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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:11:39 GMT -6
The only small amount of shame she felt was when Juniper looked on her with a cocked head and dubious eyes. People. "Yeah, I showed'em Juni, don' worry," Lethalia informed the hen, to lessen the blow to her own ego. Juniper turned back to the water as her owner waded in, looking almost spooked at the woman's hiss at the colder lake as it soaked into her fetlocks. Still early enough in the season the entire body of water hadn't warmed up yet, it sent a chill up her spine. Rubbing the goosebumps rising on her arms, Leth looked over her shoulder and tossed to Juni, "Just like yah'd like it, June! C'mon!" Strangely, the white whined and lashed her tail, making a locked-up wimpy lunge at the water before skittering back. "June-bug, whatca' issue, girl? Don'cha like water?" Her voice was softer than the statement implied, staving off diving into the water to see what had Juniper all worked up.
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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:12:07 GMT -6
Such an intense gaze was being cast into the water that Lethalia half felt the need to skirt around the area being glowered at. There wasn't anything here to give the hen cause to worry, at most tiny minnows (or the labs' released equivalent) that got carried downstream. Green sprigs sprouted in the calm shallows, some with fractals or leaves wavering at the satyr's approach. The white hen's eyes followed the hooves underwater closely, widening in utter terror as the woman coasted to a stop a few feet away from the shore. Juni flinched back so forcefully Leth found herself instinctively jerking a hoof out of the water just in case. Juni bunched up away from the shore and her owner balanced on one leg in the water, both standing there staring one another down and attempting to asses what just hapened. Once she was sure there was literally nothing for the hen to flinch at, Lethalia managed "Juniper, dude. What th'fuck."
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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:12:32 GMT -6
At her name the hen crept back up to where the water met it's rocky shore, barely sticking her snout over the water before jerking her head back. "Juni," Lethalia stated, snapping her fingers over the water, "C'mere, why ya'bein'a pill righ'now?"Juni had been around her enough to pick up on being beckoned, but gave her those signature worried blue eyes while creeping closer. Soon enough her watchful eyes were turned down to the water, freezing in place as the scary hen who hid in the water came to stare at her. Juniper jerked back again, unwilling to mess with another adult hen who was so territorial she mirrored every move made to get past into the lake! Remaining watching with hand still extended, Lethalia snorted. Was this the reason why she'd veen avoiding the water - a reflection?! "June, really though? Nobody's there," she encouraged, fluttering her fingers in the water to disturb Juni's mirror image. Dispelling of her foe was enough to get the hen leaning forward, raised thorns on her lashing tail. Sure enough the water calmed and the 'hen' popped up again, mimicking the small screech Juniper made at her. Well. This wasn't what Lethalia had expected to be doing naked, but this was her life. "Yeah! Get er, June!" the satyr prompted, latching onto a change of tactics if she couldn't convince Juniper a reflection wasn't real. intimidation|1
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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:13:02 GMT -6
What courage the hen could muster was spent strecting a white paw over the water in a last desperate attempt to shoo her harasser away. Juni was only just brave enough, and just considerate enough for the woman to do so. She snatched it back when the mirror image also raised it's paw in threat, looking instead to the satyr to save her from the beast. "Bah! Juniper, jus'scare 'er off!" Her owner's growl almost made the hen back up more, but she stuck around to watch in awe as the woman swiped at the 'other hen', who hid at the woman's warning. Lethalia made certain to churn the water with a hoof so Juniper's mirror image couldn't return in the ripples, beckoning the hen again, "All clear, c'mon."Though she skittered into the shallows and let out a wheezing hiss as she did so, Juniper finally pushed back against the 'hen' holding the space hostage. Ankle-deep in the water Juni stopped dead with her tail coiled and ready at her side, checking all of her potential blind spots for her would-be foe. "Yeah, brave girl!" Lethalia praised, "Look, y'so scary y'gone spooked 'er off!" All of the activity in the water broke that mirror shine, eddies from the hen whirling around to check for 'danger' kept any reflection well at bay. Juniper wasn't quite at ease, but it was enough to get her in the water. That was about as far as the satyr wanted to bother fighting it, today. More gym time, more training... her special hen should make it out okay in the end. Just not all at once. intimidation|2
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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:13:27 GMT -6
