Bonds and Bites, Quick leveling thread

[Vixen]

Vixen found herself thinking, briefly, about Ashe. It was irritating; he was always there... It had gotten so far, she had a dream about him. No, not a dream, but he was there... It was impossible for her to recall details, but the recollection of him being there was clear enough. It was some sort of warped reality- did she even want to remember? It was probably sexual frustration, or something. Yet... wasn't Zyler there too? Zyler was there, Ashe was there, but Ashe wasn't Ashe. She had been stupid enough to sleep with Chenoa's ribbon on, so maybe it was a sort of vision that came through. There was a lot of snarling, but some of it was from Ashe. Why couldn't she remember his face? There were just massive shapes, fur, snarling... It looked different from her own eyes, too. She had been on the ground, but the ground didn't feel right, she felt different, bigger somehow... Yet when she tried to ask Chenoa about it when she woke up, the halfbreed had shook her off in a 'what will come will come' attitude.

"Muertes." Redirect your attention to training, it's simpler that way... "Muertes." Nessie nipped her, then, after more urging, bit her. Finally! "Good..." Treats, strokes... Repeat. "Muertes." Rather than building up to the bite, Nessie bit her with a decent amount of force rather quickly. Vixen rewarded her with several sardine-like fish. "I think... You almost got it." Nessie bumped her snout to Vixen's palm, rubbing affectionately. The more time she spent with Vixen, the less she saw her as 'keeper of food' and more like 'member of her pod'. Though, the things she put her through were... odd... Such as making her bite random things...

Lore, meanwhile, was fairly distracted, playing with the rope energetically. Vixen watched him a moment, trying to imagine living without sight, with just sound frequencies... It was difficult, though she could picture how it worked. "Lore." He ignored her a moment, intent on trying to... What was he even trying to do with the rope? "Lore!" The call was louder, more insistent. His body turned to face her, as the lack of an actual neck made it impossible for him to turn his head. "Lore." She held a fish to the water by its tail and shook it, creating small waves. The Neptica came to her once more, eager for a treat. When she pulled the fish up, he opened his mouth expectantly, eager squeaking noises echoing up to her. Grinning, she tossed the fish into his wide mouth and patted the side of his head, allowing him to go.

((Nessie, 10.1, Bite 7
Lore 2/5, Come to name 2
Vixxy 72.8))

[Vixen]

What had she even brought with her? The usual beach stuff... She grabbed a towel and twisted the end before presenting it to Nessie. She sniffed it and quickly lost interest when it was recognized as neither food nor plaything. "Muertes." Ah- command? She was supposed to bite that thing? Nessie only eyed it, but when the command was repeated, she relented and bit the rag, shaking it slightly. Vixen rubbed her broad forehead and rewarded her verbally. "Good honey... Yeah, you got it. Why don't you bite a few more things first, though?" The leather bracer, now off her arm, was held before her, the command given. This time, Nessie did not wait for the command to be repeated; instead, she quickly delivered a bite, creating an indention in the leather. Vixen didn't say anything, only rubbed Nessie's slick chin, praising her silently.

Vixen watched Lore, but decided he was too close to practice his trick. Instead, she sat up on her heels and dug through her bag. Somewhere... Ah! She retrieved a large sketch pad, flipping through until she found a blank page. After a bit of wiggling, she managed to remove the pencil she had stuck in its spiral spine page-holder. The lead hovered above the paper a moment before touching home. It created an arch, a circle, a series of circles... A short oval was attached to the first shape, then a bridge was formed between the two, creating a head an a muzzle. The over all animal was rounded, with no definite features besides a tail fluke, a dorsal fin, and the faintest trace of flippers. Lore? Quite possibly.

Most of the outline was formed before she thought to look up, and the male was several dozen yards away. "Lore!" He turned towards her briefly, then lost interest. "Hey now, ignoring isn't nice. Loooore!" When he smelled (or 'saw', who knew) the fish she had grabbed, he then headed over. It was amazing, how well he could navigate, despite his lack of eyesight. She dangled the fish over the edge, teasing him. He raised himself briefly from the water, using his large tail to propel himself vertically. His teeth closed over the head head of the sardine and he landed with a slight splash, making Vixen flinch back. She managed a laugh, though, and rubbed his rounded forehead. Nessie watched, and Vixen got the vague impression of jealousy. She grunted and tried to stretch out her other arm to pat the Lasiobel, but she twisted her head away. "Aw, don't be so mean."

