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Post by nightblood on Dec 7, 2006 12:55:29 GMT -5
NightBlood's ears twitched as his way of sounding out words sounded like howling. Perhaps the snowfall was a factor as well. Slowly the word became shorter, clearer. She could make it out, but it wasn't flawless. He'd have to get it perfect before she'd move on. "Good, now get it right. It's a quick word. Snow," she repeated.
As he was wagging his tail and getting more and more excited she realized what she was doing. Growling silently to herself she knew that since she was teaching this pup how to speak, he'd probably end up following her around everywhere until he learned what everything in the forest was called. That would probably take a good year of her life. One gigantic, ginormic, waste of her life.
And yet, the fact that this young male was learning so quickly made her feel... proud in some way. She hadn't socialized with pups at all. Never. She knew from observation that they were annoying and learned to stay away. So why was this one so special? He had woken her up from a well deserved nap. Why should he get to see Night's tolerant side? Whatever the reason, NightBlood couldn't grasp it.
She sighed and waited for the pup to say the word. "If you get it, that's what I'm calling you until I figure out your name," she said boardly. Her thoughts drifted to when she had first spoken. What was the word? She dug around in her mind for what it might be. When she came up empty she returned her attention to the pup.
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Post by ziko on Dec 7, 2006 13:20:41 GMT -5
" Ssnnooww.... Snoow.. " Ziko titled his head to the side and watched her say snow quickly. " Snow " he whispered and looked around him. The snow was slowly thickening, and he was growing increasingly excited. He would be able to pounce around in it for hours after this surely. Maybe, he could get Nightblood to play around with him. " Snow " he said, only a little louder now. " Snow. Snow. " Grinning from ear to ear, he moved close to Nightblood and placed his head in her chest as a sign of thanks. He nuzzled it, and he sniffed at her warm scent. He wanted to curl up between her paws and sleep again.
Ziko had no idea how to pronounce is name. How could he pronounce what he did not know or recollect the sound of? Ziko. He could get the 'o' but then again. Being a pup, if he ever heard his name spoken by an elder, it would quickly fall from his mind as he went about his own, oblivious business. At least, this one word snoe was one step closer to him being able to speak. Snow he mimicked and looked up at Nightblood. She would call him snow until he told her his name. Fair enough.
Then he began to wonder ways in which he could get to hear his name. The only obvious way was to annoy and older wolf until they shouted at him, and hopefully they would address him as Ziko. Smiling, he shifted around and flicked his tail over the side of his legs. His head rested on the females chest. All his life he was deprived of proper female companship. Crow, a sentry helped him when she could, but there was something about this new female that made him feel warm to cuddle into. A feeling he never had because his mother was too weak or ill to come near him to cuddle him.
Sighing, he looked up to Nightblood, wondering if she was going to back up and toss him away for laying between her mitts and against her chest. " Snow. " he repeated one last time. He liked that word.
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Post by nightblood on Dec 7, 2006 13:37:17 GMT -5
Alright! He got it! NightBlood wagged her tail once and gave a wolf grin. It had only taken him three tries. Now as he nuzzled into her chest, Night's expresion changed. She winced and rolled her eyes again. Redirecting her attention she remembered that he had known to mimick her just by her telling him. She didn't have to play sheraids at all. From this fact, she gathered that he already knew the meaning of most words. This would make it easier for him.
"Alright, we'll move on to the important ones now, Snow," NightBlood continued, "Two words you'll use all your life are 'Yes' and 'No'. Start with 'No' because that's just the ending of 'snow'. Say it. Nnoooo."
Perhaps if she could get him to say all the sounds of speaking, she could get him to say his name. Obviously no one was close enough at the moment to hear them and speak his name. All well, she'd figure it out eventually. She wasn't one to dwell on unimportant stuff. Focusing on detail was annoying and time consuming.
Her thoughts drifted back to when she was learning to speak. She'd never figure out what she first said. Perhaps it had been such an unimportant word that she had forgoten it. Or, perhaps a word that she used so often it became habbit. Oh well. No need to linger on it. She refocused on the pup's speech lessons.
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Post by ziko on Dec 7, 2006 17:06:09 GMT -5
With his head being against her chest, he could hear her voice vibrating and he titled his head up just to watch her continue what she was saying. He felt it important to watch the mouth, and see how others spoke, so that he could learn to do it by himself. Ziko probably could have learned to talk by now, but everyone was just too busy for him he guessed to bother with him. Was not like they did not care. Everyone had done their best to console him when his mother and father died, so he knew they cared for his well being. Nodding his head, he repeated " No " five times and then wagged his tail in glee.
