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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 8:56:41 GMT -6
The small rounded pebbles that clattered against him no longer really bothered him, much as the sand did not. They still struck him occasionally but they fell to the ground mostly unnoticed. Slightly larger stones still hurt when they struck and made him flinch and the smaller sharp pebbles were still annoying. Less annoying, perhaps, than the bit of a fly but not altogether
Runa tossed Forrest a treat in between tossing shovels of dirt and stone in his general direction. She had dislodged enough stones to start cracking them open again. So she set down her shovel and picked up the mallet again. The stones that were thrown about randomly as a result of this work clattered against the walls and a few hit Runa. Even more hit Forrest who eyed her with what was probably disgust. She felt another rumble against her feet and looked at the great beast hoping it was him and not the caverns collapsing that was causing those vibrations.
She would have apologized if she had any way of doing so that she could communicate effectively. But it seemed unlikely that the big creature would accept an apology; cranky as he seemed to be as he dealt with the flying stones she was generating. She did offer him a few chin scratches though.
Runa: 15.4 Forrest: 5.0 // 8.0 Mines - 13 Stone Skin - 9
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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 9:16:10 GMT -6
Another sharp shard of pebble caught Forrest in the face and he didn't even flinch. At this point, he barely noticed anything smaller than perhaps a nickel but larger pieces still bothered him. He was covered in dirty, the grains of sand and small sharp stone shards that were caught on his skin grated against it but he did not notice. When another large stone clattered against his chest though he jumped in annoyance although he was quickly soothed by the girl who fed him another rock and gave him those delightful under the chin scratches.
Runa was contending with her own sore skin. Sores were forming on her hands where she held the shovel and the mallet. The spots were becoming rubbed raw from overuse and it certainly didn't help that shar pieces of rock kept getting caught between her hand and the handle of whichever implement she was using. She had set both down to take a break, eyeing the red spots on her hand with displeasure. Her skin would adapt as well, she figured, although probably not quite as fast as the Lamadidron who was built for these mines.
She eyed him again, proud that he seemed to not be having too much issue with the sharp pebbles anymore. That certain was progress.
Runa: 15.6 Forrest: 5.2 // 8.2 Mines - 14 Stone Skin - 10
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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 9:54:39 GMT -6
The next scoopful of dirt was full of larger stones that hit Forrest with a sharp thud and made him wince. The irregularities of these rocks scraped against his skin and caused him to flinch away from the large rocks. This continued assault was building up callouses and toughening his skin but it was also sort of annoying and such a thing was not instantaneous. He glared at Runa's back (because of course her back was turned) and then let out a grumble as another shovel full of rocks hit him. This one, fortunately, was mostly dirt and smaller rocks so it was not quite as offensive.
Something caused Runa to look over at Forrest. He was staring at her. Probably hungry? She set down the mallet she was working with, despite the continued pain of holding one of the tools, and walked over to him with the rocks that she had brought, setting them down in front of him so he could eat. That would like as not distract him from any problem that he had with the stones and whatnot that were flying in his general direction. She had noticed less jumping on his part although she could tell that he still wasn't fond of when the larger rocks hit him.
Runa: 15.8 Forrest: 5.4 // 8.4 Mines - 15 Stone Skin - 11
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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 10:11:50 GMT -6
It wasn't so much that the stones were rough and abrasive on his skin enough to leave him bleeding but rather that the feeling was quite unpleasant. Each scoop of dirt contained several of the larger rocks which struck him and rubbed against larger areas of his skin not unlike the feeling of scraping a knee for a human. The small bite of the pebbles he had long since grown immune to. The concept, Runa reflected, was not unlike a child who walked outside barefoot who no longer noticed the rocks and grit beneath their feet.
Large sharp stones still smarted though, she noted. They may not break skin but it was obvious that they were inflicting pain. Smaller things had stopped bothering him but the large rocks especially those that were particularly rough, he was not as well protected by. And it was the larger stones that would fall on them if the tunnel collapsed and it would be immensely helpful, Runa realized, if such a thing did not cause a full fledged meltdown in the large animal she would expect to help her out of the rubble.
