78th Summer 515
Pheasant hunting wasn't something Merevaika often did. It required quick shots, accurate enough to take a bird down with one shot. Something she wasn't the best at. However, it was the first animal or bird she could think of that required lots of work with the dogs, something she wanted the puppies to get used to as much as possible. They would need to track the birds, flush them out on command, and retrieve them without mangling the bodies too much.
At least the dogs were either obedient or born to hunt, which made the job a lot easier. Grey did everything he was told, following each command within seconds, while Mika was constantly chasing animals, trying to catch stray rats or rabbits that had happened to wander too close to him. He was stealthy too, when he tried to be, although he wasn't the best at tracking, not yet anyway. Freya was the intelligent one, who learned quickly, although she didn't always do as she was told. She usually kept close to one of her brothers, and seemed to sniff and chew on anything that she found.
In addition to them, she had Denviel, who was years old and more experienced. He listened to her, watching her body posture and signs for more information. The two had always worked in harmony, as if they could read the other's mind. Now, the puppies could watch and learn.
Hunting, stay close, she signed, leading the dogs out towards the fringe of woodland that separated them from the Sea of Grass. She had debated hunting there, but the puppies would get confused when they would have to change scenery. Better to stick with what they would normally hunt in.
She put all three puppies on leashes, not trusting them to follow her and not get lost. However, she continued to make the sign for heel, so they could learn to do so when she could trust them without the leashes.
Merevaika hurried through the woodland, letting Denviel lead the way. Dirt slipped under her boots, marks forming in the mud. She climbed small hills and slipped down ditches, constantly communicating to the puppies, telling them to stay close and quiet, despite there being no purpose to it. Denviel watched her hand signs, confused, but followed them as well, giving the younger dogs an example to follow.
Mika started to pull at the leash, and she pulled back, overpowering the small pup. He gave a few annoyed barks, trying to reach a bush on the side, pawing at it and sniffing curiously. She pulled him back, not interested, and he eventually seized the noise, hurrying to catch up with his siblings.
The huntress wondered if that was the best approach. Perhaps it would have been better to let the dogs discover something, and reward them, encouraging hunting and tracking. But then again, she needed to show that she was the alpha dog, and that they should hunt what she wanted to. After all, it wouldn't be helpful if the puppies started to chase rabbits in the middle of a chase with a gazelle or deer.
Pheasant hunting wasn't something Merevaika often did. It required quick shots, accurate enough to take a bird down with one shot. Something she wasn't the best at. However, it was the first animal or bird she could think of that required lots of work with the dogs, something she wanted the puppies to get used to as much as possible. They would need to track the birds, flush them out on command, and retrieve them without mangling the bodies too much.
At least the dogs were either obedient or born to hunt, which made the job a lot easier. Grey did everything he was told, following each command within seconds, while Mika was constantly chasing animals, trying to catch stray rats or rabbits that had happened to wander too close to him. He was stealthy too, when he tried to be, although he wasn't the best at tracking, not yet anyway. Freya was the intelligent one, who learned quickly, although she didn't always do as she was told. She usually kept close to one of her brothers, and seemed to sniff and chew on anything that she found.
In addition to them, she had Denviel, who was years old and more experienced. He listened to her, watching her body posture and signs for more information. The two had always worked in harmony, as if they could read the other's mind. Now, the puppies could watch and learn.
Hunting, stay close, she signed, leading the dogs out towards the fringe of woodland that separated them from the Sea of Grass. She had debated hunting there, but the puppies would get confused when they would have to change scenery. Better to stick with what they would normally hunt in.
She put all three puppies on leashes, not trusting them to follow her and not get lost. However, she continued to make the sign for heel, so they could learn to do so when she could trust them without the leashes.
Merevaika hurried through the woodland, letting Denviel lead the way. Dirt slipped under her boots, marks forming in the mud. She climbed small hills and slipped down ditches, constantly communicating to the puppies, telling them to stay close and quiet, despite there being no purpose to it. Denviel watched her hand signs, confused, but followed them as well, giving the younger dogs an example to follow.
Mika started to pull at the leash, and she pulled back, overpowering the small pup. He gave a few annoyed barks, trying to reach a bush on the side, pawing at it and sniffing curiously. She pulled him back, not interested, and he eventually seized the noise, hurrying to catch up with his siblings.
The huntress wondered if that was the best approach. Perhaps it would have been better to let the dogs discover something, and reward them, encouraging hunting and tracking. But then again, she needed to show that she was the alpha dog, and that they should hunt what she wanted to. After all, it wouldn't be helpful if the puppies started to chase rabbits in the middle of a chase with a gazelle or deer.