Ask [Rattatak] Taming the Untamable

[Celeste Stythani]

Celeste hadn't immediately fallen asleep, but it had given her some time to mediate and to reflect. Being back on Rattatak was actually a weird feeling, especially because no one was aware that she was here, not even Everett, her ex bodyguard and someone who had been nothing but loyal to her.

Now that the tides had turned, she actually wondered who'd still behind her...and who'd learn about all that anyway. Rattatak was not contested terriority, but officially still FWA and the unrests could potentially escalate if she couldn't step in quickly...Would all of the work and effort she had invested be in vain?

Right now, Celeste was entrusted with running the Shipwright's Guild on Lantillies and while it had felt good to be back in business and ensure that the planet would thrive under Imperial rule, she had grown a bit antsy about Rattatak. Soon, she repeatedly told herself and after some more time she had finally managed to sleep.

----

Celeste felt Arla move rather early and she let her rise alone for now. Celeste knew she needed to concentrate for the tracking and so she send some messages back and forth with Lantillies, until she climbed out of the tent and quietly started deconstructing their provisional camp. When Arla mentioned that she got a lead, she turned to her with a smile, stuffing the last bedroll in her backpack and offering her a fruity protein snack afterwards. "Awesome. Then let's get going". Those were actually good news and Celestes spirits were high. If the lead was really promising, they could already acquire the pups today.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla was eager to get to it, though that seemed to just be the baseline for her. She was always eager to leap at getting the job done.

She took some of the offered food and set out quickly, her pace more rapid than yesterday and pressing on in the direction of the pack... or rather the cubs.

I think they were trampled under foot by some of the herd animals, she said to Celeste. It was difficult to get an exact gauge, but that seemed to be the impression she had gotten.

It didn't take long before they arrived at a system of caves, and Arla wondered to herself just how many animals had made these caves in the mountains their homes.

We need to be careful as we search, she said.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Celeste had no issues with starting immediately, however she was wondering whether Arla was actually excited to get this done or whether she was just as direct as usual. Celeste munched a few snacks before they headed out. Her backpack was lighter than yesterday and so jumping down with it wasn't an issue.

She didn't know what kind of a trace she had found, but followed the Champion wherever she went. "The poor things" she replied, imaging how painful this must have been. If the mother was killed, the pups actually didn't have much time on their own, depending on their age though. "It's remarkable how you're able to sense that though". Arla was versed in Magick and Celeste was still intrigued by those powers, but this was not the time to discuss them as they were on the hunt.

As they approached the caves, Celeste slowed down and grabbed a flashlight in case they would need them. "Definitely. We have some dangerous creatures inhabiting the desert and during broad daylight, they tend to hide in the shade". Celeste switched into focus mode and stayed attentive while she entered the cave system. She couldn't fully get it out of her mind that the last time she entered a cave, back on Thyferra with Emryc, things didn't work out that well, but this was different, she hoped. She didn't turn on the flashlight yet, as the dim light still sufficed, but she was carefully reaching out with the Force to sense the living Force of creatures inside before they would be able to sense their arrival.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla nodded as she mentioned that Arla could track the pups through the Force. Yes, it was a nice trick to have up one's sleeve when dealing with animals.

Arla made it to the cave and lifted her hands, pressing them together and muttering an incantation before throwing them toward the sky above her. A trio of small, green orbs buzzed around above her head, casting light throughout the cave as she made her way forward. It was like a flashlight in function, and it was all Arla needed.

She heard yelping and growling from deeper inside, but she didn't hear anything that sounded... adult. More the size of the smaller pups they were looking for.

Are you ready to do this? You'll only have one chance, she said, and if the other woman messed it up... that would be most adverse.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Even though Celeste knew the usual terrain well, she had never been in this region before and so she wasn't sure whether other, still unknown, potentially dangerous species roamed around in that area.

Before they stepped in much closer she stopped and activated the flashlight for a moment, examining the ground while she actually stumbled upon some smaller, canine paw prints and a few drops of dried blood. She deactivated the light again, not wanting to cast unnecessary illuminations into the dark cave as they went further.

The closer they got, the more obvious the sounds. She immediately recognized the yelps and whimpers as they sounded just like they had when she found those pups all that time ago. Arla's orbs supplied enough light to cloak the women's face in green hues, so that she would see her nodding. "I'm ready. They shouldn't be aggressive, but rather scared if they're alone. A mother would try to protect them, but the pups alone wouldn't attack. As long as we stay calm, we should manage to soothe them too". And also, there was another potentially handy help: Celeste had saved a bit of dried jerky and if the pups weren't too panicked, they might even be able to bribe them a little.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla watched Celeste pull out the jerky and smiled, nodding along and deciding that was a good idea before reaching into her pouch.