And too, if she ever hoped to battle the Lamadidron (and certainly she did, why else would one acquire a large rock creature), he would need tough skin to withstand the abuses of the fighting pit.
Runa: 16.0 Forrest: 5.6 // 8.6 Mines - 16 Stone Skin - 12
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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 10:28:24 GMT -6
Forrest was just starting to come to terms with the rocks in the shovel when a smattering of rocks broke loose from the ceiling and clattered down on him. The unexpectedness of it caused him to jump sideways out from under where the rocks had came showering down from. They didn't hurt as much as they perhaps would have before he had spent several hours having sand, grit, gravel, and pebbles tossed in his general direction but they certainly didn't feel good and he wasn't quite able to ignore them.
For her part, Runa was taking a break from both the shovel and the mallet. Her hands had started to ache again and she wanted to give them a rest before blisters broke out on them and made her have to call it a day. She still had quite a few plans for their day at the mine and had no intention of leaving any time soon but she would have to before she wanted to if she did not give her hands a break. She rubbed the stiffness out of her knuckles as well.
Forrest laid down next to her after a moment, glancing up at the ceiling before settling his head on her lap for her to scratch.
Runa: 16.2 Forrest: 5.8 // 8.8 Mines - 17 Stone Skin - 13
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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 18:56:58 GMT -6
It was fortunate, Runa thought, that nothing of significant size had really fallen on Forrest nor been tossed by the shovel. The two of them were still on the ground, the small mine illuminated well by the flashlight she had purchased. She frowned as she considered the flashlight and then looked at Forrest and then frowned again. Well that hadn't been something she considered previously but it did stand to reason that Forrest was probably afraid of the dark. Runa hated it herself. That might be something to consider working on sooner rather than later.
Runa got her to feet reluctantly. The redness had faded from her hands and she felt like it was probably time to continue her mine explorations. Certainly, she wasn't going to find any gems lazing about like this. Forrest had given her a look that she imagined was probably annoyance when she stood up since it meant that he lost his pillow. He lowered his head to the ground instead, closing his eyes as though he was going to take a nap.
Her next shovel of dirt was mostly just dirt and small pebbles so she was pleased when it hit Forrest and he only opened one eye and looked at her lazily. The second scoopful, however, was full of much larger and sharper rocks and she did not think it would go over as well.
Runa 16.6 Forrest: 6.0 // 9.0 Mines - 18 Stone Skin - 14
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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 19:15:07 GMT -6
The second shovel was full of stones that were relatively large, rough, and sharp. To Runa's surprise, Forrest barely moved when they scraped against him. He seemed completely unbothered - almost as though his skin had toughened up from repeated exposure to abrasive rock and sand elements. She walked over and fed him a treat which he accepted without really moving and appraised him. There wasn't a single scratch on him, she noted, which was good because she would have felt bad if he had gotten hurt badly. A few more rocks clattered down from the ceiling and landed on him, breaking into sharp little shards when they struck one of the harder protrusions on his body and sending those shards into what had previously been, fairly tender skin.
She was impressed. She knew that Lamadidrons were resistant to earth based attacks and it stood to reason that rocks hitting the body were a fairly earth based attack, but she hadn't expected that he would really eventually just get tougher skin that was harder to penetrate and pierce nor that it would protect him. It made sense though in much the same way that it made sense that her hands would get tougher the longer she worked with the mining tools.
She patted Forrest again and returned to her digging.
Runa: 16.8 Forrest: 6.2 // 9.2 Mines - 19 Stone Skin - 15
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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 19:23:25 GMT -6
Although rocks and sand continued to land on or around Forrest, he was unbothered. He did not truly fall asleep, not yet comfortable in the mines with this girl to do so but nor did he remain on high alert. The sound of the shovel and the mallet were not overly loud but they did keep him awake. The grating noise of the shovel on stone was particularly unpleasant and a large part of the reason he was unable to get to sleep.
