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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 18, 2022 15:31:58 GMT -6
Casting his gaze across the fields, he could not think to see the cause of it, though there was much in the way by means of obstruction. A barren tree, a few of the shoreline stones, and the small cliff-faced hill beyond, though the sound of water was likewise quite distinctive. The immediate concern thus became that perhaps something had wandered too close to the lake and fallen in. A worry not too unfounded, for there were beasts in the garden for whom this could well be their first winter, and thus they could not know better in regards to the ice.
With a swift motion, he tossed the snow on the shovel aside, taking steps towards the noise. As his ears were sharper, it took some moments more before the evergreen appeared to notice the sound as well, quick to begin rattling its needles once more. Such sounds were certainly not of the kindly type, after all.
|27| Taming: 2 Winter: 27 Ceylon: 9 (2/5) / 5 (2/5)
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 18, 2022 15:36:28 GMT -6
A momentary deliberation was spent in deciding between fight or flight, though as the evergreen could not see the source to challenge it, he instead opted for flight. With a sudden rush, he turned and retreated back towards the treeline, additionally berries flung free from his tail as he did so.
The lepus' steps paused to see the evergreen's flight, though he raised a hand, speaking calmly, "It is quite all right. There should not be anything to fear." The garden was a place of mystery, but also of safety, in many sense of the word. He rather doubted there would be malevolent intruders within its gates, though such probability should not be entirely discounted. The lepus continued to step through the thick of the snow towards the barren tree and the shore side of the lake beyond the bridge, eyes looking to survey the surroundings for any hints of trespass or cause.
|28| Taming: 3 Winter: 28 Ceylon: 9 (3/5) / 5 (3/5)
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 18, 2022 15:40:45 GMT -6
When at last he was able to round the sight of the tree, the cause became quite evident - A quarrel, of sorts, between two of the animals. Though perhaps the more surprising factor was neither were ones he was aware of residing in the garden.. The first was simple enough to recognise, for it bore the same styling of lotine as another he had encountered some months prior. The main difference appeared to be within the colouration, far better suited to the winter landscape, though otherwise bearing similar style of scales.
The second interloper was far more curious looking. At first the lepus did not even quite recognize it as a creature, until the round snow-covered mound moved in response to the lotine's agitation. Certainly, neither were following quite the same style of winter-themed fashion as the evergreen, for both could easily be lost within a field of snow, if only they were to stand still long enough.
|29| Taming: 4 Winter: 29 Ceylon: 9 (4/5) / 5 (4/5)
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 18, 2022 15:46:01 GMT -6
It was likewise quite evident that they appeared to be at odds with one another.. The rounded creature appeared the more passive of the two, looking to steps towards a collection of berries. A motion which seemed to slight the lotine, as it would block the way forward in response, showing subtle signs of a threat. Neither appeared quite ready to incite a fight quite yet, though such situations could rather rapidly change, given proper escalation.
Perhaps, in this, the evergreen had been right to flee. Though subtle sounds of pine needles behind him proved the curiosity of the creature appeared stronger than his fear. Or perhaps he simply felt bolder in following the lepus' example, than his own. He should rather hope that the evergreen would maintain his distance, as the cache of berries could prove too tempting a prize, and thus cause a quarrel of two to become a quarrel of three.
|30| (counted) Taming: 5 Winter: 30 Ceylon: 10 (0/5) / 6 (0/5)
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 18, 2022 15:53:19 GMT -6
With a decisive motion, the lepus pushed the shovel deep into the snow beside him, by means of having it stored upright. Following such, he rolled up the sleeves of the coat only just, the better to be prepared should events take unexpected turns. The larger of the two, what he could have now recognised as a type of koguma, did not appear too aggressive. Past experiences of previous months had also shown their types to be scavengers, largely concerned with finding and hoarding of food, rather than remaining stationary. A trick which had worked in the past, then, could perhaps work here.
