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Post by Nadia on Oct 14, 2020 17:40:11 GMT -6
"Oh, thank goodness!" Nadia went to her knees and threw her arms around the two pups, who didn't quite know what to make of a hug. Houluh didn't do hugs. Inky's nose snuffled at her ear, wet and cold, and Indie gave a curious yip. "Thank goodness you are okay! You frightened me half to death, you tyrants!" It was entirely her fault for taking her eye off of them. How long had it been? The change of environment was not a reliable measure - a day could cycle by in a blink in the mansion with its magic. She hoped it had only been an hour at most. They could've gotten into something bad, fallen down a hole, ingested poison, got trampled by an Equillion-- None of that mattered now she had them back, though! But they were leaving the pumpkin patch. Now. Something about it was making her drowsy and unreliable, and that wouldn't do if she wanted to take care of them properly. Inky whined in protest at having to leave behind his pumpkin, but could be persuaded with a treat. Indie was happy to come along and to have a treat, if the woman was so kindly offering. [28]
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Post by Nadia on Oct 14, 2020 17:45:09 GMT -6
The door still stood, looking like it was in the middle of the field, as it was want to do in the mansion. Nadia didn't hesitate to throw it open and step back into the hall... only, the hall wasn't there at all. Here they exited into the gardens behind the mansion, riddled with gnarled, twisted trees and cracked stonework. The paving slabs were rising up, creating a terrible trip hazard. The balgor fountain they had stumbled upon in the past looked ten times as eerie in the dilapidated surroundings. She was hesitant to go any further than she absolutely had to. But it was better than falling asleep on the job. Inky barked, his tail wagging, and set off towards the familiar fountain - all she could do was pray that he wouldn't relieve himself on it again. Indie followed suit at a slower pace, turning her head to look at Nadia every so often. Was she coming, or not? She supposed she better had, lest the pair get themselves into more mischief. So, trying to avoid spraining an ankle on the ruined path, she followed them along towards the fountain. The only way she could keep an eye on them was by going with them. [29]
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Post by Nadia on Oct 14, 2020 17:49:15 GMT -6
The statue in the centre was even spookier up close. The eyes seemed infinitely darker and deeper, in the low light, and one fang had been lost, smashed or broken off by a vandal. Nadia thought it a terrible shame. Even though the mansion would undoubtedly right itself and the stonework would be repaired by the time the new year rolled in, it was sad to see it in such a state. Someone had to care about those kinds of things, because goodness knew her houluh did not. Inky was scrambling over the low wall to get into the empty base of the fountain; his nose was glued to the stone as he made his way around, sniffing out whatever he could. Indie put her paws up onto the wall, but did not follow - she was fine outside, without getting her paws wet or dirty. There was only a little water still inside, but it was enough to deter her. Nadia sat herself down on the edge and sighed. The weight of the rucksack was heavy on her shoulders; once again, she took the opportunity to shuck it and dump it at her feet for a rest. She ached terribly. [30]
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Post by Nadia on Oct 14, 2020 18:02:24 GMT -6
Though... now that she thought about it, wouldn't her equipment assist them with the training she had in mind? Nadia considered it for a second, watching the pups as they explored the fountain in their individual ways. She wished to teach them endurance, and getting them to move around swiftly while carrying loads was undoubtedly a valid way to do that. They could start off without them, and build up to it. Yes. Yes, she saw no reason why that wouldn't work perfectly in her favour. It would be simple at first, though. She would make sure of that. "Come along, you two," She said, cocking her head towards a stretch of grass opposite the pavings they had walked across. Inky was reluctant to come out of the fountain, but eventually followed Indie's lead, who as always was first to come. She was an awfully good pup, if a little snooty. The pair fell into a heel at her sides, albeit giving a few sniffs at different things they walked past. It was all too tempting for pups. "Good. Now, ready?" And then, she began to run. This would be a physical fitness test for her as well as them! [31] [Endurance - 1]
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Post by Jack on Oct 14, 2020 18:05:28 GMT -6
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Post by Nadia on Oct 14, 2020 18:06:41 GMT -6