So far, he could say snow, and no. No. No. No, thought the pup. Slowly his confidence grew with every letter he pronounced. Yipping in happiness, he wriggled around at her paws and then decided to try for the word yes. 'sssssssss' 'eh' ' ehssss' 'yiii' 'yiiiiiii' 'eeehh''' '''yi- eh''' 'ssss'. Sounding the words in his head was a whole lot easier than actually speaking it. The kid was unsure if he was doing it right, but knew that Nightblood, or at least he hoped Nightblood would correct his mistakes for him, so that he could learn. " Yiiieeesss" "Yeeeeehhsss" "Yeehhss" he stuttered for a moment. " Yeehhs " " No, Yeehss".
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Post by nightblood on Dec 7, 2006 18:13:10 GMT -5
Three words if he could just start pronouncing the words quicker. It was good practice to sound it out slowly, but when he was confident with it, it helped if he said it faster. "Say it faster and it'll sound better. Do that whenever you think it's right. 'YES'," she said the word rather loudly, but it was important that he got it perfect. Next the black and tan wolfess would teach him her name, then she'd work on the different sounds. Perhaps then she'd see if anything reminded him of his name.
Teaching the pup was notoriously boring. The only satisfaction she got out of it was when he got a word perfect. Maybe she was doing the pack a favor by teaching the pup to talk, but she knew that he would probably chat everyone to death. Oh well, he'd learn some way that there was a personal limit other wolves had. Too many that passed her way didn't learn to quick. Now their bones were probably gray and sticking out of the dirt by now.
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Post by ziko on Dec 8, 2006 12:30:05 GMT -5
" Yes. " he barked at Nightblood. Now he knew that if he was asked a question such as, if he wanted some food, he could reply simply yes or no without having to shake his head in response. Smiling, he then said " No " and then " Snow ". He felt a wave of pride wash over his body, and yet again, yipping noises of delight emitted from his lips. I wish, I really wish, my mother and father were here he repeated in his head. Also, he wondered how to say his own name.
Rolling his head onto his shoulder he watched curiously at the sky as the clouds gathered overhead and as the snow slowly thickened. It was landing all around them, and his upper body was covered in thick flakes which melted slowly on his fur. Shivering a little, he cuddled close to Nightblood and listened to the beat of her heart. What words she would teach him next he was anxious to know, but this was hard work, and his face muscles were sore slightly from trying to get the words perfect.
" Snow, " he whined, folding his ears on his head, then he whied a little for her to teach him more.
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Post by nightblood on Dec 8, 2006 12:41:36 GMT -5
NightBlood stared coldly at the falling snow. This was what was drawing the pup near to her. That fact that it was snowing made him cold and he sought her body heat to keep him wam. No one in history had ever dared to get this close to her. If they had tried, they'd be dead. She'd resolve this unatural behavior once she taught the pup her name. Then she'd set off to find a cave where they could resume the lessons in peace.
The elder wolf looked down at the pup. "My name is NightBlood. Say it one half at a time. Night. Blood." She was delaying their jurney to a cave because if he were to get lost, he'd need to shout her name for her to find him. She'd never figure out that him shout 'Snow' excitedly might mean that he was surrounded by bears just out of her sight and scent range.
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Post by ziko on Dec 8, 2006 12:52:03 GMT -5
Nightblood. He smiled at the name. He liked the night, and blood tasted warm in his mouth, especially that of freshly killed game obtained by the hunters. Licking his lips, he thought for a few moments on how he would say this. It seemed easier to say the last part of words or names, for som reason. That was his way of working, and if it meant that he was learning how to speak then he was satisfied. "Bb..b... elll elll llll ooohhuhhh dd.... bbbblll uuuudddd " "bllud " "blud" he smiled. Yes, that sounded right.
Glancing up for reassurance, he then attempted to say night. "Nii niiii eeeett eeeeet eett nii... blud Niiieettblud. "Neightblud. " He was really getting good at this! Barking, he repeated " Neightblud " and then wriggled around happily. Nightblood. That was her name, and he could say it! But... he was started to get sort of bored and tired from all the talking. He had worn himself out slightly before he had came across the elder female. Whining slightly, he cuddled as close as he could to the female, wanting her warmth.