His own pockets had only recently been filled with a few types of berries from the evergreen's abandoned cache, so he retrieved the largest of them and held it out in one hand. The pale of the fur gave a soft pulse, as arcane forces were summoned to lift the berry from the palm.
|31| Taming: 6 Winter: 31 Ceylon: 10 (1/5) / 6 (1/5)
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 18, 2022 15:58:20 GMT -6
Silently and slowly, the berry drifted towards the quarrel, as guided by the lepus' out held hand. A simple arcane trick which had proven rather effective on many occasions in the past. Within this moment, the loud raucous was suddenly interrupted by the floating fruit, as both koguma and lotine broke from their focused quarrel to stared towards it. Evidently neither had quite seen such a sight before, as the postures were quick to change towards a sense of caution and mistrust.. Initially.
The koguma, perhaps due to it's collecting nature, could not remain distant for long, and began to step forward to reach for the fruit. This was just as well, for that had been the intent. When it's long fingers curled around it, the lepus released the spell and allowed it to be retrieved. Somewhere behind, he could hear the faint sounds of further shuffling through snow, as the evergreen's curiosity had not yet been sated of the scene before him.
|32| Taming: 7 Winter: 32 Ceylon: 10 (2/5) / 6 (2/5)
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 18, 2022 16:02:19 GMT -6
Perhaps before all would be said and done, he could have to make an offering to him as well, by means of apology for disturbing his day quite so profoundly. For now, the focus remained on the quarrelling duo, whose disagreement had paused, but not entirely ceased. Before the koguma's distraction could fade, the lepus took another berry from the pocket and held it out. A short whistle was given, to finally alert the two to his presence, and both heads were quick to turn to him. Quick to follow was an increase in caution, as neither of the two seemed to recognise him any more than he had them.
Before the creatures could make up their minds, the fur pulsed again and the berry was lifted, being pushed invisible through the air towards the koguma, same as before. This appeared to have amazed the creature itself, as it looked conflicted between taking the fruit and being sceptical of it.
|33| Taming: 8 Winter: 33 Ceylon: 10 (3/5) / 6 (3/5)
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 18, 2022 16:06:36 GMT -6
Evidently it's stomach gave way to its suspicions, and it snatched the berry from the air. "There is no need to fight," the lepus spoke to both in a mild manner, "The garden has plenty of bounty for all. We can all share." The words were not so important as the assuring tone of the voice, the better to showcase he did not mean them trouble. To guide the koguma further, the lepus took a third berry and floated it towards the side of the tree, further from the lotine. There, more fruit had been piled one beast or another, though none attended. When the koguma followed, he could be assured that it would offer a distraction enough, or even perhaps sate it's need to collect stores, as to avoid returning to antagonise the lotine.
Under the evergreen's watchful, perhaps even amazed expression, the lepus then focused on the lotine, whose suspicions remained high.
|34| Taming: 9 Winter: 34 Ceylon: 10 (4/5) / 6 (4/5)
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 18, 2022 16:12:45 GMT -6
There was little he could offer it aside peace and quiet, for lotine were reclusive by nature. The only true gesture was to wave his hand through the air briefly and gather some of the scatted bounty closer to it, so it could better protect its hoard. "I do not wish to take from you, but rather to offer," the lepus explained, emphasizing the tone more so than the words, though unlike the koguma, the lotine's mind was far closer to his own in nature. "You are free to remain here, or depart, as you wish." A last piece of berry was taken from the pocket, and floated over to the lotine, "An offering, if you accept."
Unknown to him, the display had incited a rather curious revelation within the evergreen in the distance, who only just then began to realize the opportunities inherent in the lepus' presence. When the lotine curled around its bounty, it's eyes suggested a remaining sense of scepticism regarding the mammalian, though it lacked a sense of finality. Perhaps with more effort, the two could come to better agreements in time. For now, this would suffice.
|35| Taming: 10 - [Done] Winter: 35 Ceylon: 11 (0/5) / 7 (0/5)
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Post by Ashe on Mar 20, 2022 3:52:20 GMT -6
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 22, 2022 15:19:30 GMT -6
With the impasse settled, the lepus could have returned to his prior work. He picked loose the shovel from the snow pile to his side, and turned to begin the deep snow dredge back. To his surprise, the evergreen was not too far off, looking to have left the orchard entirely to stand hidden behind a larger boulder. It certainly must have been quite strong curiosity to bring him so far from his usual haunt, for the lepus had hardly seen him cross the stream before. A moment passed where the two would study one another, a seeking of meaning behind the gazes which came far easier to one than the other.
