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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 12:47:20 GMT -6
Emery’s plan was now to teach Orpheus to bite something on command. It was a violent act, to be sure, but sometimes violence was needed in the world. And perhaps on a less lofty level, it would give Orpheus a useful way to spend his excess energy other than chasing after fallen leaves. Besides, the Vai Min Mur contest was coming up, and he would need something "scary" to show off. In theory he had more... ethereal moves, but there was still a lot to fear from a large animal with sharp pointy bits that could do a lot of damage. And gracious, did he have a lot of sharp pointy bits. The estharne walked over to Emery, his investigation of the surrounding area done, and he flopped down next to the tree stump she was sat upon, now calmly surveying his new "territory". It gave Emery a bit of time.
Emery 1 Orpheus 4.1/2.1 Bite 1
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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 13:00:59 GMT -6
She glanced to either side of the stump, looking for one of the fallen tree branches she had seen scattered around this copse of trees. Sure enough, one sat half concealed under a drift of leaves just behind her. She quickly leaned over and picked it up, shaking off the leaf litter. It was nice and thick, about as big around as a particularly fat broomstick, and about half as long, broken off cleanly on both ends. It must have been torn off by a storm, Emery mused to herself. There weren't many other things that could make a clean break like that. Regardless, it would work well for training this. It wouldn't be tasty or comfortable for Orpheus to bite, but that was the point. She needed the estharne to be able to bite anything on command for their protection, not just the things that he found tasty looking.
Emery 2 Orpheus 4.2/2.2 Bite 2
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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 13:09:42 GMT -6
Luckily, she still had plenty of treats left to smooth things over with him. "Orpheus." She said as gently as she could, and the estharne raised his head lazily to look at her just as Emery shoved the stick in front of his face. He sniffed at it but with an air of confusion as if to say, "Yeah, so? It's a stick." Once he was familiar with it however, Emery gave the command. "Bite." She said, gently pressing the bark against his exposed teeth. Orpheus didn't react for a moment, not really sure of what to think of it, but gave a quick growl of irritation and pulled his head back as Emery became more insistent with it. "Orpheus, bite." She said again, raising the volume slightly. He continued to fuss, tossing his head from side to side like a toddler being fed a food they didn't like. Which, to be fair, wood wasn't exactly delicious.
Emery 3 Orpheus 4.3/2.3 Bite 3
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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 14:19:13 GMT -6
Emery continued repeating the order however, and Orpheus refused to simply get up and walk away in lazy feline fashion. There had to be a breaking point between his redolence and the encroaching irritation however, and Emery was waiting for when it hit. Finally, Orpheus pulled his head back with a snarl and opened his jaws, grabbing onto the stick and scraping at it with his teeth before pulling away. It wasn't really a bite so much as an open-mouthed display of disgust, but Emery would take it. "Good bite, Orpheus." She said, grabbing a treat from her coat pocket as quickly as she could and tossing it in front of him. He looked at it with confusion for a second- what was she rewarding him for? But the wonder was gone as soon as it came and soon Orpheus was grabbing the treat, leaving Emery to examine his work on the branch.
Emery 4 Orpheus 4.4/2.4 Bite 4
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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 14:23:27 GMT -6
He hadn't done any damage to it yet- maybe chipped off the barest bit of lichen, but getting it in his mouth really didn't count as a bite. She'd have to keep working on it. In the meantime, Orpheus had finished his treat and was now looking at Emery expectantly, knowing that that couldn't have been all. "Orpheus. Bite." Emery said, offering him the stick. He looked at her blankly- not that he could look at her any other way, with the empty eye sockets he had- not comprehending the command quite yet. She pressed the stick against his teeth again insistently. She had the patience to repeat that whole process over again if need be, though she deeply hoped it wasn't necessary. She would have some new opinions about Orpheus's intelligence if so. It looked like she didn't need to worry however, as Orpheus soon moved against the stick.