In the excitement of it, and of Nadia calling their names, the pups were swift to follow. Their tails wagged as they bounded along just behind her, trying to match her pace - Nadia did not go too fast to begin with, and nor would she run for long. They would work up in increments and see how that served them. Of course, the initial rush of adrenaline had them sprinting, tongues lolling out of their mouths. They had nary a care in the world, and it was very enjoyable to witness. Not so enjoyable to feel, for her already tired body. A simple lap or two of the grass at a middling pace, and then they came to rest. "Very good pups, very good," She took out a water bottle for herself, but not before pouring some into a bowl she carried around for them and giving them their drink too. Staying hydrated would be extra important now they were truly getting physical. They also were given a treat each for their compliance, which they gratefully accepted (and snuffled around for more to boot). "No more just yet. We need to work off all the other treats I have given you first." [32] [Endurance - 2]
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Post by Nadia on Oct 14, 2020 18:33:19 GMT -6
They would up the intensity, and the duration, next. Nadia made sure she was sufficiently rested before taking another turn; she was known to go lightheaded if she tried to exert herself too much in one go. It would be interesting to find if they would meet her threshold for fainting. "Come on, pups! Come come!" Off she went again, speaking in her jovial, excitable tone, to get them motivated. Inky fell for it every time - he was chasing her without question, off at full speed without having to be asked. Indie was more of a reluctant participant. She was happy to follow, but less happy to run; Nadia had to shake the treat bag to convince her that the speed was worth it. "Good, good! Let's go!" Their energy hadn't ran its course quite yet, so they were okay with another lap at a faster pace. That was a promising sign. She knew that houluh had a decent level of stamina to begin with, being working hounds, but it never hurt to start early with expanding their horizons. They drew to a halt after their third lap, and were given more water and treats for their efforts, as well as pets. [33] [Endurance - 3]
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Post by Nadia on Oct 14, 2020 18:38:38 GMT -6
Nadia was more concerned about herself than the pups. Already, she was quite out of breath, and had to sit down to regain her composure before they could go again. Her hair was also being rather the pest; she pulled a hairtie from her rucksack to tie it up in a high ponytail. The bands always threatened to snap with the weight of it, but she would deal with that as and when it happened. More pressing issues were on the mind. Running alone without any hinderance wasn't an issue for them, so she wondered what it might be like if they were dressed up, so to speak. First off, they would try with the saddle bag style packs, empty, to see if it would make a difference. Inky and Indie both stood still as she put the packs onto them, now accustomed to their presence; Indie did give a rather pathetic look, as if it might convince Nadia to give up on the idea, but otherwise was as good as gold. Great. With them all prepared, she held her treats and started to run, faster, harder. The presence of snacks was still enough to motivate them, though they panted much more. [34] [Endurance - 4]
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Post by Nadia on Oct 14, 2020 18:42:18 GMT -6
Four laps, this time. The bags were empty, so they wouldn't hinder the pups in any way - they were only there to ensure they were comfortable with running while wearing a harness or pack. You never knew when such a skill would come in handy, and when it would be totally unhelpful for a pet to balk at a request. Nadia's heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest when they finally stopped, and the pups looked like they agreed, flopping down onto the grass on their bellies. "My goodness, this is a workout," She mused as she topped up the water bowl and laid out the treats for them. They were terribly messy drinkers; Inky's ears inevitably ended up dipped in the water, and Indie dribbled all over herself, wetting her fur. Silly things. "How are we doing? Still managing?" A quick check over was necessary. There were no thorns in their paws, or signs of any trauma, so they were externally in perfect health. Of course, their hearts were beating rapidly with the speed, but they didn't look to be in distress or pain. Good. They still had a little ways to go before they would be ready. [35] [Endurance - 5]
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Post by Nadia on Oct 14, 2020 18:52:25 GMT -6
Okay. It was time for the more difficult part to begin - the adding in of loads. Nadia brought out a couple of weights each from her backpack, and distributed them among the pup's packs evenly, to make sure they wouldn't be off balance. The pathetic looks began again. Inky even tried licking at her face to bring her around, but no such tricks were going to work, because she was determined! They had come this far, and she had even done some running herself, so she was not going to do a damn thing by halves. "I know, it's a little uncomfortable," She cooed, rubbing Indie's ears as the pup nosed at her. "You will be fine, because you are strong and fit. Are you ready? Let's go!" They were far more hesitant to run with a load, as was expected. Nadia began with a jog, going backwards as best she could so she could face them and encourage them with treats. She found that talking to them and getting to their level was the most helpful thing with motivation. Their desire to impress her must have taken over sooner or later, because they came into the jog, tails beginning to wag. [36] [Endurance - 6]
