i was making headway, but not by much. i watched in my upside down position as the dingo crept even closer, but only half way. i smiled a toothy grin, before rolling playfully from side to side - no doubt my back being covered in cave floor debris. a noise emitted from me, low and rumbling - as if grumbling. suddenly, some dust whooshed up into my nostrils, and the sensation to sneeze amplified quickly, and as i rolled to my stomach i sneezed a good few times in a row. laughing at my own self, i looked to the dog to see if i'd scared her away with the accidental antic.

i stood then, shook the dirt and particles from my body, before daring to attempt to approach her. i didn't want her to fear me, or anyone for that matter. so i inched closer toward her, each paw was placed delicately and carefully, with my eyes shifting from her to the ground to my paws and back. i kept a soft, subtle grin, maintaining a calm energy as i embarked.
"i won't hurt you."
calmly, softly, gingerly, i spoke the words.

@feral

She froze as he sneezed, tensing down; when he stood, she shrank back even further, ears pinned and eyes very wide.

As he approached, she seemed to flatten herself into the ground, yet her entire body remained taut, ready to spring sideways and away with all the agility she could muster.

She'd Niru get within a foot or two--even sniffing distance, perhaps--but as he seemed to loom closer, she sprang sideways. It wasn't a full bolting-away, though; she only leapt to the side, then skittered a few paces back before half-circling, tail out and one ear pricked toward the lion. She watched him warily, sidelong, lowering her head to sniff vaguely toward him as she moved.

She didn't seem to be grasping language--not yet--but at least she hadn't vanished into the cover between the crumbling stone shelters, either.

((ooc -- @Niru ))

i slowed down as she shied away from me, and i watched in concern.
"it's okay,"
gingerly, the temperate words were spoke. laced in an honest tone, executed with such a sweet baritone - that only broke due to my juvenile state.
"my name is niru."
i said again, a little louder, but not by much.
"Niru."
a paw rose, bumped against my chest, then fell back down.

"what's your name?"
i asked her again, hoping to coax some sort of speech from her. as i spoke, i remained standing where she'd left me, making every movement soft and quiet. i'd make a breakthrough, i'd have to. i would hate to leave here without so much as a small chirp from the dog, so much as a small sign of a mental break.

@feral

The dingo slowly wagged her tail, watching the lion askance. Her ears pinned slowly farther back, her posture becoming more upright, until finally, when he slapped his own chest, she abruptly dropped into a play-bow.

She watched him, then opened her mouth, seemingly focused on what he was saying. A sound began to emerge, the look of focus on her face intense.

"Rrrr...." And then she broke into a series of sharp barks, tail wagging, hopping up and back, then bowing again--an invitation to play. The only verbal reaction were the yodelling barks, which carried through Orion with a ringing echo, to the point where Feral briefly startled and glanced behind her at her own voice.

When she looked back to Niru, she at least looked far less frightened and tense than she had been, tail still slowly wagging.

((ooc -- @Niru ))

her reaction made me laugh, but i didn't dare move from my spot. she was nervous enough.
"that's a start!"
i smiled, before clearing my throat and composing myself.
"name?"
i asked her again, wanting her to recognize the word and realize that what she wanted to be called was her name.

even if this was a pointless endeavor, i still felt satisfied that i am at least trying to help her. i'd feel like a terrible person if i just gave up, left the feral dog to herself. rump lowered to the floor, where i sat upright to wait and see if something more besides rrr would come from the critter. i had faith yet, hope in fact, all i had to do was be patient and wait.

@feral

The dingo cocked her head quizzically to one side, tail still slowly wagging, ears pricking up as she listened. The lion was making very deliberate sounds--Arkrael sounds. She recognized them as words, though she had never grasped the concept. She let out a soft, high-pitched growl and another bark, then listened again, blinking. An intelligence certainly shone in her amber eyes; it was a matter of Niru's patience breaking through.

"Name?" he was asking.

The dingo focused--and began to imitate.