((Nessie, 10.2, Bite 8, Complete
Lore 3/5, Come to name 3
Vixxy 73.4))

[Vixen]

Nessie simply wasn't having it. She glided away from Vixen, quietly shunning her 'mom' of sorts. Nessie was used to being the center of attention. Even when she had been out with those two Pliathor, Vixen's main focus had remained on her. And she was always the only one who got pats and other such special treatment. She maintained the distance between her and Vixen frostily, jealous. She'd just have to wait until Lore was gone, then she'd make sure Vixen loved her best... She was, after all, her parent. She'd always been here- that new thing wasn't familiar and didn't belong. Maybe he'd be one of those creatures she never saw again, like the Pliathor...

Vixen rolled her eyes and, grabbing a few fish, slipped into a water. She needed to work with Nessie anyway... Lore followed after her, but she pushed gently against his broad, slick side. He nudged her arm briefly but left, picking up on the unfriendly vibe Nessie gave off. Vixen eyed her Lasiobel briefly, trying to figure out exactly how to teach what was commonly referred to as 'bashing'. "Nessie." The Wake turned towards her, pleased to have the attention where it belonged. "Okay... Aquí, Nessie." Nessie began to close the gap between them, only to have Vixen retreat away from her. What? "Nessie, aquí," Vixen prompted. Nessie followed again, right on Vixen's figurative tail. Vixen swam by one of the supporting legs of the dock and bumped her shoulder as she passed. "Empujas."

Nessie just didn't understand... There was this new word, and Vixen seemed to deliberately push into the dock as she passed. Nessie went around, and Vixen shook her head. "No- Nessie, aquí again..." Nessie trailed behind Vixen, and watched again as the girl deliberately slammed her shoulder into the wood. Vixen bit back a slight whimper, as she had maybe overdone it to prove her point. "Empujas." She turned to watch Nessie, and when the Lasiobel passed the dock leg, Vixen pushed her shoulder into it- a bit of a daunting task, as they were in the water and Nessie weight over twice as much as she did. Thankfully, Nessie got her meaning well enough and touched her shoulder lightly to the dock. "Empujas," Vixen stressed, rewarded the girl with fish. "Good baby..."

Vixen redirected her attention to Lore, who was... not there? She frowned. He had to be around... She stuck her head under the water, and though she loathed the action, opened her eyes to peer around. Something with flashy contrasting colors was several yards ahead, though hard to make out. When she re-surfaced, she rubbed her eyes irritably, the lake water having left them feeling dry. "Lore!" He had to still hear her, right? She waited a moment, then patted the water enough to splash. "Lore!" He surfaced near her, having associated that word with 'fishsnacks'. "Who's a good boy?" Vixen hand-fed him his fish, running her palm along his slick body. "Who's a good boy? You are, yeah..."

((Nessie, 10.3, Bash 1
Lore 4/5, Come to name 4
Vixxy 75.7))

[Vixen]

Oh, this just was not tolerable. Nessie tried to wedge her head between the two, but Vixen blocked her. "Wait your turn." The words carried no meaning to Nessie; she was too bothered. There wasn't any 'turns', there was just her. Her, and this stranger intruding upon her territory. Her person- yeah, her person... She headbutted Vixen's arm. "Nessie, no." Ouch, reprimand... She backtracked and again tried to wiggle herself between Lore and Vixen. Hey, I'm here, damn it! she seemed to say. Vixen, frustrated, gave in and Lore swam away, rather displeased at being rudely shoved as he had been. "You need to get over this new 'my mommy' phase, Ness. It's terrible." Nessie didn't pay her any mind, content to rub her face against Vixen's bare belly.

