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18th Game [action/video]

[She's been so busy lately that she hasn't noticed the time fly by. Busy with teaching Foo Foo, busy with hunting and providing for her family, busy helping Richard finish the extra wing to the house before first snow, trying to learn filial magic, busy stealing every spare minute of time with Prim and Teddy and all those others she holds there. She hasn't noticed the time pass. Hadn't realized that it's already November.

It's been a year since Peeta's left. Over a year now. And though she misses him every day, misses him even more when she wakes up on the couch screaming from night terrors, she's... still alive. Found something - someones - else to live for. And maybe that boy who had asked about finding a way to bring others here might actually succeed. Maybe she could bring him back. The boy that loves her. Where everything is actually real.

More than that, though, she's realized what time of year it is again. Has it really been two years, then, since the end of the rebellion? Since losing Prim?

But Prim's no longer lost. She's here. And if Katniss has her way, she'll stay here forever.

It's this realization that makes her more reluctant to leave that morning. But she has responsibilities. Things she has to do. Including teaching that stupid sabertooth moose lion how to actually hunt his own food rather than snatching her squirrels from her bag. Foo Foo has, at least, grown incredibly skillful at that. So at some point mid-morning, Katniss makes her way to House 56 to pick up the beast and continue their way in the Eastern Forest.

Once again, her hunt with Foo Foo isn't nearly as successful as her hunts alone. She loses more squirrels to him than she manages to retain. And when she finally spots a rabbit - perfect for tonight's dinner, perfect to make one of Prim's favorite stews - he lumbers in the way of her shot. Frightened, it runs into the bushes. Annoyed, Katniss lets her arrow fly into the trees.

Some seconds later, she pulls out her journal. With the video feed on, she focuses on Foo Foo.]

How is anyone supposed to teach something this stupid to do anything?

[She doesn't even feel remotely guilty when the young animal looks up from his interest in the rabbit-clad bushes and gives her a goofy, happy grin. It seems one enjoys these outings more than the other.]

Dumb mutt.

[Sometime later in the afternoon, she's back in the town. Having to pick up food is becoming more and more an uncomfortably common task on the days she tries to train Foo Foo. But this week more than ever, the week of her sister's death, she feels the need to spoil her. To go to the items shop and find little gifts that might make her happy. Or pick up fresh bread at the bakery and sweets at the grocery.

Anything for Prim. Anything.]

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Teaching takes a certain amount of patience and an understanding that learning is a process, it varies for individuals. Praise and rewards generally works well.

[Her father had taught like that. Full of kind words and patience as he once instructed a small Katniss how to hold her bow properly. How to aim, when to fire. That hunting was a skill that required time and commitment and a level head. No impulsive acts. Patience even when the hunt didn't go your way.

But it's been a long, long time since she's had her father by her side. Eight years since his death. Even longer since he had taught her the skills she relies on now. Instead, it's people like Haymitch that remind her how to act. Scornful, sarcastic words. Reminders of how unlikable she is. Of all her faults and mistakes.

What had she been thinking, offering to teach Foo Foo? She couldn't do something like this. Not at all. Anger gives way to frustration. Shoulders slump a little as she turns the camera back to her.]

I tried rewards.

Edited 2013-11-06 17:39 (UTC)

That is a good start. Rewards are helpful, especially for animals. I would encourage you to use praise as well, when earned. Praise can often be a very good motivator, especially from someone you respect.

[He takes a breath for a moment]

It should also be considered that your styles of hunting will likely vary. A saber toothed moose lion is a formidable predator, and usually goes after larger game.

Katniss...

[He says with some mild disappointment.]

You're supposed to be kind and friendly to creatures. That's how you can help to work together.

Hey, that's a pretty cool pet! [ You're totally not stupid, random... unknown creature he has no personal connection to. Maybe if it gets more confidence, though, he's thinking. ] Have you tried getting it hypnotized?

Starting with something easy like "sit" or "roll over" is usually the way to go.

Having trouble?

[He says with a faint, smug smile. Oh, the joys of seeing someone else have trouble training something, even if he's pretty much good with Optimus now.]

[For all a saber toothed moose lion is a formidable predator, Foo Foo always seems more than happy to steal her squirrels. His "reward." One she was starting to doubt he even deserved most of the time. But he'd need far too many squirrels to support his growing bulk than even Katniss wanted to hunt in a day.

That thought made her smile just a little.]

Deer. I've seen them in the forest. Even caught one myself.

[The meat it had provided had kept her, Peeta, and Rue fed for months.]

[It was so bizarre they had just deer. Not a cat deer or a deer fox, or any other of the varieties]

Straight deer is it? Well, it is a bit odd, but I believe that is quite suitable.

[He flashes a smile]

[She hates it when he looks at her like that. The disappointment she imagines to be akin to disapproval. He's such a good person. Too good, she still suspects, to befriend someone like her. But despite her stupid announcement back in August, he's stuck by her.

She shouldn't be that lucky.

