Not The Sharpest In The Bunch

Writers: AL, Kaysea
Date Posted: 26th August 2008

Characters: Taia, Lirit
Description: Taia tries to train a puppy and Lirit offers assistence.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 20 of Turn 4

Taia walked the canine on his lead, stopping every now and then and
giving the commend to 'sit'. The canine did as he was ordered most of
the time, but became distracted when they neared children, or other
animals. His attention this time was drawn to another canine who
walked sedately at heel to a crafter. "Sharp, heel!" she gave the
command again and tugged briefly on the lead, pulling the canine back
into the heel position as she did so.

Scout turned his head to gaze at the other canine, but he didn't move
away from his Master. Instead, he stayed right by his side, trotting
happily and slowing down when he began to get too far ahead. Lirit
only took a couple of more steps before he stopped and Scout came to a
halt, then automatically sat down. The harper tilted his head to the
side, then called out, "Taia?"

"Lirit!" she grinned, "However did you know it was me?" her command had
been quite loud, she now realised.

"I have a good memory and I recognised your voice." Lirit turned more
in the direction of the woman, Scout right with him. "Are you
training?"

"Yes I am, though I'm not sure who is exactly training who, here." she
gave a wry grin. "He's supposed to be going to one of the old aunts
who can't see so well these days, but I'm not sure he'll be suitable.
I'll just have to keep working on him for a little while longer."

"You train dogs to help those who can't see?" That intrigued the
harper and he reached down to pat Scout's head.

"I haven't before..." she admitted, "but I saw the benefits of it
after..." how could she admit that it was his disability that had
inspired her?

Lirit didn't catch on to her hesitation, but reached up to scratch his
chin. Scout was well trained, yes, but he wasn't trained to really
guide him. Lirit hadn't really found anyone who had done that sort of
thing. Well, it didn't really matter. He was used to getting around
by himself anyway. "So how is the training going?"

"Not so good, I'm afraid." she smiled ruefully down at the canine, he just
doesn't seem to appreciate what I'm trying to teach him. I think he may
still be a little young and somewhat goofy. And his name is most
inappropriate for him - considering." she laughed softly.

"Sharp? Sharp teeth?" If he was just a puppy, then yes. It was amazing
how sharp - and strong - puppy teeth could be! "Don't give up just yet. It
took a while for Scout to really respond to anything."

"Yes, his name is Sharp and its the most inappropriate, because he really
seems to be dimwitted." she shook her head, "I'll continue with his
training, as I said, it could be he is still too young, but really, he
should be able to pick up basic commands right now."

"I wouldn't really know." Lirit shook his head. He had very little
experience with canine's himself, and he certainly was no beastcrafter.
"Scout's really the only canine I've had much experience with, and the only
one I've had any experience with in training"

"You've been very lucky, but I can tell from looking at him, you have a more
intelligent breed with Scout. I fear the mixed breeds Sharp is from are a
little less intelligent." she said with a sigh. "But I'll keep going."
While they had talked she had been skipping around trying to stop the pup
from tangling her in his lead, she tugged once more and he settled back
down, his tail swishing back and forth with ease.

"Perseverence will bring about prosperity." It was an old adage, one that
had no name ascribed to it. Sometimes it was accurate, sometimes not. "I
hope you have success with him."

"Me too. It'd be nice to give the old aunty some freedom to walk around
without having to rely on others to have some free time to help her."

"Maybe if Scout demonstrated?" Did canines have that much intelligence?
Scout certainly seemed to.

"It might help..." Taia nodded in agreement, "It wouldn't do any harm to
try. If you'd like to help?"

"Sure. I don't have my voice lesson for another candlemark. As long as I
leave with time enough to walk there, I should be fine." Lirit moved a bit
forward to draw closer to the beastcrafter. Scout followed him without any
verbal command needed. "What should I do?"

"Jut let Scout follow my direction. If that's okay? If I give the command,
you follow with the same command and hopefully Sharp will get the idea -
eventually."

"All right." Lirit reached down, as if to be sure his canine was there,
though he had no doubts that he was. "Then let's get started."

Last updated on the August 26th 2008

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Not The Sharpest In The Bunch