" No more.... " he wined.. " Nightblood, no.. " His voice was low, but not low enough to be a whisper. He wanted to do something else. His concentration was decreasing and he was increasingly becoming distracted by the snow. That's what kids his age do isn't it? Get bored, lost interest, even if they seemed eager to learn moment before? " No more Nightblood " he moaned some more and pawed at her chest. Then he frowned at her, but in a playful way. "Thank you. " Wait, did he just say that? Blinking, he looked at her. " Right? "
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Post by nightblood on Dec 8, 2006 13:41:22 GMT -5
She wouldn't have to teach him anymore. Now that he had said more than what she had taught him. 'More', 'Thank', 'You', and 'Right' were words she had never told him to speak. The corner of her lip twitched into a grin. He could've spoken long before he'd met him. He only lacked motivation. However, the future still loomed ahead. Would the pack be happy with her for teaching the pup to speak, or would they be cross? If they had been happy with the mute male, surely they would be angry with her.
Shrugging off the prospect of being chased off, she looked down at the pup. Her promise still stood firm. "What's your name, kid?" she asked.
{{Teh shortness! Xp }}
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Post by ziko on Dec 9, 2006 8:46:14 GMT -5
Sighing, Ziko looked away to the left. He did not know how to say his name. That first letter was ringing in his head yet he just could not say it. Groaning some, he placed his head on her leg and huffed a few times. The kid would need to find another member of the pack and get them to say his name, it was his only way of telling Nightblood. Unless... unless they taught him how to say his name then he could impress Nightblood by telling her later? But just now, he could not say what he could not pronounce. So he shrugged her shoulders at her, then said " Don't know. "
" Don't know Nightblood. "
(( x_o short ))
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Post by nightblood on Dec 16, 2006 14:37:32 GMT -5
NightBlood sighed. If this pup was too tired to learn more words, she wouldn't force him to continue. It wasn't her job to teach him anyway. She got up without hesitation, glared once more at the red and black male, and turned away. She walked back toward her previous sleeping spot, dazed and confuzed. Why did she take the time to teach this pup anything? Had he not been so loud, she probably would've never known he existed.
And yet, she had survived an encounter with one of her enemies. She never liked pups. They were noisey, nosey, pushy... and they contributed absolutly nothing to the pack. Surprisingly, this one pup was quieter than the rest of them. He had listened attentivly to everything she had said and obeyed her when she asked him to do something. Perhaps this was the one pup who might find a place as her friend later in life.
Now NightBlood looked back at the pup to see if he would follow or not. At the moment, Night didn't care either way. She'd put up with him if he followed, but she didn't yet know if she could deal with it if he made it a habit. If he stayed it was likely another pack member would find him and take care of him. If he wandered off the same thing would probably happen. She turned and continued walking, keeping her ears alert for the sound of his footsteps. If he ended up following her, she'd walk around until they met up with another pack member. Hopefully they'd take him off her paws.
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Post by ziko on Dec 17, 2006 6:33:14 GMT -5
Nightblood did not need to try and teach him anything tonight. Ziko would have been content if she just played in the snow with him. Judging from the way she reacted at first, she was not one for play. This made him a little sad, but he was confident that he would have her playing with him. Maybe. As the female rose, the little pup rolled from where he was sprawled over her forepaws and onto the snow. He giggled a little and watched her get up and go, with snow covering his forehead.
A few outsiders coming into the pack would think that Ziko was just an irritant to the pack and it's members. A burden. A nuisance. He depended on everyone else to do things for him. To hunt for him. To protect him. To teach him. He annoyed those with rank, always asking them questions, getting in the way, being a distraction. Really, he just lightened everyone up. The pack had been so serious these past few seasons, so determined to do their duties, never taking time off to play or relax.
Since his birth, everyone had sort of... loosened up. Not that he was aware of this of course, he was still to young, was oblivious to almost everything. Now, his tongue lolled from his mouth and he was already hot on the female's steps. Maybe now that she was done teaching him, they could play? His little paws crunched in the snow as he tried to walk in the female's prints. Of course, her stride was almost three times or such the length of his, and he never did make it. What he did make though, was a messy trail of snow and prints behind him.