Still, she's exasperated enough with the lion moose not to care as much as she might normally.]

Have you ever tried working with Foo Foo?

He's not mine.

[She says the words quickly, without giving much thought to anything else the strange looking man had said. It's awkward enough sometimes, taking Foo Foo out for hunts (or attempts at) while knowing full well he belongs to Sokka. So far, the arrangement they've had works. She barely sees him early in the morning. And Foo Foo hasn't thought twice about following her after she offers him the first squirrel of the day.]

But... I don't think he's been.

[She considers the advice just for a moment before dismissing it entirely. Funny. That's not even something she's considered really seeing if Foo Foo's capable of. For the most part, he's always been so good at listening to Sokka that she just assumed.

She should test that out. At some point. When not paying attention to the journal.]

He needs to learn how to hunt.

[She should be grateful to see him looking this amused. Since he's come back, it's been a rarer event than she remembers it ever being before. He's always been so quick with a grin and a kind word. It's been strange to see him otherwise.

But Foo Foo has gotten her annoyed enough to scowl at him regardless. He's her friend. One of her closest friends here. He'll forgive her for taking out frustrations on him.

At least, she hopes he'll forgive her eventually.]

He's a stupid beast, Teddy.

[So, yes. Of course she's having trouble.]

[It's not at all strange to her. The odder creatures in the world, the hybrids and genetic mishaps, are dangerous. Muttations, tools once used by the Capitol to keep the Districts in line. She's still apprehensive any time she runs into that monkey-like thing that follows Aang around sometimes. It might be harmless enough, but every time she sees it, she can't help but think of the creatures in the clock arena.

But the man's words make her glance back at Foo Foo - muzzle still in the bushes - just for a second. Most people here seem accustomed to the animals in the forest. They're from a world similar enough to her Earth.]

Are you from Foo Foo's world?

[The phrasing was a bit amusing to Iroh. He supposed it had to do with the fact that he was new, but being asked if you are from Foo Foo's world would sound funny regardless.

He chuckles at the question]

You could certainly say that. It would be his world equally as much as it is mine or any others.

_{[ Kirk was out getting groceries too, which had someone become his job, though it was... less with Arya gone. He found himself reaching for her favorite foods without meaning to, having to stop himself and put them back if he didn't think he or Spock would eat it themselves.

But, the trip was worth it when he saw Katniss. He ambled over, cloth back on his arm, rustling with his acquired items. ]}

Hey. Finally get the "dumb mutt" away from his squirrel?

Babies crawl before they walk.

[There's a little shrug from his end, at least what's visible on the small camera.]

[It is definitely a faint smile, and none of the wider ones that he'd usually give. But it is one all the same, and it doesn't fade even when she says that to him. In fact, he feels even more amused at that.]

That's one of your problems right there, actually. Teaching an animal something is a lot harder if you go into it thinking he's stupid.

[It's a frown he gives often enough to Sokka whenever he's mean to or trying to eat animals. But it's a light one at least. And he goes into a meek smile at her question.]

I've tried playing with Foo Foo...

[Playing with Foo Foo. She can't even begin to imagine how many squirrels that would cost her. She doesn't want to. Attempting to get this damn beast to hunt has been costly enough. He'd probably expect a treat every few minutes.

...so, perhaps, no different than the situation she's found herself in now.]

Sokka's spoiled him.

[The amusement is met with an annoyed roll of her eyes. She's never enjoyed that very much; people finding fun in her mistakes. Even when it came to her friends. Even a friend like Teddy. But even if she feels guilty for a rudeness a second or two later when she remembers who she's talking to, she doesn't take it back.

Life has to return to normal at some point for htem all. Isn't that something Peeta would have said?]

He's never shown me otherwise.

He's not a baby.

[And he hasn't been for a while. Maybe, maybe if Sokka had taken him hunting back when he was a baby, he wouldn't have this problem now. If he hadn't spoiled him with free food, if he hadn't treated him like a pet.

Katniss had never been good with pets. Or small children that weren't Prim.]

[She had been eying the small selection of tubers in the vegetable section of the store, trying to figure out what might work with the rabbit she had eventually managed to catch before leaving the woods for the day. Some of the foods available were still foreign to her even after all this time, a lot like the foods found in the Capital rather than District 12. The pop tarts or other sweets. Things she rarely put in her basket.

She had been reaching for a handful of chives when Jim approached. Simple onion like things that would add flavor to the stew she planned on making. The chives dropped in the basket before she turned her attention to Jim and rolled her eyes.]

He cost me any decent game I would have caught today.

I don't know. Sokka can be pretty harsh with him sometimes. That's why me and Ikki like to give him extra treats sometimes just so he knows we're not mad at him.

[It's not quite normal... but Teddy will take it, until things slowly get back to where they were before. He raises his eyebrows, tilting his head slightly as if to get a better look at the animal.]

I don't know, he looks cute to me. [And with his eyes back on Katniss:] Want me to help?

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