Solo New Companion

[Jasmine Stormblood]

15th of Spring 517 A.V.

Jasmine walked out of the pavilion with a smile. She was excited to work with the dogs again for the day. There was much for her to learn about the commands each breed would need. The woman had been working with the herding dogs lately. Thankfully Tomma had decided to take over working with the birds for the day. Even with the amount of work the cats and dogs needed, the falcons and vultures needed more. They needed to be worked daily by someone so that the creatures did not become restless. The woman was excited to work with the guard dogs for a bit before Asher came in. The man had told the blonde that he was interested in getting a good herding dog.

“Morning!” Jasmine called out upon her arrival at the business.

“Ah welcome back. You are working with the herders this morning,” Tomma told her with a smile while getting ready to work with one of the falcons.

The blonde nodded and walked back towards where the dogs were. The first to greet her were the Painted Desert Dog, then the Grassland Hunters sat at attention, just before the Shepards was the Shadow Dogs used mostly for protection around the pavilions. It was the Helevaos shepards that the blonde would be working with for the day. It was one of the beautiful multicolored animals, Asher was looking for to help him around the herds. The young ones that came out to help the older Drykas were nice, but after a hard days work both set of nerves would be on edge.

Whistling the woman motioned for two dogs to jump over. The first a female of beautiful coloring, the second a male also of beautiful coloring, Jasmine was glad to hear the sound of chickens out back. That meant there was other animals to train the two dogs on. Smiling the woman stood at the back of the pavilion clicking her tongue making the dogs stop in front of her legs. Using the sign for herd, the woman watched as the two dogs trotted to either side of the birds before crouching low to the ground. The dogs kept from growling as they stalked forward, whistling loudly the two animals rushed forward barking and growling. Chicken cawing could be heard as the birds tried to run from the canines. The woman watched with a smile as soon the two creatures had the fowls rounded up into a small practice pen. Walking over she closed the door and latched it before offering them rewards. Motioning for them to return to their starting positions, she allowed the birds out again. The male and female Shepards took up the beginning positions again crouching waiting for the woman to tell them to start. Raising her arm, Jasmine signaled for them to start before moving out of the pairs way so they could do their stuff.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

Jasmine watched as the two growled quietly alerting the chickens to their presence. Soon it was total chaos as birds flew and ran every where nearly taking out the blonde a few times. Whistling loudly the two novice dogs came in, and she sent out two trained dogs. It took nearly half a bell, but soon the birds were rounded up by the animals. Panting the woman was happy to see that everything was back under control. Tomma walked up laughing after watching the display. Patting the girl on the shoulder he took deep breaths in order to calm down from his fit.

“I know I know. I forgot the sign for silence,” Jasmine said with a pout.

“Yes, but I have to say your quick thinking showed itself today. It could have been a disaster if you had not brought in the veterans,” Tomma explained.

“Thanks, I realized that just as soon as they started moving. But I remember you said not to stop them once they have began,” Jasmine said.

“Right, but you can correct the action by whistling once and making the sign before they get close,” Tomma said.

“Okay,” Jasmine stated.

She took a deep breath and gave the new pups the command again. The woman purposely left out the command for silence. Waiting for Tomma's mark, she let out a sharp whistle and gave the command for silence and continue. Instantly the only thing that could be heard was the clucking of chickens. The man nodded watching the novice handler give commands with authority. If she had no confidence, then the animals would ignore her.

The blonde blushed thinking about her ankal; he had been giving her lessons in confidence. She was no stranger to speaking her mind, but having real confidence was much different. Whistling lightly the two dogs rebounded to her while barking excitedly. She knew that Tomma would bring the fat off any kill at his pavilion to the business, and use it to treat the dogs and cats during training.

“Very well done Jasmine. You're control and confidence is getting better every time you work with the dogs,” Tomma said walking over.

“Thank you,” Jasmine stated with a smile.

The man returned inside of the tent as the girl continued her drills. It would be another bell before Asher would finally have time to come over to the Predators Post. Walking to the front, she waved at him as the four dogs followed her closely. Asher smiled and touched his forehead to Jasmine's before looking at the animals. The blonde gave them the command to sit with a smirk as he walked around them. He was looking for the one most willing to listen and learn from the man. The elder Drykas was much more experienced animal handler between the pair.

“What are they?” Asher asked looking at her.

“The two back dogs on each side are males, and the two forward dogs are females,” Jasmine explained.

[Jasmine Stormblood]

Jasmine watched as he limped around the animals some. His limp was more pronounced in the afternoons than in the evenings. She knew he would have a much less visible limp after getting a dog to help round up the animals. An excited twitch from the younger male caught the girl's eye and apparently Asher's as well. She made a face at the animal making it at least sit in place. It moved both front paws in regular intervals as the tail flapped against the ground. The man moved closer making the sign for male. Nodding the girl moved the two females into the back letting him choose which would soot his needs better. Returning the blonde stood back allowing him to poke and prod the animals while checking on their general health.

“Do they go to the Healing Hoof regularly?” Asher asked looking at the woman.

“Yes, they are taken twice a season. The pups three times a season normally every thirty days,” Jasmine explained knowing the need to keep them checked on.

The older animals were not taken as often due to the two workers keeping their hair cut short. The shorter the fur the easier it was for them to cool off after training. The man asked to be shown how the two male dogs performed while herding animals. She agreed telling him that the pair only had chickens to work on seeing as how Tomma did not have anything bigger or at least not at the business yet. He told the worker that he would bring in a couple of goats when it was time for them to move on to bigger animals.

