7th Duel [Audio]

[iwannabeadragon]

[Hawke has covered every inch of this keep with no success. He can't keep lying to himself anymore. Fenris and Thunderbutt aren't here. It's time to tell the others.]

They're gone.

[That's all he says. It's all he needs to say. He sets his journal aside and tries to focus on something else. Namely trying to train the pups in the kennels. Nothing too hard at the moment, just some basic commands that any good dog should know. It's obvious that they rather play then listen though.]

Comments

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[3wayforjustice]

[At least the hangover's faded by now.]

I... Are you certain, Hawke?

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[iwannabeadragon.livejournal.com]

Unless they've both gotten very good at being subtle, yes I'm certain.

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[3wayforjustice]

... I'm sorry.

[What else is there to say?]

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[iwannabeadragon.livejournal.com]

For what? They've only gone home.

[Because he refuses to believe they're dead.]

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[3wayforjustice]

... A very good point. I suppose now, we just need to figure out how they managed it.

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[iwannabeadragon.livejournal.com]

They could of had the decency to tell us how they figured it out at least.

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[3wayforjustice]

I doubt Fenris is capable of anything resembling decency where mages are concerned.

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[iwannabeadragon.livejournal.com]

He could have told me at least. Still not sure how my dog figured it out before me though.

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[3wayforjustice]

As much as I hate to admit it, mabari hounds are rather intelligent...

[gotyourwallet.livejournal.com]

...Are you alright?

[Worry, worry, worry.]

[iwannabeadragon.livejournal.com]

Well I did wake up with this nasty crick in my neck.

[Admit there's a problem? Not doing.]

[gotyourwallet.livejournal.com]

I'm being serious here. Who is gone?

[Nope. Still worried.]

[iwannabeadragon.livejournal.com]

Would you believe me if I said I was talking about a rash?

[gotyourwallet.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't.

[Vie sighs.]

If you won't tell me that, then will you at least say where you are?

[iwannabeadragon.livejournal.com]

No one ever does.

I'm in the kennels.

[gotyourwallet.livejournal.com]

[Well, this is going to take some effort.]

Alright.

[A few minutes later she appears, wary of her surroundings and far more tense than her usual self.]

Hawke?

[This had better not be some prank to get her near the dogs.]

[iwannabeadragon.livejournal.com]

[Well there is a reason he came here.

When she enters Hawke turns towards her and holds a finger to his lips and then points to the pile of sleeping puppies.]

They just fell asleep.

[vivenieta.livejournal.com]

[Nieta returns to the kennels, hauling a deer carcass in a wooden barrow. Instantly, the pups are distracted from whatever Hawke was trying to teach them. She smiles when she sees him.]

Hello. Will you tell them to sit for me?

[It will probably not work. Most of the commands that she has taught the pups so far have been in Portuguese. That could explain why they were not listening to Hawke. But he does not need to know that yet, right?]

[iwannabeadragon.livejournal.com]

[Hawke nods at her and turns back to the pups.]

Sit!

[And of course they don't listen to him. He turns back to Nieta and shrugs his shoulders.]

It's still a work in progress.

[vivenieta.livejournal.com]

No, that is good.

I have taught them in Portuguese. It is easier then teaching them to ignore words sometimes.

[She moves the barrow around.]

The word is 'senta.' Try again?

[iwannabeadragon.livejournal.com]

[Hawke doesn't even know what Portuguese is but alright.]

Senta!

[He uses the same tone as he did when he tried his own dog: sharp and demanding.]

[vivenieta.livejournal.com]

[A few dogs sit. Others don't. Nieta rolls her eyes.]

Senta!

[One of the sitting dogs lays down. The others continue to ignore her. She grins, sheepish.]

It is a... work in progress still.

Will you help me?

[She motions toward the deer carcass.]

[iwannabeadragon.livejournal.com]

[Hawke shakes his head and laughs.]

At least they're trying.

[Smart as they are, even mabari have trouble paying attention when there's food nearby.]

Of course.

[vivenieta.livejournal.com]

They always try.

[Nieta moves to lift the deer's hind quarters from the barrow, but keeps watching Hawke out of the corner of her eye. It is good that he is laughing. For a moment, she was worried that there was something wrong.]

I can write down their words, if you would like to work with them more often? I do not get as much time to train them anymore.

[iwannabeadragon.livejournal.com]

[Then clearly he must be doing it right.

While she moves to the back Hawke moves to its front.]

That would be a lot easier than me shouting words at them until something sticks.