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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 14, 2024 14:14:16 GMT -6
The next trick she wanted was a relatively simple one. Lincoln had already learned to smack things with his tail and swipe with his claws- now she needed him to learn to jab with his tail instead of swiping with it, preferably while it was wreathed in electricity. "Lincoln, charge up!" She said, giving him a command he already knew- to charge himself up with electricity. At least this way his jabs would be full of electrical power to start with. Fiera had set them up in a part of the public park designed for people to train their pets. As a result, there was a healthy population of training dummies around them, and Fiera picked one that was already scorched and full of holes for him to work his wrath on on. From there, Fiera picked up his tail and even through her gloves she could feel the hairs on her arm prickling up.
Fiera 1
Lincoln 32.1/34.1
Electric Spear 1
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 14, 2024 14:23:03 GMT -6
Then, she jabbed it towards the training dummy, plunging it into its torso. The electricity sparkled and flared off of the edge of his tail as it went in, and Fiera could smell something burning. Nasty- but effective, like a scorpion made of lightning. She imagined it would give him some mid-range damage in a fight too, relying neither on his close limbs but not needing to fire off a bolt of lightning across the room either. Either way, Fiera reacted with joy at the sight of the dummy, as if Lincoln had done something very clever all on his own. "Wow! Good spear, Lincoln!" Fiera said, setting up the command word and giving the lamadidron a handful of pennies for his trouble. He eagerly took them from her palm but glanced back at the training dummy, no doubt wondering what exactly it was he just did to impress her.
Fiera 2
Lincoln 32.2/34.2
Electric Spear 2
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 14, 2024 14:27:39 GMT -6
When he was done eating, Fiera gestured at the dummy again. "Go on Lincoln! Spear!" She said, trying to get him to get the picture. He looked at her, and then at his tail. A few weak sparks came off of it. Fiera did her best to keep encouraging him. "That's it! Spear! Spear!" She said, as if the word meant anything to him. Soon the crystal on his tail was glowing with electricity again, and he moved to use it... but only weakly dragged it across the dummy, with most of the electricity remaining in the crystal, what little he used simply sparking off the surface of its' burlap skin. "Hmm! Well. That was... good spear!" Fiera said, offering him less pennies than before. She would move the amount of treats given up when he performed a bit better. He accepted the lesser treat a little grumpily, but Fiera knew that once he started on something he generally didn't stop until he understood it.
Fiera 3
Lincoln 32.3/34.3
Electric Spear 3
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 14, 2024 14:34:27 GMT -6
Now wanting more treats, Lincoln turned back to the dummy with renewed vigor. "Let's try it again, Lincoln! Spear!" Fiera said, pointing firmly at the dummy. He got into a much better stance this time, hunkering down while waving his tail above his head ominously, the tip crackling with electricity. Then he jabbed it forwards, striking against the dummy with much more force but not plunging in all the way. "Much better, Lincoln!" Fiera said, looking happily at the shallow hole he poked while it smoked. "Good spear!" She said, and gave him another fistful of coins. He accepted them, but his eyes were still on the dummy. He clearly had an idea of what he wanted to do now, and Fiera wasn't about to get in his way. She stepped back and gestured for him to step right up. "Go on Lincoln, spear!" She said, keeping her fingers crossed for him.
Fiera 4
Lincoln 32.4/34.4
Electric Spear 4
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jul 14, 2024 14:37:16 GMT -6
Sure enough, his tail tip sparked with a new dose of electricity and he stabbed it forward, finally figuring out a good angle to strike from. His body rumbled like thunder as he jabbed it forward, finally sinking it into the burlap and straw construct properly. Fiera winced as electricity flashed from the strike, leaving swirling afterimages in her eyes. When he pulled it back out, the dummy was heavily damaged, with charred lightning-like "scars" emanating out from the hole he had just stabbed in it. It was perfect. "Great job, Lincoln!" Fiera said, giving him a happy scratch behind the ears. He wasn't good at much else other than lightning, but damn if he didn't do what he did well. With that out of the way, Fiera was out of things she wanted to train him today. They could go home knowing their training session was a job well done.
