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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:31:12 GMT -6
A tinny growl belied her fear in the wake of all the action. "Maple," Lethalia said flatly, repeating the pup's name again before getting her to slow down enough to think and look up at her owner. In spite of the commotion, Vay lost interest and ambled inside, leaving only Foggy and her owner standing there waiting out Maple's fit. "Y'okie now?" she crooned, kneeling nearby while Foggy remained glued to her hip. Leaning forward and sniffing Maple, the grey pup let out her own sad whine in response to her cries. Was her friend really badly hurt? Though she reached with deliberate fingers, Maple still bared her teeth around the leather and snarled as she felt the slight tug of the leash wrapped around her leg. "Hey, no," Lethalia rumbled, snatching her hands away. Maple's sneer fell and her tail gave a worried twitch, giving pause just long enough to drop the leash from her jaws to give it slack. The loop that snatched her paw fell away without the tension, and she stumbled to her feet with a sideways-wagging tail at the realization she hadn't been felled by that monster. Her eyes went right back to where Vay had been, because holy shit she almost died to that thing! hardy|6
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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:31:41 GMT -6
Even without the hen anywhere in sight, the red pup was vastly concerned about where the vicious beast could have gotten off to. Usually Foggy didn't concern herself too much about Maple's nerves, but for some reason she decided to pick up on the idea this red hen was something to be feared. Who knew, maybe she was missing something and Maple actually had the right idea in being a worry wart - for once. Even though just days ago, Lethalia could have sworn her hooded puppy would harass an adult hen to no avail if she was given the opportunity. (At least she could run circles around one if she was that stupid, but still.) It was odd to see Maple put her on such edge. "Okay then," Lethalia started, taking in the pups in front of her. Maple was only barely recovered, keeping a sharp eye on the house should the hen make another appearance and shaking where she stood. Though she fared better, Foggy had been set on nerves and her usual happy high tail drooped unless her friend looked her way and she gave an encouraging wag. "Better tomorrow, girls," she concluded. It wasn't a stellar introduction, but tomorrow would hopefully bring about a better try. hardy|7
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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:32:03 GMT -6
After a less than great start, Lethalia hoped to get the pups off on a better foot this time. The morning still had a crisp bite to it when she summoned the houluh pups for a walk around the property, the sun still low and weak but enough for the grasses to glimmer with dew instead of frost. By the time they'd made their way entirely around the farm, the puppies had relaxed with rolling tongues and easily trotting by their owner's side. As the front yard approached the houluh grew more unsettled, twisting on their leashes and keeping keen eyes on the wide-open front door. If only they knew how many sarane 'dens' they'd walked by while the beasts were still sleeping! They didn't have to get any closer, but they did need to keep calm. "Foggy, Maple, c'mere," she chimed, stroking both of the concerned faces that landed in her palms. "Settl'down, girls, okay? No big beastie out fo'ya yet." Once they both sat down on their own accord, Lethalia clicked and gave them both a treat. She hadn't used a clicker very extensively yet; hopefully she didn't bungle it. Sounded like it was all down to timing, but that could be easy to slip up. at ease|1
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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:33:17 GMT -6
If they didn't know exactly what they were getting treats for and they were staying calm anyway, that worked just fine for now. Lethalia had long decided that working against Maple's nature would only end in the ruin of them both. The pup wasn't brave, and she didn't have to be! It was just. At this point, it was hard to fathom even taking Maple in front of a meager crowd to prove her worth. A hard enough sell for a stalwart pup to go into an arena with strange noises and onlookers, but it had to be an entirely different experience with a squirrely one. Lethalia was hoping for was getting the pup more... capable of dealing with everyday life on a farm, at least. Hopefully she could learn how to actually relax as she got older and got some different experiences in to ease her worries about the world. In Foggy's case - well, maybe teaching her a cue to calm down on would be to her benefit. Further distracting the puppies from the 'doom' of the door, Lethalia took a towel hanging on the gate to dry off both puppies. As expected, they were enveloped into the towel playfully growling as they were fluffed dry. at ease|2
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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:33:33 GMT -6
Both got a click and treat while they were so enraptured with the towel to think about anything else. Wrestling with the satyr and one another over the towel became a good distraction, but somewhere along in their game Maple stood and stared off into the house, her intensity getting Foggy to join in. "Hey, guys," Lethalia beckoned their attention away from the house, clapping to get them to look her way. "Nothin' there t'day, it's safe," she reassured them, for all it mattered to their ears. Talking with them and garnering their attention was enough to make them both forget about it for only a moment, in spite of her praises when they turned and paid the doorway no mind. Maple was unable to shake the knowing that the doorway was the threshold of a beast, too concerned with the knowing to really let her guard down out here. It could come out and get them at any moment! [ Of course she was worried about it coming back out when she had her back turned, there was no way to just ignore the fact! When the red pup was on edge, that meant Foggy was also on high alert. Maple lv|8 ly|12 Foggy lv|16 ly|32 at ease|3