Juniper had been a decent enough distraction from the heat, but Lethalia couldn't ignore the summer sun warming her backside forever. Her dark skin wouldn't burn for some time yet, but she'd gone to the lake to escape the heat. What was she doing here standing and getting even warmer with the sun glaring off the water? Yeah, she was done with this. "Comin', Juni?" Lethalia hollered out before taking a deep breath and diving in. It was enough to jostle the hen out of her determiniation to keep looking for her sworn enemy, cocking her head as those bright eyes tried to figure out just what she'd seen. Her person went in the water?! It was a good way to absorb the hen's attention, now more curious over the satyr being in her domain than her quarry. An inquisitive rumble in her chest, Juniper kicked off into the lake proper where she could actually churn water. She looked more at home there than anywhere else, in spite of not having a speck of blue blood in her. Turns out, the swim did good for both of their woes. Juniper lv|18 ly|18 intimidation|3
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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:13:49 GMT -6
... There was Juniper again, looking miserable in spite of being able to hide in her mist. Her sire and his mate were already holed up in their own shed, two cold drakes providing all the air conditoning that was needed. Leth wished Juniper would follow suit instead of being here moping about her choosing to hang out in the sweltering sun. "Wantin'ta go swimmin' again, huh?" Leth asked her, gesturing to the lake and watching Juni's eyes light up. "Well? G'on, then. Y'don't need me." Still the hen sat in front of her, looking between the body of water and her owner with an expectant curl of her tail. "Really? Needy. Look, y'even got company already!" The cloudy cliffjumper still cringed away at her finger pointing it out on Juniper's shoulder, warmer to the humanoid when there was food involved. Not that it took an especially lot of convincing for the satyr to slack on her chores, but this cute pair made it even harder. "C'mon Juni, let's make sure y'little friend can cool down." intimidation|4
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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:16:39 GMT -6
Juniper's blue eyes grew more and more worried the closer they came to the water's edge. Every step of the way, she was looking over her shoulder and rustling those cotton-candy pink wings with concern until she confirmed her owner was still attending her. As Lethalia had thought, Juniper was still looking to her for protection; she hadn't been willing to come over to the water's edge without her human broodmother's guardianship. She was a lot less mature of any other hen this age, but how long would she need to be coddled in order to 'catch up'? Leth couldn't help but stop to gawk at Juniper's demeanor once in a while - this was one of Rimefang's kids, and it was like the hate had been replaced with some kind of anxiety. It wasn't the best tradeoff for a predator, admittedly. They'd figure out ways over the speed bumps that Juni would have a little different than other hens. intimidation|5
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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:19:15 GMT -6
Rocks rolled pleasantly beneath their feet upon coming to the stony beach, and her little pocket pet wasted no time. It took off in a big arc over the lake, only to streamline it's body to dive straight into the water from above. Lethalia laughed and started losing clothing so she could join the little thing, looking over to Juniper once she'd fought her clothes off. The hen stared at her, big eyes, waiting for mother hen to protect her into the water. "Nope. Go get 'er, Juni," Lethalia told Juniper, pointing at the water. The hen didn't budge. They were doing this the difficult way, weren't they? "C'mon then." The sarane didn't have something as convinient as a hunk of mane to grab onto, so Leth moved onto the next best and grabbed one of Juniper's short white horns to a squall of protest about being yanked closer to the water. It would take no effort at all for her to break this hold, but the hen didn't realize her size yet, leaving her comically 'trapped' to be dragged around by a much smaller satyr. (Hopefully they could fix this mansion glitch with time. Poor socially awkward henbaby.) intimidation|6
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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:20:53 GMT -6
Lethalia pointed again to the white hen of the lake, while Juni cowered and tried to get out of her grasp. They were really close to an adult hen that was going to tell her off!! "Juniper," the satyr growled, "go'n get'er. C'mon. Be scary, y'can do it, we did it yesterday."Juniper didn't budge, frozen in fear at the wicked blue-eyed gaze of that water hen, certain the big adult hen in the siutation was about to eat her whole. Didn't the woman know better - what if they were near a nest?! Leth wasn't entirely sure what she'd be doing in the long run, considering being this shy had been a rarity among her sarane. "Y'gotta make 'er move, June," Lethalia encouraged again, as if it would have any effect to prompt the hen again. No - more stares and worried half-squeaks she should have well grown out of by now. intimidation|7
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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:22:20 GMT -6
They were going to be here ages if it was dependant on Juniper making a move. Instead of trying to wheedle the hen into it, Lethalia decided she would 'scare' off the reflection herself. Again. June might get the idea, eventually. Juni was so frozen she didn't even budge when her horn was released, too horrified at her owner getting close to the hen in the lake. Juniper finally flinched and jerked her head back when the satyr began to yell at the bigger white hen. Why, the hen had never heard a human roar like that! She made a squallor about it, kicking at the water-hen with those huge hooves. Juniper knew her odd-shaped hen mother could do it! Encouraged, out came a timid growl from behind her protector's back; show her!! That energy was short lived, and as the water settled, a stern furrow set in the woman's brow, as if the resting bitch face would keep the other hen away. "C'mon now, Juni." Juniper lv|19 ly|19 intimidation|8