Fiera 5
Lincoln 33.0/35.0
Electric Spear 5
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 14, 2024 20:28:13 GMT -6
 It was time for another round of training with Orpheus- though Fiera admittedly wasn’t looking forward to it today. She needed to teach him some tricks related to flying… while in the air. On his back. Things like dives, barrel rolls… it was probably going to be unpleasant. She had already gotten all dressed up in her riding gear and had squared away a spot on the training grounds for him to take off and land on, but… she was still working up the bravery to actually. Y’know. Do it. “Maybe we can do something more simple first.” She said, shoving her hands in her pockets. She had plenty of treats today- big chunks of frozen meat, perfect for an alurook. Surely she could spare some time on more frivolous tricks first until she felt ready. Plus, the more treats she burned now, the lighter the load he’d have to carry later. Fiera 6 Orpheus 31.1/31.1 Catch 1 |
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 14, 2024 20:28:33 GMT -6
She could think of at least one thing that might be useful- teaching him to catch objects she threw to him. Picking up a stick off the ground, she walked up to Orpheus. Then, she pressed the stick against his beak. He seemed uncomfortable with it, fluffing up his feathers and narrowing his eyes to pinholes. “It’s ok! Catch!” Fiera said, pushing it a little bit harder until he finally opened up his beak and took it. He looked at her, a little bit irritated, until she pulled out a treat, at which point his eyes widened excitedly. “Good job, Orpheus! Good catch!” She said, and tossed it to him. Orpheus immediately let the stick drop and reached out to grab the meat in his beak… but it missed and flopped to the ground. It didn’t stop him however, and he quickly leaned down to grab it, scarfing it down without even tasting it, as birds of prey were wont to do.
Fiera 7
Orpheus 31.2/31.2
Catch 2
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 15, 2024 6:47:49 GMT -6
Well, it didn't matter. Fiera was sure he’d learn how to catch things- including his treats- more easily soon enough. Once Orpheus was done eating, Fiera picked up the stick again. "Catch, Orpheus." She said, and pressed it against his beak again. He still wasn't... pleased to be given a stick, but the alurook accepted it a bit more readily. "Good catch, Orpheus!" She continued, and took the stick back before offering him another treat. They did this back and forth until Orpheus took the stick- among other objects she handed him, just to keep things interesting- readily. Once she was sure he'd accept any object she offered him, she backed up a little bit, no longer standing right in front of him. It was time to up the difficulty a little bit- albeit from just three feet away. She held up the stick again. "Are you ready, Orpheus?" She asked.
Fiera 8
Orpheus 31.3/31.3
Catch 3
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 15, 2024 6:51:56 GMT -6
The alurook let out a clicking tone that she assumed was a sign of assent. "Alrighty then- catch!" She said, and tossed him the stick. It didn't have to go far- just a foot or two, which wasn't much at all in comparison to the massive size of the alurook. He still wasn't very good at it though- he saw it coming, but the alurook still fumbled at the stick as it flew towards him, clattering against his beak briefly as he chomped at it before it clattered to the ground. They both stared at it blankly. "Ok, well... let's try that again." Fiera said, picking the stick up. Orpheus gave a plaintive hiss-whine, but Fiera wasn't having it. "Don't give me that! You didn't catch it! You'll get a treat when you actually manage to grab it!" She said, adding a finger-wag just to drive the point home to the bird.
Fiera 9
Orpheus 31.4/31.4
Catch 4
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 15, 2024 7:00:10 GMT -6
She picked up the stick again. "Ready?" She asked. Orpheus shuffled his legs out a bit wider, getting himself closer to the ground in an attempt to "get into position". "Alright, sounds good. Catch, Orpheus!" Fiera said, and tossed him the stick. He lunged out with his beak. Even though the stick was only a few feet awayf rom his beak to start with, it had probably only flown a couple of inches before he grabbed it out of midair. It wasn't... QUITE what Fiera wanted, but the humanish had to admit it was a good start. "Ok! Okay then!" Fiera said, rifling around in her bag. "Good catch, Orpheus!" She said, and the alurook's mood rapidly improved- his feathers smoothed down, he sat up a little bit straighter. Then Fiera threw him the meat- and he managed to catch it just as messily. Her ear twitched a bit, but she knew they'd get there eventually.