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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:33:51 GMT -6
Usually the grey wouldn't heed the other's warnings quite so much, but they had seen a big one there yesterday. It hadn't seemed dangerous, but Maple could know something she didn't! Lethalia had expected to be in for a long morning, and upon one of the fenceposts she'd planted a metal lunchbox with breakfast. And a thermos of coffee next to it, obviously. Ivaylo wouldn't bother waking up until the sun was much higher in the sky, hours from now. The houluh were winding themselves up over nothing; even if Vay was out here, a puppy would be far too high effort to catch for the meal for an adult hen. Hatchlings - them, she'd keep far away from adult dogs and much further from puppies. Good luck convincing the houluh that there was no beast coming out of the cave. Lethalia hopped up on the top fencepost, leash handles dangling from her wrist in case one of them got spooked. But for the time being, she'd indulge in the nice not-quite-spring morning because she had an excuse to. Usually, she'd be deep in chores, and those would still come later. While she could though, some decent cold food and fairly hot coffee, while just waiting out some puppies to chill? at ease|4
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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:34:06 GMT -6
Nothing about that sounded like a bad time, especially because the decided necessity of the exercise gave her the perfect excuse to procrastinate on the real work to be done about the farm. There was a chance she ought to consider hired help, with how much the farm was running her lately. Seldom did she take the chance too lay around and start the morning slowly like this, for the place would slowly become undone if she slacked every day. It would be nice to going back to training part time, rather than on the fringes where she could. Perhaps the farm did make enough to justify it, but that wasn't a line of thought she was ready for. Turning instead to simpler things, Lethalia sipped on her coffee while she watched the puppies pace at the fence line, doing antsy circles when they hit the end of their tether. Eyes meandering off to the far paddocks, she could see Mavelle hanging her neck over the fence just past the house trying to sight what her owner was up to, if she was getting ready to be doing anything today. Leth kissed at and telegraphed her calm emotions to the mare best she could. at ease|5
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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:34:23 GMT -6
Thinking mostly to herself, Lethalia still tried the thought Staying home today, my love. Relax, and all the comfort of a day at home. Not as if she could talk directly to the mare without a ribbon, but her intent carried on enough for the mare to shake her head and dismiss her owner's antics. Vidarr went out flying more often than not, but Lethalia still frequently used the mare for more delicate cargo like wee ones who ought not be in the sky. Down at her hooves, Lethalia smiled to see the houluhs' attentions had been directed exactly where she'd been looking, watching Mavelle return to the herd too. Smart buggers. She'd not had the experience of critters who were hyper aware of where their owner's attention landed, to the point of deeply caring what humans were up to. Disrupted enough the pups sniffed the ground and meandered around one another; the satyr clicked and gave them more treats when the pups sat down heavily, little noses sampling the air. Might not have an interest in her coffee or inert metal box, but when she opened it for the cured meats and hard cheeses that was temptingly aromatic enough for the pups to pick up on. at ease|6
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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:34:47 GMT -6
"Find somethin' better'n keepin track o'that hen, huh?" she posed to the houluh, who wiggled excitedly in place when she acknowledged them. Lethalia looked from side to side, as if she'd get caught feeding the puppies who were begging out of her own breakfast. Not to be encouraging their bad behavior, but this was a bit of a special case, wasn't it? They had utterly turned their backs on the house, focus back on their owner with soft wagging and floppy ears that didn't keep flickering back to the door. "Good settle, girls!" she praised with a click, offering them both out half of the hardboiled egg. Out of everything, it was the one thing she felt the least guilty giving them. Better than bread or cured meat, certainly. It would be her own fault if they turned into beggars. The foreign food was taken more gingerly by Foggy than her friend; the grey pup took the strange food delicately with as few teeth as possible, dropping it once due to the unexpected texture. She licked at it in the grass, pawed at the thing to turn it over, looking over her shoulder to see maybe her friend got something better. at ease|7
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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:35:05 GMT -6
Maple's half was already disappeared, nosing the ground to ensure she didn't miss any yolk crumbles. She'd always been a more food oriented dog from the start, it didn't shock Leth much. Perhaps the only thing the red pup didn't fret over was food. It made Foggy contemplate hers for a while longer, before half-heartedly chewing on the yolk before leaving it for the other pup to gobble up. Foggy managed to look upset still, as if Maple had picked up something more palatable than she'd been given. No fair. Both looked back to their owner instead of the door, and for now that was good enough for Lethalia. The longer she ignored their begging stares, the pups eventually lost interest in wheedling more food out of her. They both cast fruitive looks at the door, relaxing quickly when there was no hen in sight. Both of them got a click and resat for that, able to look at the door without... losing their minds. Wanting to end on a good note, Lethalia actually took the puppies away before Vay made her appearance. Better to leave off on both the girls being relaxed and unconcerned, in hopes she might see more of the same next time. Maple lv|9 ly|14 Foggy lv|17 ly|34 at ease|8
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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:35:25 GMT -6