Emery 5 Orpheus 5.0/2.5 Bite 5
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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 14:29:21 GMT -6
The estharne opened his jaws and wrapped them around the stick, gently gripping down on it. Well... he did technically bite it. She could improve from here. "...Good bite, Orpheus." Emery repeated, giving him another treat. He ate this one just as eagerly, his progress well earned, but Emery was eager to get back to it. The moment he popped his head up again, the stick was back in his face. "Orpheus. Bite." She said once more, hoping her increased speed would earn some eagerness on his end. Sure enough he moved his head more quickly this time, biting the stick with a bit more intensity... only to immediately back off again, looking at her quizzically. Emery was quick to reward the slight change in behavior, this time throwing him two treats. You would think Orpheus had won the lottery with how fast he moved to claim those treats, but Emery knew she was getting somewhere.
Emery 6 Orpheus 5.1/2.6 Bite 6
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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 14:35:25 GMT -6
She simply had to keep pushing him a little further at a time and surely he would get the picture. Right now he was indeed biting the stick as she wanted, but she needed it to be hard enough to deal damage if she ever wanted Orpheus to be able to defend himself. This was a good start, but they could push it further. Orpheus turned to watch the stick as it came closer to his face, his neck straining to meet it. The enthusiasm was appreciated. Sure it was to get more treats, but it was better to have him motivated by food than not motivated at all. "Orpheus, bite." Emery ordered and sure enough he lashed out again, quicker than before, gripping the stick harshly and even growling slightly, albeit in a playful tone. Emery watched as her arm was dragged down to his level, surprised at his sudden strength.
Emery 7 Orpheus 5.2/2.7 Bite 7
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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 14:40:21 GMT -6
He gave it a few good shakes and let go again. Emery praised her pet and tossed him a couple more treats, letting him snack on those while she investigated the branch again. Sure enough, it was starting to get pretty beaten up. Large gouges had been carved through the wood and most of the bark had been peeled off. The wood itself still seemed structurally sound however, and would likely continue to hold up against the beatings. For now. When she looked down again, Orpheus was already looking at her eagerly, his eye sockets perfectly in line with where her eyes would be behind her screen. "Alright, yes, message received." Emery said, reaching out to give him a pat on the head only for him to dodge the gesture. That wasn't what he was here for. "...Orpheus. Bite." She said, holding the stick out again instead, and Orpheus lunged forward again.
Emery 8 Orpheus 5.3/2.8 Bite 8
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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 14:42:48 GMT -6
He was far from gentle this time, and Emery had to brace the arm she was holding the branch with with her other arm to avoid it getting popped out of the socket. (Not that that was difficult for her, given the battered state of her joints, but it was something she wanted to avoid.) He growled loudly and she could hear the wood splintering and popping between his jaws. She tried to yank it out of his mouth again but he wouldn't let go, and Emery could hardly budge it with her own meagre strength. A few more seconds went by with the human woman giving weak little tugs, only for a loud crack to ring through the air and the tension finally released in one burst. Emery's arm flew up, her half of the stick clenched in it. Another half toppled to the ground at their feet, little splinters of wood surrounding it.
Emery 9 Orpheus 5.4/2.9 Bite 9
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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 14:45:37 GMT -6
Orpheus coughed a few times, spitting out the remaining splinters from his mouth. He had bitten down so hard that the branch had broken clean in half. "...Well." Emery said, looking idly at her half of the branch before tossing it over her shoulder. "Good bite, Orpheus." She said, offering him a treasure trove of treats. That would do it for the day, that was for sure. He happily munched on the treats while Emery mused over her next move. He had done fantastically in learning this particular trick, and she felt there was nothing left to cover there. But then, what else should she teach him today? ...She heard a strange sound, her mind grinding to a halt. She sat there for a moment, trying to figure out what it was... only to finally realize that Orpheus was purring. For once, Emery let herself relax. Orpheus was in a good mood- she might as well sit there and enjoy it too.