Yeah! Good idea! she said and pulled out some of the jerky as well. She could feel the anxiety wafting off of the animals even from here, and as she made her way down the tunnel, she crouched low as the first of the animals came into view. It ran off to one corner of the cave while the other ran off to the other corner.

Aww, you're adorable, aren't you? she whispered to the little wolfling. She let her mind reach out to the Force, to the tethers that connected them both and eased those anxieties she felt. She let her own sense of calm and adoration flow through the open channel, soothing the pup as she reached out with the jerky and tossed it onto the ground a short distance in front of her.

She let her eyes drift to see in the currents of the Spirit world, and felt all that flowed through the animal, and then she let her spirit become one with him.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

The emotions radiating off the animals were a mixture of fear and despair, indicating that the chosen coping mechanism would be an attempted escape if possible. She had studied their behavior before and thus it didn't surprise her at all. She was just hoping they would manage to soothe the panicking animals as it would already lay the base for further interactions.

She slowly moved forward, placing her steps lightly and carefully, giving Arla a brief smile before her eyes flicked back to the front. The green radiating from Arla's orbs was still enough to cast a dim, greenish light that allowed them to spot the two running wolves immediately.

Celeste stopped where she was, slowly squatting down, her body slightly sideways as this was the easiest way to approach a canine. "You'll be okay" she softly whispered, her voice soothingly while she reached out with the Force, focusing on this delicate, temporary bond she had once mananged to form with those other pups while she was targeting the other pup.

She estimated the puppies were about four months old, so actually old enough to start a meaty diet and not live on milk anymore, but still young enough not to be too entrenched in usual, behavioral patterns, so that the age was actually perfect. While she used the Force to calm this state of fright, she tore off a piece of the jerky and carefully tossed it towards the corner the whelp was hiding in.

The puppy's ears perched and it immediately began sniffing, the hunger apparently being an instinct more dominant than the fright reeponse. The ears twitched into a careful, mistrusting position, but it stepped forward with one paw, carefully picking up the dried meat with its teeth before it stepped back to chew hastily. The jerky was devoured in one bite, however Celeste saw how the puppy's fear now mingled with curiosity.

"It's okay..." she softly said, her gaze directed to the ground as she tossed over another piece, slowly decreasing the distance. 'Avoiding eye contact at first reduces the confrontational nature of thie first encounter' she telepathically advised Arla, sticking to her knowledge about canines, but Celeste simultaneously felt that Arla was already busy connecting to it through the Force.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla was entirely caught up with the pup for anything else to matter at that point. She was no foreigner to doing things like this, and it was like being home in its own way. Like living among her people again and being one with nature like she had said earlier. In other words, it was refreshingly familiar.

Come here, she said quietly, in a sweet tone and the words were practically laced with the power of the Shadow, coaxing the small animal to come toward her, slowly at first, but then nuzzling against her after a few moments.

Oh yes, you're just the sweetest thing, aren't you? she said to the pup as she reached out and gently touched the top of its head. It pulled back a bit, uncertain before leaning forward to sniff her outstretched fingers.

She pulled her fingers back again and grabbed out another piece of jerky, offering it to the pup before it snatched it and quickly swallowed, moving over to press up against her now.

Arla's face was all broad smiles, thoroughly enjoying the small dog and all of its growing affection coaxed out with the Force.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

After everything that had happened during the last months, Celeste hadn't had many pleasant and super easy going missions, so that now after a rather relaxing, uneventful camping night, meeting some puppies was actually super delightful. She still couldn't fully shake this weird feeling that being back on Rattatak triggered, but it was momentarily forgotten when she stole a glance from the puppy that was busy chewing once again.

The knee high, sand colored wolf with the ice blue eyes was eyeing her carefully, but the effects of the soothing force application were getting visible. The puppy cautiously moved closer, the black nose twitching while it kept sniffing the air before it took the next bit of jerky.

From the corner of her eye she saw how well Arla handled the situation, but her focused remaimed on her own pup. It seemed like Arla had been right about her assumption that the wolves' mother was dead, because otherwise the puppies wouldn't have been so alone.

Celeste reached out with her hand and dropped another bit of jerky not far off before she offered the last part that was still in her hand. With an extended arm she waited for the puppy to take it from her while she kept focusing on the Force that flowed between them.

Slowly but steadily the animal approached until it carefully sniffed again before picking up the meat. Then, it moved even closer, examining her extended hand before it stole the jerky from her fingers, which made Celeste's smile even wider. "It's okay" she softly said, retracting her arm to 'refill' before repeating the same thing again. The puppies were much calmer and the Force aided them in even beginning to form the bond they were creating to intent. It somehow almost felt natural to connect her own living Force to the puppy's, as if communing with nature like that was an organic process.

It surprised her how softly and happily Arla spoke with the puppy, but she was delighted about this fully new side of the otherwise so direct Champion. "Those poor things seem a little ravenous. It's good that you've found them" she softly whispered, this time directed at Arla.

@Phoenix