"If you're so set on pleasing me, then lets see if you can do this right. Come along... Aquí." Vixen swam towards the dock again, this time taking care to bump the opposite shoulder into the dock. The other was full of heat and throbbing; she could already tell it'd be bruised. Ah, the things she did for training. "Empujas." Nessie followed behind her, again choosing to swim around the dock. Vixen swam past the dock again, the new direction forcing her to use the tender shoulder. "You better start picking up on this before I dislocate my shoulder..." She bumped into the dock, exhaling sharply. "Empujas." She shoved against Nessie again as the Lasiobel followed her, brushing her shoulder to it. "Empujas..." Vixen rewarded Nessie with a small fish.

"Lore, c'mere... You two are gonna have to get used to each other." At his name, the Neptica turned. "Lore," Vixen repeated. He started forward, the paused, as if hesitant. "Yeah, good boy, Lore. Keep coming... Lore, Lore..." The encouraging tone was enough, and he closed the gap swiftly. Nessie tried to wiggle between them to block his access, but Vixen shoved her away. "Good boy." She slipped a fish into his waiting mouth, and he made a happy squealing-type noise. "What a good baby..." A hollow slapping noise was created when Vixen slapped her hand on his back, patting him. Jesus, he was huge. He had to be three feet longer than she was tall, at least...

((Nessie, 10.4, Bash 2
Lore 1, Come to name 5
Vixxy 75.8))

[Vixen]

Nessie tried to separate them, but Vixen looped her arm around Lore best she could, near his dorsal fin. An inquisitive clicking sounded from Lore, and he curved his body in a semi-circle so he could face her- a bit of an essential for echolocation, if Vixen remembered correctly from her readings. Establishing that she was friendly, she ran her hand along his slick back. "Hey lovely..." Vixen rubbed under his chin firmly, and he butted her with his nose playfully. She winced, as the dolphin did not know his own strength. She rubbed his face, pausing over the slight indention where an eye might have been, had the species been designed to sport them. "You are the odd one, aren't y... Nessie, really?" The Lasiobel was nudging Lore roughly with her snout, trying to draw him away from Vixen. Irritated, Vixen kicked away from Lore. "Nessie, aquí..."

Nessie followed after, pleased... Until Vixen stared to head towards the dock again. Not that again!... Yet, Vixen once again bumped her shoulder to the dock. "Empujas." Nessie follow, and Vixen pushed against her broad side to make shoulder contact with the dock, as the Lasiobel wasn't really doing it on her own. True, she was cruising close to the wood, but not actually brushing it... Contact now, slamming later, just as they had done with biting. Vixen circled back and bumped her shoulder against the dock once more. "Empujas, Nessie..." She treaded water near the dock post, narrowing Nessie's pathway and forcing her to brush her shoulder against the dock. "Good baby...." Nessie felt a vague connection- word, shoulder bump... After Vixen gave Nessie the fish, she glanced towards Lore.

"Lore, hey babe. C'mere... Looooore." He started towards her with less hesitancy this time, cutting easily through the water. Vixen rubbed his chin again, tossing a fish into his mouth. Nessie neared them somewhat timidly. Vixen eyed her warily. "Be nice..." The Lasiobel nudged Lore lightly, then continued on to Vixen, laying her head over Vixen's arm to gain attention. "See, that's nicer... And you still get my attention, yeah?" Vixen rubbed the shiny white star on Nessie's forehead in silent praise of her good behavior.

((Nessie, 11, Bash 3
Lore 1.1, Come to name 6
Vixxy 75.9))

[Vixen]

"Okay... Lets get back to training, I think we're on a bit of a roll." Vixen clicked her tongue and kicked towards the dock. "Nessie, aquí." Rather than demonstrating herself, Vixen patted the dock. "Empujas, Nessie." The Lasiobel stared at the dock post a moment, remembering. Word, shoulder touch... She floated near it, and after a brief hesitation, she brushed her shoulder lightly against the wood. It wasn't exactly pleasant, but Vixen praised her a considerable amount. Well, given the reaction and the fish, she supposed it wasn't so bad... Vixen rubbed the shoulder Nessie had been using to slam the posts. "Such a good girl.. even though training you makes me smell like fish." Vixen pushed back to the next post, slapping it firmly to get Nessie's attention. "Empujas." Less hesitant now, Nessie collided her shoulder ever-so-slightly against, the dock. Vixen rewarded her with a couple of fish, now aiming to work on hardness.

