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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 15, 2023 12:18:24 GMT -6
"I will show you--" Zenjesi was beginning, when they heard another plant-based cacophony of crashing from behind them. Out of instinct, they ducked and covered their head. It proved that was not far from the proper reaction, as Lywren had leaped up and out of the tangle of branches. She came down again with an unexpected amount of grace, breaking her landing with the plant life. Zenjesi winced at the sound, and the bit of movement they could see between the leaves. She bounded through the garden, trampling everything in her path. As Zenjesi emerged onto the path on hands and knees, Lywren was just shaking herself off, bits of plant matter scattering from her scaly back. One vine fragment was snagged around one of her horns. Though the satyr was wounded by the thought of the potential damage she had done to the garden, it seemed she needed help removing the vine. This was an opportunity.
Zenjesi: 0.75 Lywren: 3.0 / 3.0
Fall: 15
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Post by Silver on Oct 24, 2023 19:15:48 GMT -6
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Post by Zenjesi on Nov 11, 2023 19:27:33 GMT -6
Zenjesi had been overwhelmed. Attempting to tame and befriend a Rakai and also navigate their wild new garden plot was impossible and unrealistic. Besides, they had needed to leave to show Lywren in the contest hall. It was not long after that they had returned, this time with a much more agreeable companion: Spectral. He was bounding along beside them, happy as could be to be back in the open air as well after their misadventure in the mines. Zenjesi offered him a smile; his optimism was contagious. "We are close," they assured him. Their plot should be right -- They froze. It was as overgrown as they had left it, but... it was rustling, the plants shaking as something was rooting around under their cover.
Spectral detected the satyr's hesitance and his hackles began to raise in their defense. They did not dare discourage him, in case his senses had detected some trace they had not.
Zenjesi: 0.8 Spectral: 9.2, 18.4
Fall: 16
(Taming: 1)
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Post by Zenjesi on Nov 12, 2023 22:17:01 GMT -6
Instead, they began to carefully approach, doing their utmost to keep their hoof strikes light on the path. What (or who) could it be? If there was anything of substantial value within the garden, it should have been scavenged before, when it had been left unclaimed. Spectral crept ahead of Zenjesi, ears perked, tail doubled in volume. They had reached the edge of the plot now.
The satyr stooped, leaning forward, trying to peer between the growth to spy what was causing the disruption. All they could spy was more sticks, but -- no! One of them moved. It was not a stick at all, but a carefully camouflaged... limb? Now their interest was piqued. Who are you? they wondered silently, creeping along on their hooves and fingertips to try and get a better vantage point. Yes! Here was a small line of sight. It was some sort of large insectoid beast that was currently wrestling with an old vine.
Zenjesi: 0.85 Spectral: 9.4, 18.8
Fall: 17
(Taming: 2)
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Post by Zenjesi on Nov 12, 2023 22:24:51 GMT -6
It was attempting to pry free some sort of bright fruit from the vine's clutches. This made Zenjesi flinch forward reflexively, thinking first of the spoils of a garden they had not been able to collect and study. But then they caught themselves; could this insect not also be an interesting find?
They did not have a chance to consider it further. As Zenjesi had made their false start, Spectral had acted, rushing forward and barking at the intruder. His tail stood tall as he charged ahead into the brush. "No, Spectral!" Zenjesi tried to stop him, but their whisper could not be heard over the noise of the pup crashing through the plants. Quickly standing to their full height, Zenjesi did their best to pinpoint from the waving leaves where he was within the mass. The houluh had never been aggressive before. They could only guess how this circumstance would play out...
Zenjesi: 0.9 Spectral: 9.6, 19.2
Fall: 18
(Taming: 3)
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Post by Zenjesi on Nov 12, 2023 22:37:54 GMT -6
Then the rustling began to grow louder. The plants nearer Zenjesi began to wave. And suddenly, the insect burst forth, inches from the satyr, rushing onto the path on its stick-like hind legs. It was still holding one of the fruits (something purple?) but now it was unintentionally pinned between Zenjesi and their hound. Zenjesi held their hands up instinctively, but they had no more time to react before Spectral emerged as well, planting his paws wide and barking furiously at the insect.
"Spectral," Zenjesi tried to whisper, beginning to attempt to mediate, but the tides suddenly turned once again. Unexpectedly, the insect dropped the fruit, apparently deciding there was better loot to be had. In a flash, it had snatched up the pup instead. Letting out a panicked hiss, Zenjesi lunged forward, wrangling the insect in return. A wild tussle followed, most of which was a blur to Zenjesi.
Zenjesi: 0.95 Spectral: 9.8, 19.6
Fall: 19
(Taming: 4)
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Post by Zenjesi on Nov 12, 2023 22:53:20 GMT -6
Spectral yapped and whined, at one point during the skirmish they were stabbed with the spiny sticks attached to the insect, and finally, with Spectral's aid, the satyr was able to free the writhing houluh from the insect's grasping hands. He calmed down quickly as Zenjesi enveloped him in their arms, but it seemed the insect was somehow undeterred by this. It cocked its head, chittered, clacked its mandibles and took a step closer. "He is mine," Zenjesi tried to argue, but it was not paying Zenjesi any mind. What did an insect even want with him anyway?