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Post by Nadia on Oct 14, 2020 18:55:40 GMT -6
They would remain in the jog for longer, because it was about maintaining the pace rather than sprinting, now. The longer they could go, the better - was that not the idea of endurance? All Nadia knew was that she needed to work on hers, because her legs were tiring before the pups began to look vaguely under duress. Plus, next time, she would wear sneakers. Boots were all very well and good for treading on perilous ground, but they made for terrible running shoes. One lap, and then two, and then three. Inky gave a yip and surged forwards when Nadia accidentally rattled the treat bag; she winced, feeling bad not to stop and give him one for the mistake. No, no. They were doing a great job, they just had to keep up the pace! Indie seemed to be more focused and kept her eyes on Nadia's face as she went round. Now that they were following her without an issue, she felt confident enough to turn and face the front, relying on her ears to alert her if either of them stopped. So far, so good. She could hear the jangling of the buckles on the packs as they went. [37] [Endurance - 7]
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Post by Nadia on Oct 14, 2020 19:01:11 GMT -6
Four, then five, then six. The laps were getting bothersome, and the pups were becoming antsy, but Nadia pushed on, determined to see it through. If they could reach ten, she would be satisfied with the performance and would take a break. Until then, she would keep staring at the same gnarled trees as she went around, their branches seeming to reach out and beckon to her each time she passed. Inky's tongue practically flapped where it hung from his mouth. Indie's focus remained, but she was growing tired, and the speed was stalling somewhat. That was okay. As long as they kept going, Nadia didn't mind a little reduction, as long as the energy could be spread out over the desired time. Plus, they had the weight on their backs to contend with, which couldn't have been easy. They rounded the corner on lap seven, and Inky barked, whether it be in frustration or excitement or a strange mix of both. "Good boy! Good girl! Keep going, keep going!" She rattled the treat bag for good measure, even as her voice came out thin and reedy. God, it was a challenge. She should've practiced more for this sort of training. [38] [Endurance - 8]
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Post by Nadia on Oct 14, 2020 19:05:45 GMT -6
Was it lap eight, or lap nine, that they were on now? Nadia didn't quite remember as she tried to control her breathing. This was just as much a challenge for her as it was for them, by the looks of it; strands of hair stuck to her forehead with sweat, and she felt ready to shuck the coat she was wearing as her body heated up. The pups served as encouragement. They were at her heels by that point, catching up with her even with their loads; Inky playfully yipped and bounced from side to side as he went. Indie's calm concentration was enough of a motivator alone, but Inky's sunny disposition was an extra boon. So, she kept going, and so did they, making no attempt to hide their glances at the treat bag. They could have all the treats they wanted once it was over. She could see their legs were beginning to tremble with the exertion, and wondered if maybe she should give up early...? No. No, there was only a little ways more to go, and they could rest once they'd gotten to the metaphorical finish line. Just one final push and they would make it. [39] [Endurance - 9]
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Post by Nadia on Oct 14, 2020 19:10:05 GMT -6
The end was in sight. They had one more lap to complete before Nadia would be happy with the progress, and it felt like it was going to take a million years. She was aware that their collective pace had slowed again, but they were still going, which was the most important bit. Inky's nose nudged at her aching calves. "Good pups, good pups," She panted out. Honestly, she was embarrassed by how much this was taking out of her - they were tiny pups, and she was a grown woman! She sounded like she was on her last legs! "Almost there, come on now!" They didn't need to be told. Even with their wobbly stances, they kept in line with her until the last minute. Indie licked her lips preemptively, ready for a snack, while Inky kept impossibly close to Nadia's running feet. Almost there. Just past that elm, and they could stop... Finally. Nadia practically collapsed to the ground, but managed to shuffle herself over to fill up their water bowl and dispense treats. For herself, a long drink of water and a granola bar or two. That was its own special breed of exhausting - she'd have to find a better way to teach the concept in future. [40] [Endurance - 10]
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Post by Jack on Oct 15, 2020 19:09:12 GMT -6
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