“That is fine,” Asher said while following the woman.

Jasmine lead them out and made sure he was comfortable. Seeing the chickens were pecking again, she gave the older of the pair the command to lie down before stepping forward with the younger. The animal twitched and almost paced in place waiting on her instruction to begin. Making the sign for quiet and begin, the woman watched as it dropped down staying low with a soft barely audible growl to the two humans. Glaring some the blonde snapped twice and made the command for silence again before the animal finally acknowledged. She nodded as it soon became a fluster of fur and feathers, walking over to the holding area the woman waited. Not moving to help the blonde watched as the chickens were wrangled in with a little bit of difficulty. Once completed the Drykas knelt down and praised him then returned gave the command to return. Releasing the chickens, they scattered farther about making the trained dogs job more entertaining to watch once given the command to begin. Whistling one long sound, the woman gave the start command from her position beside the gate. Going down instantly, the canine disappeared into the grass almost immediately. Asher nodded while watching the display amazed at even the untrained animals ability to blend in to the grass.

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[Jasmine Stormblood]

The blonde looked back at the elderly man wanting to figure out what he was thinking. She wanted to keep a close tab on him as the older dog had soon gathered up all the birds. The woman walked in front of the opening closing the door and hooking it into place with the piece of rope. Patting her side while heading back up to the older man to see what he thought. There was still more that the girl could show him, but she doubted he cared if the animals could keep up with a strider. The guard members always wanted the dogs that could keep up with them on horseback.

“So, what did you think?” Jasmine asked with a smile to the man.

“Impressive. Both did very well, the older was very efficient and focused. While the little one had plenty of energy and looked like it could have just kept going,” Asher stated as he gazed at the two beasts.

“I have seen Tomma working with him for many bells before and him not tire. He has plenty of energy to spare, of course it could just his age,” Jasmine stated and knelt down with a smile.

The pup ran over and barked loudly in the blonde's ear. Grunting some she made the sign for silence and stood up with a smile. The girl was very proud of the animal; it was learning the signs well. All a drykas or outsider had to learn was the correct animal calls and signs in order for the pair to bond well. Looking back over the woman listened to his concerns with an open mind. There was much that was unknown to her, so it was no surprise when the man had worries and questions about temperament.

“The older one of course has a very calm and even temperament. I equate that to age and training; the younger however,” Jasmine started and yelped nearly falling over when the pup got too excited while sitting down.

With a soft growl, she put them both back with the rest and watched as the elder rested. The youthful pup ran off to go play with several other young dogs that were in the process of being trained. Turning the young woman approached the old herdsman before sitting beside him letting him think. Finally the man seemed to come to a decision. He stood up with a grunt and slowly made his way over to the pen. Whistling loudly the two male dogs walked over and sat at attention waiting on his decision.

“Which have you chosen?” Jasmine asked with a smile happy to know that one of these animals will be joining her home.

“The younger male. I may choose his name yes?” Asher asked looking at the woman.

“Yes, sir. I will let Tomma know while you decide a name for him,” Jasmine stated and stepped away going to get the owner, “Tomma? Asher has chosen his companion.”

“Ah good. Give me just a moment,” the Drykas said and stepped out walking over with her.

“Have you decided?” Jasmine asked.

“Yes, his name is Little Bit,” Asher said.

Jasmine lifted the dog over and put a leash on him for the walk home, and Asher to use till the dog is used to staying by him.

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[Jasmine Stormblood]

The man smiled down at the creature and made the sign for it to sit. Cocking its head to the side, the canine sat down and looked up at him with big eyes. Jasmine handed Asher the leash to hold before kneeling down beside the pup. She fixed the collar first while getting doggy kisses all over her face. Asher chuckled quietly while watching her interact with the animal. He was surprised at how much the girl loved the dog. The man had not known the woman to have as big a heart as she did; especially given her family history. Maximus Moonstone was not a kind man to those that crossed him, and from the marks on the blonde when she arrived. The pair had gotten into a fight for some reason or another.

“Alright let's head to the front and get you taken care of shall we?” Jasmine asked with a smile before leading the way.

Asher clicked his tongue and smiled as the dog bounded beside him not bothered by the leash at all. It would not be long and the animal would no longer require a collar. The instrument was only used with new owners, and pups that were very small and easy to lose in the grass during training. Grabbing a tie on the way to the entrance, the woman tied her hair up in a ponytail in order to keep the hair from getting in her face. It was also an excellent way to avoid some of the heat that came with Syna's reign. The blonde stuck one hand out into her light relaxing some feeling the unusual heat once again. Though the temperature was unbearable, the woman felt a need to be close to her goddess. Jasmine hated that she never seemed to have enough time to spend with the woman who had marked her almost a year ago. It did not take long and Asher had paid the girl before leaving with the dog in tow.

“Now back to work,” Jasmine stated before turning around and returning inside.

The blonde spent the next several bells working with another pair of pups that were in the process of being trained. Tomma watched the girl's progress with the animals pleased by what he was seeing come from her efforts. He was happy to see the woman taking each new challenge with a head on charge. She was not afraid to take on anything he asked of her no matter what it was. That included helping with any wild animals that come in hurt or pets that are hurt by a wild animal.

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