Runa glanced at Forrest as she worked, ensuring that he was till where she had left him and wasn't bothered by the rocks and stones that were falling. She noticed that every now and then he would react to something...she suspected it was probably something that he heard. Being without hearing meant that she was unable to identify when noises were too overwhelming for the ears of her creatures. She wouldn't think that anything that was occurring in the mines would be too overwhelming. Perhaps just annoying then? She would have to figure out a way to identify what noises were scary so she could start to desensitize her creatures to them in training.
She would not allow her own inability to hear to lead to shortcomings in their training.
Runa: 16.9 Forrest: 6.4 // 9.4 Mines - 20
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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 19:29:51 GMT -6
It was time for another break, Runa decided. Her hands had gotten sore again, the red splotches had returned and she really, really, did not want to deal with blisters while she was down here in the mines. She sat down next to Forrest, reclining against the wall. Forrest put his head in her lap and she scratched absently. The slimy feeling barely bothered her anymore. She felt vibrations against her thigh and assumed it was just the rumbling that the creature did. Not a purr so much because as far as she knew, they did not purr, but perhaps a rumble of contentment.
It wasn't like she could really conceptualize the rumble though or identify its intent. She would assume that, because she wasn't getting attacked, that he was ok with her stroking him and perhaps even liked it and that the rumble was a positive thing and not something to be worried about. Generally, she thought that was a pretty safe assumption when she wasn't getting her fingers eaten off for daring to touch one of her pets. They were usually pretty obvious when they didn't like something.
She could feel her eyelids growing heavy and she forced herself to stay awake. She did not want to deal with a nightmare in these mines.
Runa: 17.0 Forrest: 6.6 // 9.6 Mines - 21
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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 19:37:11 GMT -6
Despite her best efforts, Runa had fallen asleep. When she shot up from her nightmare, her eyes wild and her mouth open in a wordless and soundless scream, Forrest jumped to his feet in a panic as well, his tail lashing back and forth as he tried to identify what it was that had caused the girl's heart rate the sky rocket so. When Runa realized she was safe and the nightmare dissipated, she felt no more refreshed, just a lot more anxious. And pissed.
She took her feelings about it out on rocks. Forrest laid back down but remained alert this time, still on edge from the panic that had brought the girl out of a deep sleep so abruptly. Runa rubbed her eyes in between smashes of the mallet, furiously brushing away the tears and tiredness in them. She hadn't gotten a good night or day sleep in so long and it was infuriating. She just wanted to be able to sleep. Was that so much to ask?
Her exhaustion made her annoyed and being annoyed was rapidly eating up the little energy that she had regained while sleeping. With a dejected sigh she dropped to the ground and put her head in her hands.
Runa: 17.1 Forrest: 6.8 // 9.8 Mines - 22
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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 19:43:25 GMT -6
Forrest had edged closer to her as she sobbed, placing his nose under her arm. Runa supposed he was just on the look out for more chin scratches (because he truly seemed to adore them) but his closeness helped her regulate. She lifted her head and scratched under Forrest's chin, smiling as he lifted his head and tilted it so she could hit just the right spot. He seemed to have forgiven her for the rock and sand throwing (which seemed odd as she continued to do so while she worked in the mines). Or perhaps it really was that he was just really, really into chin scratches. She offered him a rock before pushing him away gently so she could get to her feet. Hard to do with his head in her lap or chest such as it was. She stood up and dusted herself off and wiped her eyes one last time. They were still ringed in red but she would blame the dust if anyone managed to confront her about it (odd thing to worry about, really, who was going to see her in the darkness of the mine or even approach).
She grabbed the shovel up and started digging again, coughing when she accidentally inhaled some dust and grit.
Runa: 17.2 Forrest: 7.0 // 10.0 Mines - 23
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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 19:49:54 GMT -6
Runa looked at the flashlight again and worried. It would not be amazing if that flashlight failed. It illuminated the entire area that she was working in and she had a feeling that if Forrest was skittish when she panicked that he would be even more nervous when she couldn't see. Already being unable to hear left her uniquely disadvantaged but not being able to see either? That would be a debacle.
