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Post by Xentus on Jul 30, 2023 15:09:23 GMT -6
Xentus made a careful approach and circled widely around the shark's location in the water, a grimace worn on his muzzle due to the mist of water assaulting his face and the lack of plan he had for this situation. What to even do here? The bladed shark's thrashing could strike him if he wasn't careful and with the various sharp spines on the creature, he could find himself severely wounded. But also knowing the shark needed water flowing on its gills to breathe, waiting for it to tire out would put the beast in danger of suffocation. He was on a time limit. Now that he was closer, he could somewhat make out where the weeds were wrapped around the shark's body. Its pectoral fins were bound, as was its tail. Its head was free to gnash at either side of its body, but not with enough range of motion to bite off the offending weeds.
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Post by Xentus on Jul 30, 2023 16:25:08 GMT -6
That would also mean it didn't have enough range to bite at his arms should he try approaching from the side. The thrashing tail was still a bit of a threat however. It swept violently from side to side, making any form of approach difficult. If he could get the tail under control, there would be far better odds of him succeeding in this rescue operation unscathed. Xentus searched for anything that might prove helpful in this endeavor.. But there was nothing suitable here in the shallows. There were rocks, aquatic weeds, himself, and a lot of water. He'd just have to be quick about it. With a sharp exhale, the mammalian steeled himself and trudged through the water toward the shark. His approach aimed for the shark's side to get close enough to free its pectoral fins first. The plan was to straddle the shark behind the dorsal fin, free the pectorals, then the tail. Then to somehow miraculously avoid getting tail-slapped, bitten, or gored.
Using Fish (3 remaining) 15
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Post by Nadia on Jul 30, 2023 22:17:08 GMT -6
What lovely lake lettuce...
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Post by Xentus on Aug 5, 2023 23:01:29 GMT -6
His heart pounded in his chest as he took action. 'With haste, Xentus', he told himself and swallowed hard. The leopard lurched forward and cleanly avoided the wild tail thrashing of the fish, straddling the creature as planned. The bulk of the shark was a bit more than he'd anticipated however, making his stance wide and unsteady in the worked-up water. There was no time to adjust his footing though, he had to act. His claws swept through the water and cut through the entangling weeds on one side, then the other. The shark felt this looming figure above itself and the sudden freeness of its sides. While Xentus would hope the beast found some manner of appreciation for his actions, he was instead met with full body thrashing. The shark knocked the man off his feet as it gave a powerful heave and freed its tail from the weeds in the process.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 5, 2023 23:07:49 GMT -6
"Agh--!"
The yelp was short and soon drowned by the water rushing into his mouth. There was pain in his legs from where the shark battered its bulk against them. He prayed that he was not cut by any of the numerous blades on the beast's body. If he was, the wound wasn't going to register in his mind until after he steadied himself and escaped the shark's domain. There was no fear of drowning in this moment. He had the amulet to thank for that. The water in his mouth, throat, and lungs was unpleasant, but not life threatening. No, now with the shark loose, he was in danger of the ravenous thing turning around and taking a chomp out of his limbs. That thing was hellbent on it, he swore. Again, he had to move quickly. But he couldn't orient himself. He was turned around in the water with the current and the wake of the shark's powerful tail.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 5, 2023 23:13:41 GMT -6
And he could see a streamline figure of green and blue coming toward him. 'Move --!', he urged himself, teeth grit as he felt for the riverbed around him. His hands soon felt the muddy, weed lined bottom and he pushed against it as hard as he could to right himself. Now, he had to not get tangled in the aquatic vines himself and escape the shallows. In only a short moment, he was able to breathe air once again, gulping in heaving breaths between coughs as he trudged to the shore. The sound of thrashing water told him not to look back. It told him to move. Run. The few feet between the shallows and the shore felt like miles. It felt like the shark was inches away from his ankles. And it wasn't until there was solid stone beneath his feet did he feel that he was free from the shark's terror.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 5, 2023 23:19:43 GMT -6
The fish turned away from the shallows far sooner than Xentus reached the rocky outcrops that made up the shore. It was simply too big for that little water. The leopard was able to catch a glimpse of its dorsal fin as he took the time to catch his breath, realizing that the beast had given up the chase a relative while ago. The time it took to get out of the water felt like it lasted an eternity. Normally he'd pride himself in not balking in the face of danger, but that was perhaps a little too close for even him. He quite valued his life, after all. Truly though, if he was in any grave danger, Basantai was but a word away - given ample space, of course. The serpent would defend him in a terrible rampage and sacrifice itself before ever seeing him harmed. This situation didn't call for Basantai's bulk. Yet.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 5, 2023 23:40:30 GMT -6
Even through the terror and exhaustion, he found himself amused by the idea that there was always a bigger fish. Being a pliathor, Basantai technically was a fish too. Now, if there would ever be a fish bigger than Basantai, he'd be both surprised and terrified of such a thing. Not worth thinking about too deeply though. He had a big fish to deal with. His breath was caught and his heartbeat steadied. That was exhilarating! And something he hoped he wouldn't need to do again any time soon! The shark seemed to avoid the shallows for now, thankfully. As much as it wanted to take a bite out of the leopard's limbs, getting stuck again wouldn't be worth it. It loomed and stalked and awaited the man's eventual return to the river. The fool's folly of trying to tame it would be his demise. Xentus would try again soon enough.
