Returning Shepherd

Tawny Wagner · 08-19-2011, 02:03 PM

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anyone who is familiar with animals/livestock is welcome.

Word Count → 838

Tawny was sad to be leaving Mr. Bojangles and the majority of the llamas, but she knew it was time to get back home. She had desperately wanted to stay with the man longer, feeling as if he was a grandfather figure replacing the parents who had hurt her so bad. Bojangles would forever be in her heart and memories as family, someone that she loved and would have liked to gotten to know better. Her time with him had been fun and a huge learning experience; also it was a time for her to learn how to relax around people again. The old man was such a kindred soul; he kind of helped her see the good in others once more. Not seeing him ever again was going to be very tough on her.

The fact that the old man had given her so much to take back with her…enough things to load onto the llamas he was sending as well. The five she had consisted of Rama, the pregnant alpha female of the now small herd, Rama’s big mate named Puppy, another large male named Jack, and two other smaller but very strong females named Daisy and Lala. All of them but Rama were loaded down with bags and packs, not enough to be much of a burden; they were all strong enough to carry a lot more. The only thing that the lead female was carrying was Tawny’s personal backpack, which contained her food supply and bedding things.

They’d been walking all day, having left in the morning as the sun came up. With the llamas in tow, Tawny was finding it a lot easier to travel. They not only carried her bags and such, but they knew the mountain well and could detect danger before she could. More than once, Rama had forced the girl to stop moving and watched as a predator passed in the distance. Whether it was a predator that was detrimental to their health, it never mattered. Just the fact that there was something slightly dangerous was room enough for them to protest and take a small break to take in their surroundings again. Tawny was thankful for their watchful eyes, knowing that if they hadn’t been there, she probably would have gotten hurt a few times.

The trip going back home to Ichicka no Ho-en was apparently going to be a lot shorter than her trip up the mountain side. By the time the sun was starting to set, she was able to smell the scents of her pack mates in the air. Despite her excitement to get back, she forced herself to make camp for the night. The llamas gathered all together in a semi-circle, lying down around their new shepherd. Tawny didn’t even need her warm flag out because their thick coats were so warm and fluffy. Feeling comfortable and supremely safe with the large beasts, the girl had no problems falling asleep and snoozing through the night.

Sunlight filtered through her eyelids, causing her to groan softly and roll over. Her face met a bog fluffy tummy and she opened her eyes, looking around. All of the llamas except for Lala were up and grazing around the wolf woman. The smallest female was still laying there with her, munching on some grass that was within reach of her long neck. Tawny chuckled softly to herself and ran her hands over the female’s back and stomach gently, rubbing in a way that she knew the creatures appreciated greatly.

After a while of just lounging around and snacking, Tawny tied the lead rope onto Rama’s head and began walking again. All of the other llamas fell into step behind their lead female, having no problems with walking without being attached by ropes. Keeping just outside the borders of Ichika, Tawny sniffed her way around until she began smelling hints of horses and cows, right where she wanted to be. After penetrating the border, it was only a few miles inland to get to the ranch were the livestock was kept. It was easy to lead her new herd right into the farm yard without any incident. The llamas didn’t freak out, and she couldn’t smell or hear anyone nearby, perhaps it was still too early in the morning, she wasn’t sure.

The girl led the llamas into a smaller area of the horse pasture, a part that was closed off by a make-shift fence. Her hands untied the lead rope on Rama’s head and let her go with the others, watching with a happy smile as they explored the small enclosure. Going into the barn, she grabbed a bucket and searched for water, returning and giving the llamas something to drink, figuring they could just eat the grass until she figured out what to feed them. In the meantime, she found some brushes and started combing through their thick coats, getting rid of the tangles and debris caught from sleeping on the ground the night before.

Table code by the Mentors!

Saul Stormbringer · 08-23-2011, 05:52 PM

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since nobody else seems interested! <33

The day was only just beginning and the agouti male had risen. It was natural for him to rise before dawn and head out to the river before his morning run, but today he'd woken up just a bit earlier than normal. Siku had been gone for only a few days and he'd been trying to track her down. He wasnt making any headway and he was beginning to give up. He wasnt going to find her and she wasnt going to come back. It made sense though- she'd been absent for the past few weeks and he'd barely seen her at all. It was sad and he felt a tug at his heart when he thought of her, but perhaps it was for the best. She wasnt happy here and he could see that as she withdrew more and more in on herself. Still, it was also difficult to know that she hadnt stopped long enough to say goodbye or tell him where she was going. So he'd given up the search and begun to get on with the routine he'd worked around his day.