Emery 10 Orpheus 6.0/3.0 Bite 10
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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 14:50:08 GMT -6
Emery let herself rest for a bit- and Orpheus. Not that she really had a choice. Orpheus had gotten a bit of a workout with that last move, and had now rolled over onto her feet. He didn't seem interested in moving, and instead seemed to be doing his best to take a nap squarely on her shoes. She couldn't imagine that being comfortable for him, but perhaps making sure she was UNcomfortable was more the point for him. "Having fun down there?" She asked, perhaps a little bit amused. He simply let out a satisfied sigh in return. She sighed. "Can I have my feet back, at least?" She said, moving a foot slightly. He groaned, clearly disliking it. "Oh come on. Let go." She said again, pulling her foot even harder. To her surprise, that bothered him enough that he growled at her, a deep rumbling noise like thunder.
Emery 1 Orpheus 6.1/3.1 Growl 1
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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 14:55:50 GMT -6
Emery froze in fear for a moment. It wasn't that she was afraid of Orpheus necessarily, but it was a bit of an involuntary reaction for anyone met with the sound of a large predator. Quite intimidating, to say the least. And yet... that was something useful, wasn't it? Something she could use. An idea crept into her head, and she reached into her coat pocket for more treats. "Good growl, Orpheus." She said, dropping one down to him. Orpheus seemed surprised as the treat landed in his fluffy mane, but he wasn't arguing as he rolled over (off of her feet, thankfully) to eat it. She waited until he was done, and then stood up to try again. It didn't take too long to find another stick that she could use to bother him from a safe distance. He looked at her warily for a moment as she sized it up.
Emery 2 Orpheus 6.2/3.2 Growl 2
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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 21:44:57 GMT -6
Emery poked him with it. Gently, of course, but insistently. Orpheus flicked his ear a few times before swatting at it, knocking it away. He then looked at her- did he think he was getting a treat just for not putting up with something she was doing? Emery's screen dimmed a bit with disappointment. That wasn't what she was trying to teach him. But she was sure she could get him to do it again with just a bit more bothering. Sure enough, the next time she went in with the stick, he growled at her again before it even touched him. Perfect. "Good growl, Orpheus." She said, and tossed him another treat. He happily grabbed it out of the air, and Emery swung the stick up onto her shoulder. Hopefully she wouldn't have to use it again, and he would understand what he needed to do on his own after this.
Emery 3 Orpheus 6.3/3.3 Growl 3
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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 21:48:03 GMT -6
When he was done eating, Emery gave the command. "Orpheus, growl." He looked at her blankly for a moment- then at the stick on her shoulder. She didn't move it towards him- not yet. She was still hoping he'd figure it out. "Growl!" She said, more insistently. Finally, after an achingly long time of consideration (that was likely only a few seconds), Orpheus opened his jaws. A quiet growl came out, as if he was hesitant and unsure of what it was he was supposed to be doing. Still, that was exactly what Emery needed. She gave him another brief note of praise and threw him two treats this time, for a job especially well done. As he ate, she tossed away the stick for good. He probably wouldn't need it now- she just had to strengthen the behavior that was already here. By the time she looked back, Orpheus was already done eating.
Emery 4 Orpheus 6.4/3.4 Growl 4
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Post by Emery on Oct 13, 2023 21:54:44 GMT -6
"Orpheus. Growl." She ordered again, and this time he chose to perform to the fullest. Emery had to step back at the noise- it sounded like something out of a nightmare. Most estharne sounded like, well, wildcats, their voices intimidating but natural, striking some primal chord in the soul. Orpheus sounded like... something out of a movie, to be honest. There was something in his voice like leaves rustling in trees, like the encroaching darkness of night. She liked it. It was stunning! Intimidating! Exactly what she needed! "Well done, Orpheus." She said, a rare note of genuine warmth in her voice. She didn't try petting him again- neither of them seemed to like that- but she did send a cascade of treats down before him, which he was happy to accept. His training was going well, from her perspective. And from his, well. He was certainly well paid, that was for sure.
Emery 5 Orpheus 7.0/3.5 Growl 5
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