Using Fish (2 remaining) 20
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Aug 7, 2023 20:19:59 GMT -6
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Post by Xentus on Aug 12, 2023 21:18:19 GMT -6
And try again he did. With a change of approach this time, given that trying to be in the water with it and showing it that he looked delicious was clearly not working. The idea was to use the nearby rocky overhang to feed the beast. To show it that he was not, in fact, food, and instead was a food-giver. Then with time, this would desensitize the shark to his presence and hopefully help him curry favor with it. Assuming the shark didn't merely have a grudge against him.
"Let us start over, Serethal, yes? Introductions: This one is Xentus. He would not like to be eaten", the mammalian spoke to the waters from his perch on the overhang. The shark watched from beneath, lurking. Waiting. Whether or not his words reached it was a mystery. Regardless, Xentus took a piece of chum and tossed it into the water.
21 No Bites - 1
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Post by Xentus on Aug 12, 2023 21:47:49 GMT -6
Near-instantaneously, the halberd shark erupted from the waters to snap up the chum, thrashing its body and gnashing its teeth. It garnered quite some height in its leap as well, threatening to land upon the rock the man stood on. Xentus did his not to flinch as a flash of silver from the shark's blade sparkled before his eyes through the droplets of water. He remained calm - he was a firm believer that animals could smell fear. Fear would give the beast all the more reason to want to eat him.
The eventful display of power and hunger was over in just a second. This... Was going to take a while. It was difficult to see the road from lunging at any disturbance of water to hand-feeding the thing. Part of him doubted it would even be possible. But, he was a persistent one - he had to prove himself an ultimate trainer of beasts.
22 No Bites - 2
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Post by Xentus on Aug 12, 2023 22:13:55 GMT -6
Once the waters settled, Xentus dared to peer over the rock ledge into the river below. Lurking there was the shark. It eyed the wavering reflections above it, likely trying to catch the next arm or anchovy that plopped in. "Easy there, Serenthal", the man muttered, seeming to already know what the beast was thinking. He retreated away from the edge and tossed in another piece of fish. A lunge and snap of teeth was the shark's response. Water splashed onto his fur and face in the process. Maybe he imagined it, but it seemed intentional... Or maybe he imagined nonsense. Another moment of waiting, another piece of fish tossed in, another splash and thrash. Xentus continued on to chum the waters with a good number of fish chunks, hoping that the beast might fill its stomach soon and make this process a little easier. With multiple targets floating about, the immediate ravenous response didn't seem to happen.
23 No Bites - 3
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Post by Xentus on Aug 12, 2023 22:19:35 GMT -6
Instead, the shark seemed to chomp at the quickly sinking pieces and worked its way up toward the surface. Interesting. Xentus watched carefully from over the edge, dropping in a couple more chunks of fish to keep the beast entertained. Once it reached the surface, it did still gnash at the pieces of meat, though far less erratically than before. The leopard took a chance and leaned over the edge to rub the beast's nose as it waved in the air. "Easy now", he said as the shark lurched at his touch, trying its best to bite at whatever was on its nose. It took some strength on the leopard's part, but he tried to keep his hand on its nose for as long as he could before it sunk back down into the river. The shark probably didn't like that. But it would hopefully begin to learn that he wasn't food.
24 No Bites - 4
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Post by Xentus on Aug 12, 2023 22:28:37 GMT -6
Once the mild feeding frenzy was concluded, Xentus gave the shark some space and retreated away from the edge of the outcrop. He let out a long exhale to relieve some of the tension on himself. That was bold. And he'd probably need to continue doing such acts if he wanted any better progress with the shark. One wrong move or a slip could mean a sharp head-blade slicing into his flesh. Though, that wasn't too far from the threat of one of his wiurns plunging its stinger into his side now that he thought of it. If he excused the aggressive nature of the shark, that is. After a moment to let things settle down, the man was ready to stir trouble back up. The process was repeated again. Throw some extra chum tossed into the water then watch the shark consume every morsel. The thrashing was becoming less erratic as the beast learned it didn't need to try to catch these lifeless meals, though that didn't make the thing any less dangerous.
Using Fish (1 remaining) 25 No Bites - 5
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Post by Jack on Aug 13, 2023 17:50:07 GMT -6
A strange splashing could be heard! A little squirt was swimming around a bigger, ball-like fish, almost like a game? A smaller fish was next to them, as though trying to figure out what they were doing. They looked pretty playful though! Maybe they want another friend? To tame the creatures: Make at least 3-5 RP posts interacting with the creatures and trying to tame them. At the end of your taming attempt, make your last post with [done] and wait for staff approval.
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