He moved away from Cerne Rise, glancing back once to make sure everything was safe and secure. He had become just a little paranoid since Wretch's attack and he'd made sure that the apartment complex was secure whenever he left, even if the rest of the household would be in and out all day. He moved swiftly towards the ranch, hoping to let the horses out before Adonia rose and give her a surprise when she came to check on the animals. The morning sun was just beginning to break at an angle over the mountains when a peculiar sight caught his eye. In a corner of the paddock that wasnt usually use, five large shaggy animals were laying down. In between them, was Tawny. With a brush. Confusion crossed the males face as he descended towards them, trying to figure out if he'd ever seen these creatures before. Coming to the conclusion that they were alien to him, he came to a stop outside the fence.

"Good morning Tawny... you have some strange creatures in the paddock..."

He stated, chuckling softly as he leaned against the fence, long and thickly muscles body stretching out asa he got a good eyefull of the animals Tawny had bought home. She was definitely going to have to explain what they were, for he had no clue.

word count → 000 ;; image © Fir0002/Flagstaffotos ;; table by lin

Tawny Wagner · 08-23-2011, 10:19 PM

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sorry this sucks. -__- i'm not feeling so great at the moment. bleh.

Word Count → 469

Tawny was having a good time brushing the llamas, who were lying in a circle around her while grazing on what grass they could reach with their long necks. The smallest female, Lala, seemed to like the woman most, and was always close to her. Nothing different about this moment, she was laid out right behind the wolf, letting the new shepherd lean on her body as she brushed. A lot of the clumped fur was coming off in the horse brush, so she balled it up and set it aside, noting how soft it was against her palms. After a long while of brushing, she was getting ready to get up and see if there were any special treats in the barn that she could dole out to her new babies.

Suddenly Rama stood up and made a low grunting sound, her ears pinned and body shifting nervously. All of the other llamas got up quickly after that and turned to watch whatever was coming, a soft ‘humming’ noise traveling through all their throats. Tawny flicked her ears back and turned, grinning as Saul stood there looking supremely confused as he looked over the animals. Seeing that Rama was about to spit, she jumped forward and rubbed her hands over the female’s neck and shoulders, calming her down a bit. ”Shhh…shhhh…good g-girl.” She smiled and hugged the large female for a few moments before climbing over the fence and walking over to Saul.

The smile just wouldn’t leave her face, showing her happiness at being home with her new pets. When she got to the large male, she leaned against him and gave him a small hug before pulling away. ”They are…llamas.” Her body wriggled with excitement and she lifted herself to sit up on a part of the sturdy fence, kicking her feet back and forth. ”I went ex…exploring and found Bojangles…” The girl’s eyes filled with tears at the mention of the name and she shook her head sadly, wiping at her face. ”I th-think he is d-d-dead now.” Sniffling sadly, she sighed and looked at the ground. ”He had more llamas. All alone up there, so he gave me some to bring home. He was so old.”

She closed her eyes and turned her head, opening them to look at the llamas who were still alert and watching Saul. Lifting her hand, she started pointing and naming. ”Big dark female is Rama, the black and white male is puppy. That male is Jack, and the dusty girl is Daisy…then my little girl, Lala.”In the days that she had been gone, Tawny’s speech had gotten better; most likely because of her ability to talk to Bojangles without being nervous around him. ”Just…don’t get Rama or Puppy, okay? They are mean. Lala is the nicest.”

Table code by the Mentors!

Saul Stormbringer · 08-26-2011, 01:51 PM

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<33

Green eyes were wary as he looked towards the animals that surronded Tawny. They were larger than her, most likely much more powerful than she was. While she was laying close to the smallest of the five, his eyes were trained on the larger two, who had begun to make disgruntled noises, standing and making a noise that he could only describe as a hum. He stayed where he was, languid body leaning against the fence post, green eyes trained on the dark female in the midst of the shifting animals. If she wasnt so calm in this pen, he would have launched himself in the melee and retrieved her. But as soon as the larger animal started making noises she stood, deft hands running across the brown animal on its feet. Taking a deep breath he identified it as female and from the cloying scent surronding it, it seemed pregnant. Satisfied that the animal was calm, Tawny hugged the animal before climbing over the fence.

