve. While it enjoyed having some purpose and a task, this was exhausting! After a few minutes to recuperate, the nyssa was ready for the second set of reps. Xentus strapped the weights on it once more and gave it a little pep-talk. “Alright, Eden. You are growing to be a grand tree, strong and hardy. This will soon become nothing to overcome!
Eden: Str Training 6
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Post by Xentus on Apr 14, 2024 17:13:52 GMT -6
With weights strapped back on, Eden was prompted to continue its core training. It had no concept of becoming stronger from this, only that this was its job at the moment. To bend down with heaviness on its shoulders. It was ready for this! With Xentus’ guidance, it dropped down into a low squat, belly nearly touching the floor. “Up, Eden!”, The plant creature struggled to get itself lifted off the ground. Its thin arms pushed up to little avail, trembling under the weight. It wasn’t until the leopard’s intervention that it was able to stand upright once more. “That’s quite alright, Eden. Xentus pushes beyond your limits, it seems”, his words came encouragingly. The leopard removed a few of the heavy bags on the nyssa’s shoulders and had it try again. The goal was to get it to exercise without any extra help. A few pounds would hopefully make the difference.
Eden: Str Training 7
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Post by Xentus on Apr 14, 2024 17:14:05 GMT -6
If it could make a couple of deep squats on its own, Xentus figured they could move on to the next exercise and put those muscles to more practical use. He prompted the nyssa to lean down and get low to the floor, which went smoothly enough. Then, back up. Again, Eden struggled against the heft it carried. Its body shook slightly as it pressed hard into the floor and raised back up slowly but surely. “That’s it, Eden!”, Xentus cheered with a grin, “Yes, keep at it!” It rose back up to a standing position, grating its jaws. It looked drained, but somehow proud. Or perhaps Xentus was only imagining it. There was little in the way in terms of facial expression from the nyssa, but its overall stance read as if it had a sense of accomplishment. As a reward and further encouragement, it was misted down with more water.
Eden: Str Training 8
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