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Ava had been debating on taking up Asak's offer. She hadn't known if it had been said out of courtesy or was it a genuine offer. It would one cool evening a week after he had come to her house before she showed her face about Asak's home.
The girl had left her Alkaws at home, but had taken along several tools that she used for training the beasts. A couple of sticks, some treats... the usual tools. Taking a deep breath, she walked up to Asak's house and knocked nervously on the door, ears quivering.
The girl had left her Alkaws at home, but had taken along several tools that she used for training the beasts. A couple of sticks, some treats... the usual tools. Taking a deep breath, she walked up to Asak's house and knocked nervously on the door, ears quivering.
Asak's house was a humble, low-slung dwelling built of turf and timbers. There were only a couple windows, and much of the grass around the building was overgrown. A dirt path led up to the door, bordered on one side by a fenced in yard. On the other side was a more open yard where an old, fat nuru grazed--it seemed to be the only one there. As Ava came up the walkway, two alkaws ran alongside the fence, barking and baying territorially. The racket they made roused Asak, so that it was mere moments after Ava knocked that he opened the door to see her there. His tail flickered in surprise. "Ava?"
Ava had honestly expected something more grand considering the man's station. While she regarded the Alkaws carefully, she stood her ground. She was used to them after all and this was what she was here for.
Although the courage deflated when Asak opened the door and was surprised. "Umm... hello," she said somewhat shyly. "You said I could help out at the kennels when I'm free and I managed to get my chores done to find some free time. If it's a bad time I can come back another time."
Although the courage deflated when Asak opened the door and was surprised. "Umm... hello," she said somewhat shyly. "You said I could help out at the kennels when I'm free and I managed to get my chores done to find some free time. If it's a bad time I can come back another time."
Asak cleared his throat, realizing how rude his brusque query had been. "No, no--I could use the help. Wait just a moment." The door closed. Meanwhile, the two Alkaws had calmed down and were now sniffing the air, ears perked. One was young, though not quite a puppy, with a light blue-grey hide--the other looked a bit older, much darker in coloration with his nose horn sharpened to a point. The younger one looked a good deal friendlier as well.
The door reopened and Asak stepped out, wearing a leather satchel over his shoulder. "It's a messy job," he told Ava. "Are you up for it? Normally I have Eri and Suri help, but even so, there is much to be done."
The door reopened and Asak stepped out, wearing a leather satchel over his shoulder. "It's a messy job," he told Ava. "Are you up for it? Normally I have Eri and Suri help, but even so, there is much to be done."
Ava waited patiently and looked over at the Alkaws, smiling at them. When Asak reappeared, the girl glanced over at the satchel.
"I handle the Alkaws on my own at home sir. My mother handles most of the household chores," she explained. Despite being young, she was looking almost fully grown in some cases. "She taught me when I was younger, but she tends to get forgetful so it is safer for us if I handled the Alkaws. What would you need done?"
"I handle the Alkaws on my own at home sir. My mother handles most of the household chores," she explained. Despite being young, she was looking almost fully grown in some cases. "She taught me when I was younger, but she tends to get forgetful so it is safer for us if I handled the Alkaws. What would you need done?"
Asak leaned over the fence to pet the older Alkaw, who grew much friendlier upon receiving affection. "Refill their water troughs, chop food for them, clean up the yard ... I shouldn't doubt you. You'll do fine."
Beckoning to her, he opened the fence gate and went in, issuing a hand signal for the two Alkaws to stay. They obeyed, though the younger one squirmed. "Grab Kinam's collar," he told Ava. "He's friendly." Probably too friendly to be a guard beast, but we'll see what his training holds. Asak would then take the older Alkaw by the collar and lead him off towards the kennel.
The sound of barking could be heard from far off. Inside, the kennel consisted of a number of enclosures, each around three meters deep. Six had inhabitants, one of which being Rimuwa. Asak released his Alkaw into the enclosure next to hers, then opened another for Ava to put Kinam in. A few of the Alkaws were bristling or pacing in front of the door, staring at the stranger in their midst.
Beckoning to her, he opened the fence gate and went in, issuing a hand signal for the two Alkaws to stay. They obeyed, though the younger one squirmed. "Grab Kinam's collar," he told Ava. "He's friendly." Probably too friendly to be a guard beast, but we'll see what his training holds. Asak would then take the older Alkaw by the collar and lead him off towards the kennel.
The sound of barking could be heard from far off. Inside, the kennel consisted of a number of enclosures, each around three meters deep. Six had inhabitants, one of which being Rimuwa. Asak released his Alkaw into the enclosure next to hers, then opened another for Ava to put Kinam in. A few of the Alkaws were bristling or pacing in front of the door, staring at the stranger in their midst.
Ava nodded her head. That was easy enough and she'd head over to Kinam to grab his collar gently but firmly, following Asak's steps. She'd lead the younger one into his pen. Refill the trough, chop food... clean the yard. Yes those she could do. Seeing the Alkaws, she smiled at them and didn't seem afraid even at the larger ones!
Still she glanced about looking for the troughs and where to get the water from... unless Asak showed her, she'd get down to it.
Still she glanced about looking for the troughs and where to get the water from... unless Asak showed her, she'd get down to it.
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