The grin on her face made him grin in return before his strong arms closed around her thin form. He wondered what she did for food, whether she ate enough and if anybody else fed her. He didnt have much time to consider this before she pulled away, the warmth from her body and no doubt the creatures she'd just been with leaving him with a cold spot around his chest. Not for the first time that day he thought of Siku, gone without a backwards glance. Trying to keep his expression pleased, for he was genuinely pleased to see Tawny, he listened as she spoke. He was immediately struck by how much her speech had improved, even in those few short syllables. He watched her as she spoke, wondering at what had caused the change in speech. She'd pulled herself up onto the fence and sat kicking her legs back and forth. He processed the new word she'd given him- llama. He couldnt place it, but she continued to speak.

As she welled up, he moved forward, feeling her legs graze his hips as he laid a hand on the top of her thigh. If she wanted a hug he would be there, but otherwise he stayed in his own space, only his right hand touching her left leg to give her some kind of support. She seemed to shake it off then, wiping her face with her hands an composing herself. For the most part, Saul was amazed at how coherant she was sounding. "Oh Tawny, I'm sorry your friend died. But he was a kind man, to give you these llamas!" He said softly, trying to console the girl on the loss of her friend. She seemed to have accepted it however as she jumped to her feet and began to point out the animals she'd bought home. He had no idea if she'd named them herself, or whether the mysterious 'Bojangles' had names them before he'd given them over. He nodded softly as she introduced them, smiling softly.

"Why don't you introduce me to the friendly one... Lala?"

He asked, wondering if he'd got the name right. It would take him a while to get used to the creatures, as well as their strange names. But he was willing to go and speak to them, if Tawny would introduce them.

word count → 000 ;; image © Fir0002/Flagstaffotos ;; table by lin

Tawny Wagner · 08-26-2011, 02:54 PM

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OOC Llama tabe made. D:<

Word Count → 422

The girl turned back to the male when she felt him move closer, his body standing there in between her knees, his hand resting on her thigh. She smiled a little and leaned forward, resting her head on his chest for a few moments, breathing in his comforting scent. Lifting her head away, she looked back at the llamas and smiled happily, nodding at Saul’s words. He was very right about Bojangles being a nice man. The old guy had been pretty extraordinary, not like anyone who she’d ever met before, and was likely to never meet again.

Excitement once more filled her when she heard the clear interest and curiosity in Saul’s voice. Turning around all the way, she slipped back into the pen and walked over to the group of animals. Rama stretched her neck out and sniffed at Tawny’s chest a bit, taking in the smell of the male for a few moments. The young woman got ready for a bite or a glob of spit to hit her, but it never came, as the alpha llama seemed to accept and ignore the new scent on her shepherd. Rama was the only one who was concerned, the rest of them walking off to graze leisurely, liking their new home. The ground was rich with minerals in the valley, making the grass thick and sweet.

Tawny walked over to the smallest llama and trailed her hands over the creature’s neck and back before hooking an arm around her chest and giving a gentle tug. Lala lifted her head from the ground, still chewing as she followed the woman without any fight. Any attention she could get was appreciated and craved, so she would follow the small wolf girl anywhere. AS they got closer to Saul, Tawny opened the gate and led the small female out, keeping her arm around its neck. ”This is Lala…don’t t-touch her face, just neck and back.”

Smiling, Tawny turned the small llama to the side so Saul could touch the fur on her back and shoulders without having to move around too much. A few of the other llamas were still watching them, wary now that one of their own was out there with a stranger. ”Spit…um, they spit. When mad or scared. And kick and shove.” Her free hand stroked over the llama’s upper neck gently, nails sliding under the thick fur to scratch at her skin. Lala made a huffing groaning noise and relaxed, her head almost resting on Tawny’s shoulder.

Table code by the Mentors!

Saul Stormbringer · 08-29-2011, 10:44 AM

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naaawww llama table <33

The younger female turned back as her knees brushed his hips and for a moment Saul smiled at her. She moved forward, resting her head on his chest in a gesture of comfort. He rest his head on top of hers briefly before she pulled away, swivelling around on the fence to jump back into the llama pen. His heart gave a soft thud as she walked calmly back amoung the animals that were bigger than her, watching as the head llama Rama extended her neck to sniff at Tawny. Happy, or perhaps indifferent, at the new smell on her shepherd the largest animal moved away. At this point she moved towards the smallest creature, hooking an arm round her neck and pulling her to her feet. If the llama had not wanted to come with her, Saul was certain there was no amount of pushing or shoving that would make her get up. As it was, the animal seemed happy enough to follow the small female over the the gate and out into the yard area where Saul still stood. He grinned towards her, hands itching to get into that fur that looked so luxurious from outside the fence. Tawny bought her round and Saul hesitated.