That question was not going to be answered here, Zenjesi decided. They hunched forward, shielding Spectral with their body, and scurried off at a trot towards their kennel. Perhaps they would garden a different day, a different time... The insect could have the fruit! They spared a glance up, and there it was, following along, antennae twitching. ... Or not.
Zenjesi: 1.0 -- logged! Spectral: 10.0, 20.0
Fall: 20
(Taming: 5 - attempt done!)
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Post by Silver on Nov 19, 2023 4:38:46 GMT -6
Don't slip as you try to run away from the horrible Koguma! [You've successfully tamed the creature... or it tamed you, perhaps.]
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 23, 2023 9:13:28 GMT -6
It was a Koguma. Zenjesi had learned this after it followed them the entire trip back to the kennel (which, incidentally, was a faster trip than ever before). They finally resorted to tricking it into a kennel, discovering that evidently a lock was really the only way to keep its insectoid hands off of their houluh. Since then, they had grown quite busy with other tasks and had not had the time to bring Spectral back out to the gardens as they had promised. Now, as they were finally making their way to the plot once again, houluh by their side, it had grown quite a bit colder, though there was no snow yet covering the ground. In most ways, this season and temperature were not the ideal ones for gardening, but this was what they were left with. From what they had learned, some harvests would only come during this time of year anyway.
Zenjesi: 0.05 Spectral: 10.2, 20.4
Winter: 1
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 26, 2023 19:59:25 GMT -6
Thus, they were not discouraged, just a little ashamed. Spectral, however, was none the wiser. Or if he was, he was not conveying it. Just as he had done the first time, Spectral hopped along a few paces ahead of the satyr, tail wagging with delight. The menagerie of fresh scents and new scenery seemed to have completely enraptured him. It was only as they rounded the bend and came into sight of Zenjesi's plot that he seemed to recognize where they were. His hops slowed, then stopped. His ears perked and his tail drooped as he gave the overgrown garden a wary look. The satyr stooped and petted him. His was an understandable reaction. They did not particularly enjoy the memory of fighting for possession of the houluh either, and they had not been the one directly victimized. "It is alright," they whispered to him, and were relieved to see a small wag of his tail return.
Zenjesi: 0.1 Spectral: 10.4, 20.8
Winter: 2
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 26, 2023 20:11:14 GMT -6
Though perhaps that was presumptive. As they petted him, they cast a quick, surveying look over the garden. No inexplicable rustling this time... no clicking sounds, or antennae visible through the greenery. Unless a particularly stealthy koguma was foraging here today, the two of them should be safe. They gave him a small nod, rustling his ears once before straightening up. Spectral needed no further reassurance, as he leaped ahead towards the garden with renewed vigor. The satyr watched as he lowered his nose to the dirt around the point of the skirmish, though they expected their scents had long since faded. They were mere steps behind. Taking position beside their houluh, Zenjesi lowered their bag carefully to the dirt. They had brought the same solid plant food that they had all along (but had yet to have the chance to utilize) as well as some freshly purchased liquid fertilizer.
Zenjesi: 0.15 Spectral: 10.6, 21.2
Winter: 3
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 26, 2023 20:26:54 GMT -6
Still, before they had a chance to plant anything new, or even to encourage existent plants to thrive, they needed to identify what was already present. Spectral was pleased with the lack of koguma scent, and so he trotted up to the edge of the jungle-like plot. He spared a glance to Zenjesi, as if looking for permission. They gave him another nod and a small hand wave forward. Despite their adventures together, they had never formally trained Spectral. Still, he had always been quite attentive to them, and eager to please, which meant he had come to understand some of the satyr's cues all the same. With the gestures acknowledged, he ducked his head and sniffed his way inside. They could trust him to behave himself more than they could Lywren. Now they could focus. The satyr had acquired some gardening knowledge from their days before the City, and suspected it would be useful today.
Zenjesi: 0.2 Spectral: 10.8, 21.6
Winter: 4
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Post by Zenjesi on Jan 8, 2024 21:02:21 GMT -6
Generally speaking, they were able to identify both specifically edible and inedible plant growth. More important than either of those, they had some knowledge of which plants were inherently harmful to even make physical contact with. A book could always be consulted before consuming anything later, but it would slow them down far too much to be turning pages while trying to sift through this overgrown mass. And so, they began to work. Their hands were bare, as they preferred to better feel what they were doing and walk away with their hands smelling of fresh earth. Gloves would be saved for thorns and tools.
Zenjesi picked their way through, careful not to tread on anything living, turning leaves over, sniffing at fruits... It was only after they released a particularly sticky plant that it occurred to them that they were no longer at home. Who was to say the Lab plants agreed with their knowledge?
Zenjesi: 0.25 Spectral: 11.0, 22.0
Winter: 5
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Feb 5, 2024 15:42:15 GMT -6
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