Fiera 10
Orpheus 32.0/32.0
Catch 5
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 15, 2024 20:22:04 GMT -6
She kept practicing with the stick. He managed to catch it even better the next time she threw it from so close, but he WAS only reaching out such that it flew a couple inches at a time. That wasn't really "catching" it so much as a... slightly delayed hand off. They could do at least a little bit better. Once Fiera was sure Orpheus had at least that down, she backed up another foot or so. Orpheus moved to follow her, but the humanish held up a finger. "Stay, Orpheus." She said, using a command that he damn well knew the meaning of. He squeaked grumpily but settled back down again, his feathers raised slightly. "Good job. Now, catch!" She said, and tossed him the stick once more. This time it flew at least a foot or two between Fiera and Orpheus (with his neck stretched out to the limit, of course.)
Fiera 1
Orpheus 32.1/32.1
Catch 6
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 15, 2024 20:26:52 GMT -6
It clattered against his beak... and onto the ground. Fiera sighed, and walked over to grab it. It looked like they still had more practicing to do. Before she could though, Orpheus reached out and grabbed it first, looking at her with his wide, dinner plate sized eyes. Fiera chuckled and took the stick from him. It was clear that he at least understood what she wanted from him. He knew the command by this point, and was at least trying- it was just his execution that needed some work. "Let's give that another go, eh?" Fiera said casually, returning to her spot a few feet away. Orpheus made a low chirping noise and Fiera wound up with the stick again. "Ready, and- catch!" She said, letting it fly. This time Orpheus tracked it a bit more carefully with his head and lunged forward, his beak open wide in preparation.
Fiera 2
Orpheus 32.2/32.2
Catch 7
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 15, 2024 20:34:15 GMT -6
To Fiera's surprise, he actually managed to catch it this time! She stood there in shock for a moment as he stared at her expectantly, stick in mouth. She shook her head rapdily, clearing her thoughts. "Good catch, Orpheus!" She finally managed to say, and threw him a chunk of meat for the first time in what felt like forever. Orpheus instantly dropped the stick now that he had gotten what he wanted. She didn't expect anything different from him- he WAS just an animal after all, albeit a huge and intimidating one. As he ate, Fiera walked back over and picked up the stick. It felt like they were finally getting somewhere, though the stick was admittedly starting to show some signs of damage. Orpheus had a sharp beak, and as a result the bark on the stick had been almost entirely peeled off, with deep gashes in the wood.
Fiera 3
Orpheus 32.3/32.3
Catch 8
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 15, 2024 20:52:11 GMT -6
Still, Fiera had the feeling they wouldn't be doing this for too much longer, so the condition of the stick ultimately didn't matter. "Let's go Orpheus, just a little bit more!" She encouraged as she walked backwards even more. Now she stood about ten feet from the alurook- enough that her throwing the stick felt like an actual "throw" instead of... handing it to him over a slight distance. Orpheus didn't move to get closer to her, so Fiera wound up for another throw. "Okay, catch!" She said, and tossed the stick. He tracked it with his eyes, reached out- and grabbed it! Just barely, mind you- it toppled over the top of his beak, but managed to loop around into his jaws instead. "Yes! Perfect catch, Orpheus!" Fiera said, clapping her hands. She reached into her hip pouch and tossed him another chunk of meat- and of course THAT he managed to catch perfectly.
Fiera 4
Orpheus 32.4/32.4
Catch 9
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 15, 2024 20:55:06 GMT -6
They tried a few more times after that. Fiera switched things up a bit. She'd get a bit closer or a bit further away, letting Orpheus get used to different angles of approach the the stick. She tried other items too, like rocks or even her bag once. The different weights and shapes threw him off briefly but eventually he managed to get the hang of it. Finally Fiera pulled back as far as she thought she could even THROW the stick and lobbed it at him- he caught it perfectly. Fiera huffed with satisfaction at the sight of that, and gave him even more chunks of meat. It was a pretty simple trick, but she couldn't say he didn't have it down pat by now. When he put his mind to it, Orpheus was pretty good at learning. Now all Fiera had to do was find opportunities for him to apply that knowledge.
Fiera 5
Orpheus 33.0/33.0
Catch 10
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