"Nnn. NNNNNN. Nnn-... NO!" she barked sharply. Then, very happy with herself indeed, she began to leap and dance about, darting to and fro, spinning and wheeling and bolting and generally making a silly ass of herself.

Now and again she dashed right up to Niru with a plume of dust, dropping into a play-bow and staring for a split-second with dilated pupils, before dashing off once more.

Then she ran off into the maze of stone shelters, barking as she went, vanishing into their shadows. Her voice carried from them, not too far off, sharp and loud and echoing.

"NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NONONONONO!"

She was apparently very proud of herself.

((ooc -- @Niru ))

what the -- where the -- oh my gosh, she was outta here. i ran after her, limbs trying to keep up though with the growing bulk of sinew against each bone and limb, it was impossible to keep up with her, so i followed the voice until it turned back into an echo, which was highly indiscernible about the area. my body built for power rather than speed, so she had an upper paw on me. i couldn't help but heave a few laughs, before slowing and jogging back toward the spot we'd met, where i'd call out.
"lovely job, miss! now, we need to know what to call you."
i was aware this may be too much for her. but it was more for my sake than anything at this point.
"my name is niru. what's your name?"
i gave my own example again, as if to call out to her and reiterate what a name would mean, in hopes she'd be able to create one.

@feral

It seemed that, for all her earlier reticence, the dingo had now embraced this "speech" thing wholly. That being said, she was also merely imitating, for now, though it was a step in the right direction.

Probably.

Her shouting barks came at absolute full volume, and she continued to simply run through the shelters, at first, as she called out. Toward the end she ran out and barked words joyfully at the lion, tail wagging rapidly, forelegs still a little splayed as if half-asking for play.

"JOB! NOW! NO! NO! NONONO! WHAT! NO! YOU-CALL-NOW! NO!"

When she ended up before Niru, pupils still wildly dilated, tongue hanging out and sides heaving with panting breaths, she continued.

"NA-NAME-NAME-NA-NA-NO!"

The dingo still seemed spectacularly proud of herself, and quite excited by all of this.

((ooc -- @Niru ))

even with words mimicked from me, i couldn't help but feel rejoiced. she rocketed off like something i'd never seen before. her pace so amazing, i could only ever hope to marvel it - never match it. but nonetheless, as she came back into my vicinity, i smiled.
"yes,"
i said firmly, but not to anger or to convey anger, but to see if she was truly mimicking or perhaps learning anything.

in all honesty, either - or would work for me. if she was actually filing this information away for later use, or just barking back at me the orders i'd bestowed, well, at least i was getting somewhere. and perhaps her instinctual fear of others was a bit minimized from this experience? i could only hope. what a life it must be to only be by yourself, as wild and feral as she was. to trust none, to have none. i felt bad for her, wanted to reach out and help her, if she wanted it. i suddenly felt horrible, what if she didn't even want this kind of 'help'? what if, i was just taking it upon myself to aid this creature, one that maybe didn't even want it in the first place. i would wait, see how the rest of our meeting goes as to decide whether or not to forever leave the feral dog in peace, or to help her learn - or, mimic?- even more.

@feral

The dingo panted heavily for a moment, staring at Niru with her tongue dangling out of the side of her mouth, before finally turning and trotting back to the little bit of water pooled nearby. She began to drink out of it, then flopped down on her belly, drinking while lying half-in it.

She turned and eyed the lion mischievously for a moment, and as soon as she seemed to catch her breath, she was up again: trotting toward him nonchalantly, coming rather close--before suddenly shaking out the water, sending a thin spray toward him, though for the most part she missed entirely. Then she bolted away, barking what sounded like laughter, tail a waving banner behind her.

This, at least, seemed above the intelligence of a lesser Gembound: the ability to play a trick, to display humor. Unfortunately, it came without words, and as she slowed back into a trot and flopped back into the water, eyeing Niru with amused amber eyes, she remained silent bar a faint, growling chuckle.

((ooc -- @Niru ))