" Nightblood. Nightblood. " he called to her, pouncing quickly behind her. He had enjoyed her company, and wanted to follow her and see where she was going. Maybe, maybe she had a rank! And maybe, maybe she was going to get on with her duties! How exciting, he thought and yipped and called her name three times more. " Nightblood! Nightblood! Nightblood! " Ziko had no intention of leaving her just yet. He wanted to know where she was going, what she was going to be doing. If it was sleeping, then he would sleep. If it was running, he would run. If it was hunting, well, he hoped it was anything but that.
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Post by nightblood on Dec 18, 2006 16:25:05 GMT -5
"NightBlood-NightBlood-NightBlood!"
The female's eye twitched. This was why she had insisted on teaching him more. He could voice his inquiries instead of have to result to crude shurades and act out what he was trying to communicate. Now that he was tired of lessons, she would have to guess what it was he wanted. He had already learned 'yes' and 'no'.
The black and tan wolf halted and turned her head toward the pup, watching him attempt to follow in her pawsteps. It was an impossible deed. Her stride was longer than his body length. She interpreted his calls. He was about a yard behind her. "What? Am I going to fast for you, Snow?"
NightBlood remembered when she used to follow elders of her old pack. She'd pounce into each hole, occasionally falling into a particularly deep one where an elder had steped into a snow drift. She inwardly laughed at herself as she drew her attention back into the present.
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Post by ziko on Dec 20, 2006 17:36:49 GMT -5
Ziko upped his pace a little more because he thought that with more speed he could jump that little bit further and maybe make it into the large female's steps. Of course, he just tired himself up and clouds of hot haze burst into the air and spread around him, wrapping his head in a cloud of wartmth before it vanished. Ziko was determined that he would reach her stride, and when she turned around he yipped happily, but lost his footing. His feet collapsed around him and he tripped into one of those deep prints.
Shaking his head, he popped his head out from the hole he had made around the print. He whimpered quietly as he had hurt his paw in the fall, but it was nothing a short rest could not heal. Snow clung in clumps on his body and it glistened in the light of the moon. Nightblood was going to fast for him, but he was not calling her name for that reason. He wanted to go with her, but he did not know the correct words for this and he heaved a huge sigh. He thought he knew, but did not want to say the wrong thing.
" No. No fast. " He snorted and rose slowly to his feet. He came into a limp and clambered out of the hole he had made. Ziko was not as happy now, his paw ached slightly and now he would not be able to keep with her stride. Nightblood would probably see this as an opportunity to escape him and run away now. He thought she would, because a few wolves he had tried to approach done that. They tried to escape from him all the time. The pup was not stupid. He could see it in their eyes, interpret it from their body language.
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Post by nightblood on Dec 21, 2006 16:09:37 GMT -5
NightBlood stopped short of turning her head forward when she spotted the limp in the pup's gait. He was covered in lumps of hardened snow. That fall he had taken in her paw step had injured him. Her crimson eyes lingered on the paw sized hole in the snow. The red and black pup had been injured because of something she'd done, something she could have prevented. Her fault...
Thoughts raced back to her past. Digging up the memories of her final hours in her old pack lands. Her muzzle and neck were covered in blood. The body of an older pup lay in front of her, covered in the crimson liquid, barely breathing. Sanity had just reinstated itself in her mind when before it had been missing. In it's plight, the black and tan pup had snapped. Months of being held back, of being ridiculed and teased with no way of retaliating had taken it's tole. With no one to tell her otherwise, NightBlood had finally fought back... and won.
The price of this attack was heavy. Her birthright was taken away by the elders. She was no longer destined for the rank of Alpha... no longer a pack member at all. Ashamed, she had left on her own accord. No need to chase away a defenseless wolf that had lost everything. The blood had coagulated and hardened on her fur. It reminded her daily of what she had done. Although the memories faded with the blood, they were always there in the back of her mind, hiding until they were brought up again, waiting to remind her of what she had done.
The large wolfess blinked. Brought back to the present by a snowflake that had rested itself on the skin of her nose. It quickly melted and disappeared from sight. She looked back at the limping pup and realized she could make up for what she had done. She could take him in. Teach him everything he needed to know about being a wolf. She rolled the idea around in her mind about a dozen times. Unable to think of anything else she may be able to do with the pup, she concluded that it was probably the best thing to do. But would Snow accept it?
NightBlood turned around and walked up to the pup. Stopping about a foot in front of him, she leaned her head down and attempted to take the young wolf up in her jaws. She had never carried a pup before, but she had been carried when she was one. If Snow would let her, she'd carry him by the scruff of his neck and take him to a rock cave she had seen a few yards away.
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