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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:23:04 GMT -6
It was a marvel - her enemy was gone! Juniper's front legs found the water, sniffing the air cautiously to try and scent the other hen on it. No, nothing but her owner and herself, the nearby aromas of livestock and drakes. Home; safe. The din had summoned back the tiny white cliffjumper, sailing out of the lake with an alarmed trill and seeking out his large draconic protector. It lit on her back with a chattering, demanding an explanation of her. "June." Her owner's voice brought her back; if the woman was willing to be in the water, then it must be safe. Juniper bumped her nose against the cliffjumper - could've gotten itself devoured by that foul hen without her! - before heading into the water once again. She really did love it - why did she let another hen push her out of it? Lethalia could only hope the white was smart enough to think on what she learned today. intimidation|9
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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:23:25 GMT -6
... Juniper didn't retrieve her owner, but Lethalia did find her crouched like a cat (loaf) on the shallow rocky embankment above the lake. Her thorns bristled at half attention, swaying from side to side and looking quite upset with something along with her firmly pinned ears. Juni's sharp blue eyes kept watch out for would-be predators of her pet cliffjumper while it dissappeared beneath the lake's calm ripples. Once in a while her little cliffjumper would pop out of the water, careening over to give Juni an earful - perhaps trying to get her to join? "June?" Both pseudo dragons were on high alert, both jumping to readiness at the sudden voice. Well, the cliffjumper made to hide behind the hen's neck, but it was prepared in it's own way. Juniper's coiled stance loosened upon spotting her owner, making a fond chuffing noise at the satyr. "Yeah, hey ya'big baby. Goin' swimmin?" she asked and cast her eyes out to the lake, the hen's blues following her gaze whistfully. intimidation|10
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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:23:45 GMT -6
"June, y'can do this y'self," Lethalia admonished, her voice kept light so she didn't disturb the delicate hen. The satyr wasn't annoyed with Juniper as much as herself for allowing this affliction to happen - and now they both had to weather the consequences. Sighing heavily with guilt, the woman figured she might as well try showing the hen what a display of dominance would look like. It couldn't hurt anything more than her pride, right? "Hey- hey you!" Leth bellowed over the lake's gleaning surface, glancing over and grinning at Juniper as she did. Good thing she adored her creatures, or she'd feel even more like an idiot just... yelling at her own lake. [/b]"Get th'fuck out! This's my lake!!"[/b] the satyr spat with much more gusto than she felt, punctuating the demand with a violent airward punch. "See? Like tha," she asked Juniper, merely standing up on the embankment with the hen instead of going down there to deal with the problem herself. "Juniper! Show'er, c'mon now!" Juniper was starting to get it; her ears perked and those brilliant blue eyes got even brighter as something clicked with her. She didn't actually even have to fight - as long a she looked like a bigger, scarier hen, the others would leave her alone! intimidation|11
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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:24:07 GMT -6
The cliffjumper still sidled to hide behind one of the hen's wings, giving Leth sidelong looks like she was utterly crazy. (That pint-sized pet might be the only one here who had the right idea.) No time was wasted to jump to her feet, inspired to head to the body of water herself. Juniper's trot took on a purposeful surge of energy as she picked her way down. Thorns bristled and carried in a readied curl across her back, the little one actually looked the part of an adult hen for once. Juniper's paws hit the water and she stared right down at the 'other' hen, laying in wait where she always was. Blocking the path. Finally understanding had been reached that she could be enraged by it, she could do more than cower to the adult hen. Though she'd taken a backseat to the older hens this whole time... she didn't have to, did she?! intimidation|12
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Post by Lethalia on Jul 10, 2021 19:24:35 GMT -6
With newfound confidence the hen's chest expanded, letting loose a screech that sounded like it'd been pent up for days. It wavered at the end and fell off, but Juniper pushed through and ended on a snarl she thought looked vicious. With that, she pushed past the 'older hen', ignoring any feints the reflection made at her on her way into the water. "Yay! G'work, Juni!" Lethalia cheered; she hadn't realized how much this small victory of Juniper's would mean! This was actual, tangible progress! Part of her said 'it's about damn time', but she ignored it in favor of being excited for their forward step. Lethalia noticed Juniper took over 'her' lake from then on. She stopped 'asking' Leth to go along with her, instead barking at her reflection all on her own. Hopefully that habit would abade, but there were only so many fights the satyr was going to choose. June could have that quirk. Juniper lv|20 ly|20 intimidation|13 end
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