Forrest was digging about, his claws such as they were scoring the dirt he had chosen to work with. Runa couldn't fathom why she hadn't seen a Lamadidron in the fighting competition that was being hosted right now. Surely such a creature would make an excellent fighting machine? Not, perhaps, against the Thundergug that she had at the stables but surely against other creature that were of a similar power level. She was certain that Gallant would even struggle to do damage to the smaller creature. He certainly hadn't tried.
She just wasn't sure she was emotionally prepared herself to turn the flashlight off and plunge the two of them into the darkness. She would be fairly defenseless if she did so - who knew what could happen. But then, she considered, there were healers for a reason.
Runa: 17.3 Forrest: 7.2 // 10.2 Mines - 24
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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 19:59:49 GMT -6
Where else would she have access to such pitch blackness, she reasoned as she considered her options. She was still digging as she mulled things over in her head although perhaps not with the same ferocity as before and certainly she paused every few minutes to consider her stance on training Forrest not to be afraid of the dark and whether it would be wise to leave herself blind and far more sense less.
Of course she could keep her hand on the flashlight and turn it on if she needed to, immediately even. She smashed another rock and looked at the Lamadidron. How badly would he panic when the flashlight turned off.
Still, this was the perfect avenue for training large animals not to be afraid of the dark. She could get boxes or crates for the smaller ones and black those out but she couldn't do anything similar with animals that were this large. They didn't exactly make crates for Lamadidrons - cages maybe but nothing with enclosed sides that kept the light out. Bars that they couldn't break with a swing of their tail, of course but crates, no.
She would have to do it, she decided. With a sigh, she picked up the flashlight from where she had wedged it.
Runa: 17.4 Forrest: 7.4 // 10.4 Mines - 25
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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 20:07:10 GMT -6
She tucked the mallet and shovel so that they would not get inadvertently trampled by a terrified Lamadidron. Then she sat down, holding the flashlight. Forrest, clearly anticipating more scratches, came over to her and laid down next to her. That was good. Runa rested a hand on his side, and took a deep breath. She tried to project calm to him, wishing desperately that he could feel her emotions washing over him. Maybe she should consider buying one of those ribbons for him.
Runa forced herself to refocus. She exhaled the breath she had taken and scratched Forrest before returning her hand to his side. Then, with the click of a button, Runa plunged the two of them into darkness.
Forrest's reaction was immediate as he surged to his feet in a panic. He couldn't see anything. The entire cavern was pitch black - the light was gone. They had traveled so deeply that even the light that had illuminated the closer to the surface tunnels were not there. Panic rose in the Lamadidron, threatening to overwhlem him.
Runa was not faring much better. With a grimace, she turned the light back on, taking note of the fact that Forrest was now several feet ahead of her and clearly, clearly upset. She pulled a treat out and gave it to him as an offering.
Runa: 17.5
Forrest: 7.6 // 10.6 Accept Darkness - 1
Mines - 26
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Post by Runa Deadear on Sept 6, 2024 20:20:47 GMT -6
Forrest took the offering and she sighed. They had a long road ahead of them. His reaction could have been a lot more severe, she supposed but it also could have been a lot less reactive. And ideally, she would like him to have absolutely no reaction eventually although she certainly didn't expect him to get there immediately although she did think it was rather odd that an animal that seemed right at home with the cavernous mines would not be particularly comfortable under ground in the darkness.
She stroked the Lamadidron carefully, feeling the tension leave him under her fingers as she stroked him. She was going to stay standing this time, she decided, wanting to be able to at least try and calm the Lamadidron as he panicked from a standing position. Trying to get up deaf and blind to chase down a slightly out of control rock creature seemed like a bad idea, honestly.
She waited until the Lamadidron had stopped shifting altogether and until her heart rate was back to normal and then clicked off the flashlight.
Runa was ready for the panic this time. She could sense, somehow, the swinging of his tail and managed to evade it without getting hurt but she still lost her grip on the Lamadidron who was gripped with panic. She tried to feel for him in the dark but he had jumped forward when the lights had switched off and she could neither hear nor see him.
She switched the light back on.
Runa: 17.6
Forrest: 7.8 // 10.8 Accept Darkness - 2
Mines - 27
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