Now, to see if Lore has learned his cue... "Lore, hey boy! Looore." His body twisted and he made a beeline for her and her voice. When the large animal reached her, she ran her palms over the sides of his head and kissed his nose. "That's such a good boy, that's such a good, smart baby boy... Yeah you are, yeah you are," she crooned, entering full baby-talk mode. It was difficult to tell if the Neptica was happy due to his lack of eyes, but thankfully he was quite vocal. A series of clicks and chitters she now associated with being happy sounded from him, and he wiggled a bit between her hands. Vixen patted Lore's head and slipped to the side of him, closer to Nessie. "I think... We should go ahead and try to finish this bash-training stuff. I'm not sure I like bruising my shoulder. Pluuus, I want to go ahead and get home to get ready for tonight."

((Nessie, 11.1, Bash 4
Lore 1.2, Come to name 7
Vixxy 76))

[Vixen]

"Of course, I'll be going to an empty home, since Obsidion flew the coop... I don't get it, I really don't." Vixen was met by silence, Nessie staring at her and Lore... Er... Listening, she supposed. She rubbed his slick body absently. "I've known him for a couple of years now, and known him well. ...Really well as of late, actually." Her face reddened a bit, and not from the sun.. "And then he just... He poofs. I mean, what am I supposed to do with that? And seriously, leaving me with all his pets? I don't mind, but it's still selfish and totally not like him." He was such a sweet and considerate person... She felt her head pulse the slightest bit. Damn it, never mind. Giving Lore a final pat, she cruised towards the dock once more.

"Nessie, empujas." When Nessie neared and bumped her shoulder, Vixen pushed her harder against the dock, making sure that she gave it a firm push. Nessie turned her head to the side, narrowing her blue eyes the slightest bit. Hey- what was that for? Vixen slipped her a fish or two and slipped near to another dock post. She patted it once more. "Empujas." When Nessie brushed it, Vixen shook her head and went to another post, further along. Nessie stared after her, bewildered and somewhat irritated. Wasn't that right? "Nessie, empujas." Nessie brushed the dock, a bit harder this time, and Vixen rubbed the Lasiobel's forehead and offered her a fish. "What a good sweetie..."

((Nessie, 11.2, Bash 5
Lore 1.3
Vixxy 76.1))

[Vixen]

Just a bit harder, and they'd have it... Vixen moved to the post parallel to the one she was stationed at. Lore followed after her, not exactly favoring being alone or ignored. Vixen rubbed his slick skin in welcome, crooning softly. "Such a pretty boy... As irritated as I am at Obs, I'm still in his debt for getting me so many beautiful... No, no, you know what? I can't be bribed... Damn it. It's one thing when he does it as sweet surprises, but when the man gets me SIX specials just because I got upset with him, it turns into bribery. I'm not a gold-digger, I'm really not." With the last huff, she patted Lore and returned her attention to Nessie, who was idle in the waves and awaiting a command.

"Nessie, empujas." She slapped the dock, and Nessie sped towards it, gaining momentum. "Get it get it get it... GOOD GIRL." The calf had slammed her 300 pounds into the dock with enough force to send vibrations through the water... Though it still wasn't quite hard enough, Vixen slipped her a fish, trying to keep the motivation going. She kicked towards the next post, and gave the command once more. Nessie shouldered it, none harder than before. When she received no praise despite the shot of pain through her shoulder, she grew irritated. Damn it, she had done it hard! How much harder did she need it? Now ill-tempered, she watched Vixen go to the next post and braced herself.

Vixen slapped the dock to entire Nessie. "Empujas!" Nessie shot forward, full speed. Her head lowered to help secure herself. Closer and closer... Vixen chewed her lip in anticipation. Finally! Nessie connected to the dock, and the actual structure trembled. "Good girl! That's such a good girl!" Vixen slipped her multiple fish and praised her lavishly. "You got it... That's such a good girl.."

((Nessie, 11.3, Bash 6, Done
Lore 1.4
Vixxy 76.2))