Noctisardor Bypass Every performance
nomen est omen
1,069 Posts
Ooc — Jennifer
Master Guardian
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#1
All Welcome 

She called the trio forward, it was time for a bit of a trek across the territory. Not too far, at least. Just to the lake, and around its shore until she found the targets she wanted to loose the pups on. Today is a day for a challenge. We are going to the lake. The birds there are not the easiest to catch, but they are good subjects to use to practice your stalking. They will likely fly rather than turn on you. Well, there was the issue of geese but if they were keen to mess with a goose rather than something less intimidating, she'd let them figure it out on their own. 

Then she continued, bemused, If you manage to catch one? Well. I'll have to think of something -- it's beyond expectations. Perhaps it would inspire them. Arbiter wouldn't mind if that was the case. It wasn't a hideously far walk. Finding a duck or two hanging out on shore shouldn't be a problem.
Arbiter is often not a nice person and will think mean things without acting on them.
If you aren't sure whether her snarky thoughts might be readable, just ask!  IC≠OOC
the wayward son
123 Posts
Ooc — delaney
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#2
with the change of the seasons upon them, and the change in the new expectations that rest upon his shoulders ( his sisters’ too but he isn’t overly concerned with them ), vex draws forth when his mother’s call breaches the frosty air. the sweet-musk scent of fall hangs heavy in the bypass and it clings to him with vigor as he’s chosen to make a bed of decaying leaves beneath the low hanging branches of a tree placed strategically near a freshwater source. of course, this means vex will have to keep an eye upon it in case it rained like it had in august again. if it overflowed it’s boundaries then he’d have to find a new place to sleep but for now it is his spot.

he pays his sisters little mind — a brief glimpse is given in passing; since kaertok sent them on their way out of the den vex has begun to lose whatever closeness he once had for them, though if it was developing differences or the forced time apart is unclear — as he follows after arbiter, ears cupped forth to catch her words. she speaks of a challenge, of practicing stalking on birds.

a smirk plays across the growing boy’s muzzle, teasing at the edges of his lips; a look that could’ve been considered sultry if he were older. he knows instantly that he wants to be the one to catch one, if only to impress his mother.
18 Posts
Ooc — lullaby <3
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#3
Her red brother passed, his gaze gracing her for a single second and abe almost scowled at him for the short interaction. He had become distant and cold to the two girls as they grew close though she would admit that Haunt was more feral than she. Ignoring the boy amongst them she crouched down, remembering her sisters form in the moment. The white girl was always better at this activity, so Royal had learned to mimic her and observe.

Birds were thair target, their practice. It was beyond her expectations for them to actually catch one, well she would make her mother proud. She would bring her a bird, she would get the praise she deserved.
nomen est omen
1,069 Posts
Ooc — Jennifer
Master Guardian
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#4
I would like to thank Gold Shaw Farms for my knowledge of what ducks and geese like to eat, haha. Figure if anyone goes after the geese there's probably only 1 or 2 tries at them, ducks are multiple. Can do rolls for the birds if you guys want, unless you wanna freestyle and/or roll on your own!

Haunt was distracted, at least for now. A lake was a plentiful place where things were still tempting and new while the good weather lasted. Arbiter didn't mind. So she looked back to Royal and Vex to see what they were thinking. She was glad to see they were up for the challenge, and a smirk wove across her face, And one thing for you to know -- the ducks are like rabbits, they will almost certainly flee, but the geese act more like a stag, there's more of a chance they'll turn on you since you're not as big as me. Observe, choose your prey wisely, then try. She broke away from them then, moving away from the water towards the trees where she'd be less conspicuous while still having a good view of the scene. 

Ducks were plentiful and a variety of ages and genders (not that age was always easy to tell once they'd feathered out). Small groups sat along the shore, some napping, some picking at bugs or coming in or out of the water -- of course, some were off shore as well, but overall they were social birds and so quite happy to hang out in greater numbers. They were aware of their defenselessness, but often knew just how far they had to move to stay out of reach. The shallows were popular with them as well, as they swept through reedy shallow patches in search of water bugs. 

The geese were farther from the shore and farther from the wolves, plucking grass and weeds. There might be some cover there from bushes that turned to small copses in patches around the lake, but being active and attentive and chattering to each other as they wove around. It was more likely a family group of about eight birds, with some goslings that were now relatively indistinguishable from their parents, still being shown the ways of the world.
Arbiter is often not a nice person and will think mean things without acting on them.
If you aren't sure whether her snarky thoughts might be readable, just ask!  IC≠OOC
the wayward son
123 Posts
Ooc — delaney
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#5
did my own dice rolls here. i probably set him up for certain failure but vex doesn't get the goose. :(

their options are limited to ducks and geese; and though vex is eager to begin he tempers his impatience; stifling it. especially as arbiter offers them a tidbit of helpful information. ducks were likely flee — like rabbits, she said — and geese? they long necked fiends would likely turn on them. he peers at the collection; surveying, weighing his options.

if he could isolate a goose, perhaps he’d have a chance of taking it down even if it turned on him. especially if it turned on him …

vex’s decision made, he charges, chasing after a goose for a few heartbeats before the bird turns on him, as arbiter warned. cocky and entirely unexperienced he blunders again and again and earns himself a punishing nip of it’s beak to his ear. and then his muzzle as he keeps snapping at it.

he draws back as it flaps its wings at him and he lunges for it again, too stubborn to admit his defeat. he finally is forced to admit it when it takes off across a stream and he is left to return to arbiter and his sisters, splices of his flesh sore but dull in comparison to the humiliation and defeat that festers in his pride.
nomen est omen
1,069 Posts
Ooc — Jennifer
Master Guardian
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#6
Arbiter watched Vex make his attempt. Valiant, yes, but geese are jerks, so of course they had their own thought about the whole thing. He should be happy they didn't have swans here or he'd have been swatted halfway across the beach! Okay, maybe not so far but a swan wouldn't be intimidated at all by the pup. He might have felt humiliated, but had she not said failure was expected? And in all honesty, better to get whacked by a goose than something with hooves.

While his sisters did their own thing, she offered some tips, Surprise will get you closer. Move slowly and watch the routines. Similar to a deer you would watch when it lowers its head to eat, when its eyes will be blocked by the grass and the brush. The longer it takes to be seen, the closer you get. The closer you are when it realizes, the more it might panic, the more it might run, the more it might do something foolish. When you hunt something that can escape, surprise is the best choice. Look at them there. She pointed her nose. Though the adults were watching them warily, even from this distance, the younger birds had already started rooting about for grasses and weeds, like the feathery lawnmowers they were.

Arbiter started slowly walking towards where the geese had settled, it was a casual, not-dangerous stride, but with their feathers ruffled, the geese weren't going to stop eyeballing them quite yet. If you were closer, where would you strike from? It wasn't like the landscape there was much different than here.
Arbiter is often not a nice person and will think mean things without acting on them.
If you aren't sure whether her snarky thoughts might be readable, just ask!  IC≠OOC