(Untitled)

[remindmeof_me]

Adrian Shephard is a man who prides himself on being observant, particularly when it comes to animals. You don't grow up with a rifle in your hand and dinner over your shoulder unless you're good at paying attention to the world around you. You don't make it through the Marine Corps' Scout Sniper training without a keen eye for detail, either. But

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[braveomaticaya]

Tsu'tey had been wondering why Shephard was herding the houndeye, especially given the speed and surprising skill he displayed doing it, and followed them out to investigate; the houndeye always gets his attention.

Such a strange little creature.

[remindmeof_me]

Once outside the houndeye takes off like a rocket towards the lake and starts emitting an odd, low hum. Shephard just shakes his head and drags one hand over his face.

He'll notice Tsu'tey eventually. Really.

[braveomaticaya]

"What is she doing?" asks a faintly confused Na'vi, head cocked to one side as he watches the dog.

[remindmeof_me]

"Callin' for males," Shephard says. "Least that's what the folks back home who've seen 'em in the wild say it is."

This is not going to be a fun season.

[braveomaticaya]

"...She is in heat."

Well. That explains some of it, anyway. "Do you not have access to males of her species?" he asks. This seems like a fairly simple solution to him.

[remindmeof_me]

"Only the wild ones," Shephard says. "Ain't nobody else's ever tamed one of these before. I dunno if I c'n git her bred without the male tryin' to lure her out into the wild or somethin'."

He's put too much effort into taming her to be ready to lose her now.

[braveomaticaya]

"Hm."

He thinks for a moment, and turns to Shephard. "Perhaps if you put her on a tether? She could mate but not run off," he suggests. It's not an unheard-of practice for some animals, especially if the domestic populations are developing illnesses or weaknesses because of inbreeding.

[remindmeof_me]

"Might have to do that," Shephard says. "Somewhere a good ways out so's they don't git to barkin' and wreck a building or nothin'. I told you 'bout her bark, right?"

[braveomaticaya]

"...No."

This would be a very interested Na'vi you have now, Adrian. He's eyeing Mrs. Wilson lazily as he waits for the response.

[remindmeof_me]

Shephard nods. "All righty, then," he says. "Her species, they got teeth and claws and all, but those ain't their primary weapons. Mrs. Wilson here's got a bark that's a real live honest to fuckin' God sonic attack. She gets herself up to full volume, she'll break glass'n snap wood with a proper bark. You get two or three of her kind together workin' in a pack and they'll bark fit to break a human being's fuckin' bones. I been teachin' her not to bark less'n I give the order, so she don't destroy nothin' just by bein' loud."

[braveomaticaya]

"Hm."

The Na'vi looks between Shephard and the houndeye for a moment, pursing his mouth in thought. "I would be interested in seeing this. If it is permitted for you to bring people to your world."

Assuming he is so inclined; after all Tsu'tey can hardly force his way through the door.

[remindmeof_me]

"Shit yeah," says Shephard. "We git folks in from here all the time. Only I'm gon' have to find somewheres away from my ship to bring you through, on account of no way in fuck are you gon' be able to stand up belowdecks. I'll git you through and show you soon enough, no trouble."

[braveomaticaya]

Yeah, Tsu'tey's not really fond of the tiny spaces humans like to put themselves in. He doesn't understand how they can be comfortable. The young hunter brightens with the affirmation, smiling a rare smile.

"Very good. My people have very strong bones, so the barking should not pose much of a threat," he says. "Are you planning to keep one of the males, or any of the litter?" He's assuming that it will be a litter and not a single birth.

[remindmeof_me]

"Same folks back home who saw she was in heat say they have litters," Shephard says. "Real small pups. They don't all make it to a year old, most of the time. I figure I'll keep as many of 'em as I can, see what I can do with 'em before I start seein' if there's anybody I'd trust to raise 'em right."

Just handing off a houndeye puppy to some random person who wants one would be like handing over a gun that randomly goes off if it's slapped on one side.

[braveomaticaya]

And Tsu'tey admires him for that; keeping the young and mother together for as long as they would be naturally is a decent practice. The only reason he isn't ruffled about Mrs. Wilson being a pet is that he assumes Shephard had her from a pup, and turning her loose would not only be a detriment to her but to her litter should she mate and have one. Without knowledge of feeding oneself, feeding others is nearly impossible.

"You could have quite the handful with a litter of them."

[remindmeof_me]

"Yeah, I know," says Shephard. "Reckon I'll have to give some of 'em up eventually. Might as well git 'em properly trained to stay quiet first. Might not bond as well with the new person but shit, if it's bond or broken bones I reckon most folks'll put up with not bonding proper."