Her careful instructions were listened to as he looked at the llama head on. He could imagine why it did not like being touched in the face, although he did extend his hand outward, to which the small llama extended her own head to sniff his upturned palm. Happy that she wasnt going to spit at him, as Tawny suggested she would, Saul moved to her right side. Tawny manouvered her around so that he had easier access to her back and neck. Tentatively he reached out, stroking her softly at first before she accepted the touch. He combed through the fur at her nack, rubbing roughly occasionally so that she could feel the touch. "She's so smooth. Her fur is gorgeous. You could make a lot out of it Tawny." Saul offered, knowing that Tawny was a craftsman... or craftswoman as both the wolves who held the rank were female. Saul looked over the creatures back towards Tawny, gently pulling out a bit of the animals fur to show her what he meant.

"The alpha, Rama. She smells different from the others. Is she pregnant?"

He asked, thinking back to the scent Ever held when he'd told her so long ago that she was pregnant. It was a different smell, but there was something in the pheromones that the llama gave off that told the medical man instantly that there was something different about the female and a pregnancy could explain that. Green eyes were curious as they looked to Tawny for an answer.

Tawny Wagner · 08-30-2011, 10:02 AM

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Am I evil? C:< xD

Word Count → 639

Tawny grinned as she watched Saul pet her new friend, sliding his large hand through her fluffy fur with a look of awe upon his features. When he began to speak, she nodded and leaned on the llama, which didn’t even blink or shift when the wolf’s weight was applied. Her hand reached out and plucked the little tuft of fur out of his hand, twirling it around in between her fingers while she thought. A few ideas passed through her mind and she frowned, looking up at the man again. “Th-these are winter coats…from l-last winter. Should we cut them off?”

Another few minutes of thinking, even without Saul’s reply and she was nodding to herself. Yes, they needed to sheer the llamas so they’d be able to grow new winter coats. The clippings would go into some sorts of projects for Tawny to focus on. In reality, between all five of the big animals, they’d probably have twenty pounds of fur lying around in the end. Her hands trailed through Lala’s thick coat for a few more moments, detangling and brushing away more dirt and pieces of grass. “I should c-clean them f-irst.” No longer was she asking for permission from Saul, but simply stating a fact to herself, mumbling her thoughts aloud.

Grabbing Saul’s hand, she wrapped his arm around the llama’s neck, pressing his fingers into her fur. “You just hold, she won’t move.” It was true. The moment his arm went around the female’s body, she relaxed and just stood there, looking around the barn yard with bored interest, not trying to move towards the grass even. Tawny dashed into the barn and began rummaging around until she found more horse brushes and a bucket. As she was walking back to Saul, her eyes spied a small horse halter and lead rope type thing. Grabbing it as well, she went out and fitted it to Lala’s head. The little llama made noises of discomfort at having her head messed with, and even went as far as to stomp, but she never put up a fight.

Pleased with the outcome, Tawny led the llama over to the fence and tied her up loosely. She handed Saul one thickly bristled brush and one that was less bristled and more for detangling longer hair. “If you brush, I’ll go get water…a few buckets.” She smiled and grabbed the bucket before taking off towards one of the streams. It was relatively easy work, getting a few bucket full’s of water and filling first the llama’s little water trough, and then pouring the water over Lala’s fur once it was all brushed out. Her fingers scrubbed through the wet hair, rumbling happily when the dirty and dead hairs began to fall loose to the ground. After that she just sat back and watched as the llama’s hair dried at a rapid pace, amazed at how fast it sprang back into a fluffy state from looking like a drowned rat.

Saul’s voice caused her to look up again and turn towards the pinned animals, staring right at Rama. Tilting her head, she took in a deep breath, wondering what Saul was talking about. “P-pregnant?” She wracked her brain for the word for a few moments, finally remembering that it made females get fat for a while before they spit out puppies. Frowning, she shook her head and shrugged, turning back to the male. “I don’t know…maybe?” Her eyes narrowed in concentration before she slumped back against the fence, pouting at her utter lack of knowledge. Untying Lala from the post, she slipped the halter off and allowed the female to go back into the pen with the others. Looking back at Saul, she got a little closer and sat down, “What does it mean? How…how d-does pregn-nant happen?”

Table code by the Mentors!

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