At least, the lepus broke the silence, asking in a light, pleasant tone,"Are you hungry?" The question itself did not prompt a response, but when his hand reached for a jacket pocket, there was a sudden sense of energy.
|36| Winter: 36 Ceylon: 11 (1/5) / 7 (1/5) gU8YBC6i
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 22, 2022 15:39:43 GMT -6
Or, perhaps, alarm. The two reactions could oft run hand-in-hand within some animals, and the evergreen was ever as expressive as one. To test the assumption, for empirical evidence if nothing more, the lepus removed the hand from the pocket and observed the results. The evergreen did not react immediately, as if looking to confirm the hand was absent anything first. When it eventually dawned on him thus, the energy faded away, replaced by a confused type of expectancy.
Curious. Perhaps the evergreen's mind held ability to make connections after all, though only through appropriate motivations. At a glance more of the garden's bounty becomes evident within their surroundings, veiled, but distinctly there. A few pale blossoms beneath the hedges, a stray sapling among the barren trees, and more of the vibrant fruit to match those discovered prior. It appeared that where many plants were quite season, the fruit was bountiful throughout the year.
|37| Winter: 37 Ceylon: 11 (2/5) / 7 (2/5) Jr6sLTsR
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 22, 2022 15:44:51 GMT -6
When taken as a whole, the depiction of a barren winter appeared quite unsound. Perhaps this is how the creatures survived, even thrived, in such conditions. There was food to be found in abundance, but one merely required the perception and sense to locate it. A lotine was a creature of much brighter mind, perhaps better equipped to sustainably gain a cache of stores. Little wonder, then, that creatures such as the koguma and evergreen might come to covet their troves, unable to create ones for themselves to such scale.
Though, it was not the evergreen's fault. Kingly though he might be, the powers that were had not intended them to have the minds of people, being kingly in name only. More's the pity, and the loss of great opportunity, for the lepus would have appreciated an able hand with assisting in the garden. In particular for such times as he's not present himself, at very least.
|38| Winter: 38 Ceylon: 11 (3/5) / 7 (3/5) s6M9VYYS
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 22, 2022 15:49:31 GMT -6
Even the sense of such pity would have been a concept unfamiliar to the evergreen, existing only to sense the presence of danger and nutrition. The lepus reached into his pocket once more, prompting an elevated sense of expectation from the evergreen. This time, the hand did not come out empty, as there was a one of the bright fruits being held out towards the creature. "I can offer you food as best I can," the lepus explained, until a brief pulse of light along the fur signalled the arcane forces into being brought to life. Slowly the fruit began to hover and float towards the evergreen. "Though that may be the only assistance I can give at this time."
Surely the laboratories, for all their contrivances and science, had means to rectify such simple oversight? Perhaps by no immediate means, but it remained something he was quite diligent about investigating further.
|39| Winter: 39 Ceylon: 11 (4/5) / 7 (4/5)
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 22, 2022 15:54:55 GMT -6
A prospect for future days, for when other work was done. For that day, the lepus released the shovel from the snowbank and began to walk back to the crossing where the work had remained unfinished. The evergreen's appreciation at the offering showed best in his insistence on remaining close enough as to both maintain visual and be visible. Perhaps he was rather hoping for another serving of fruit, though the lepus knew the evergreen's cache of rations was anything but empty.
Even so, he offered up a few more along the way, as the next hour passed slowly and gradually to the rhythm of snow being tossed from one side of the path to the other. What bounty he could find would be placed in the pocket, larger pieces left gathered in a small pile on the side. To his fortune, the work was able to reach the upper gate before a tell-tale sensation of on-coming pain began to fill his leg. That was it, then, for that day. He would gather what he could and retire back to the house.
|40| (counted) Winter: 40 Ceylon: 12 (0/5) / 8 (0/5)
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