Only barely containing herself from hanging out in the yard with the pups more after her chores, Lethalia decided to let the pups sleep on their lesson in hopes of solidifying it. The next morning found the pups out in front of the house again, a little later than they had yesterday. This time, it only took Lethalia leaning against a fencepost to sip her coffee, mumbling a 'settle'dn' into her mug. To her surprise both sets of eyes landed on her, almost looking disappointed in that sad doggie way. But they snuffled out spots on the grass and lounged upon it, waiting for their owner to be done with being boring. She couldn't praise them too much without getting the pups active again, but clicked the keychain again and told them how good they were doing. Now, that was one part down if they actually had a sort of cue to calm the fuck down. Gods knew both pups needed the 'off' switch installed, hopefully it would be of use. Her hope was that starting out with calmer dogs, instead of letting them get all keyed up on what was coming, would make this desensitizing of them easier. Especially on poor Maple; Lethalia almost felt bad disrupting the houluh when she was actually at a rest for once in her life. at ease|8 hardy|8
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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:36:11 GMT -6
Lethalia had been able to shrug off her jacket in the noon sun, but the still-dormant spring didn't warm her skin much. It would be enough to convince Vay out here though! Soon as her focus shifted to the front door - open like always - the pups stirred and got to their feet, worried glances cast at the door. "Ookay guys, settle," she told them. It was the hope that if they started out calm, this was going to be a lot easier. Clearly they didn't want to, but the puppies milled around a few seconds longer before circling and finding themselves a cozy spot on the grass. Of course they were supposed to have quite better smell than (most) humanoids, just like (most) creatures did. Perhaps they could suss out Ivaylo's scent already with the door open, but all the more reason to not let them get wobbly over predator scent. Leth gave a short whistle, calling the hen's name like she usually did coming back to the house after chores. Hens were easier by a long shot, but Lethalia had found them fickle like cats. Ivaylo undoubtedly recognized her name, but it was a wash whether or not she'd respond to it. at ease|9 hardy|9
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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:36:29 GMT -6
"Settle," she soothed again, Foggy's head turning to the door and Maple making to spring up at her owner's voice. "All th'way. Settle down," she told them once more, patting the grass besides herself as she sat herself down cross-legged along with them on the ground. Setting the example seemed to help ease their discomfort, two tails set to wagging now that the satyr had come down to the houluh's level. Just when she started wondering about it, Lethalia glanced up to see Vay emerging from the house. The red simply gleamed in the sun, scales catching the sun in a way that her clay-road-red pallette wouldn't have led her to believe. "See, s'okay ou'here," she quickly said to the pups, looking down before she could possibly tip them off to Vay's presence. "G'girls, settlin' down wit'me," Lethalia kept up, feeding off a few treats as she spoke. Maple was always excited for food and a needed distraction for her, while Foggy only took the treats because her friend did and she could not miss out on something. Majority of those treats ended up being mashed bits in the grass. Ah well, if it was enough of a reward to gum at some treats, then she could have at it. at ease|10 hardy|10
Ivaylo is not leveling
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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:37:26 GMT -6
Foggy got rather rightfully concerned about a snort from some distance away; Lethalia couldn't help it loop the leashes around her wrist and grab on as the houluh turned to look. She still hardly cared, and the other pup's nose was too busy looking for crumbs in the grass. Upon realizing Foggy had been staring at something, Maple was hurrying to see what her friend was focused on - that was the part that Lethalia had been worried about. Maple jolted and hopped to her toes, a single too high pitched to be menacing bark coming from the pup. "Okay - g'job, Maple! Y'showed her," Lethalia was quick to praise, surprised to find Maple turned her head away from the hen to even look at her. "C'mere, Maple, settle now that y'showed her," she beckoned. Though she looked like she was being pretty brave, Maple dove for her owner's side the moment the option came up. She was saved! She wagged her tail low and whined, giving another timid bark from behind the woman's back. "That's enough, settle 'down." With a last protest, the red pup slumped to the ground, big worried eyes still on the hen and not a relaxed muscle in her. at ease|11 hardy|11
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Post by Lethalia on Mar 10, 2021 23:37:38 GMT -6
"Good," good enough anyway, and Foggy could care so little about the hen that Leth wanted to give her a treat anyway, since her friend was getting so much attention. Maple was actually doing... better than expected, this time around. Foggy probably would've gotten over it quite a bit faster if it wasn't for Maple making her more worried over the hen than she normally would've been. If it were her alone, they would have been over Vay in an afternoon. Maple alone? It's not a given they would have gotten anywhere at all. Even if it wasn't actually relaxation in the face of the beast, the fact that the red one didn't go flying at the fist sight was a huge improvement. Hell, even barking at something was a huge leap for her; the satyr was actually proud beyond words of her nervous girl! For now though, she kept her hands to herself and just told Maple how good she was doing. She was definityely still frightened and skittish enough to nip, in this percieved danger. Still she was doing well enough Lethalia felt fine letting her 'suffer' just the slightest bit, and sit here a bit longer. She could manage it! Maple lv|10 ly|16 Foggy lv|18 ly|36 at ease|12 hardy|12
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