Elowen watched Cassander and Karl like a hawk, hoping to glean some knowledge from what was unfolding in front of her. She already knew that eye contact alone would not cut it in the recall game. Ark had done it to her so many times that he would look at her, consider her for a moment and then ignore her. It was infuriating when it happened, but there just wasn't anything in it for him. As far as she understood.
It seemed to be similar with Karl. So Elowen wondered what Cassander would do about that. Would he give up like she often did?
Of course not.
Instead, his voices became firmer. Something she had noticed before but it came out even stronger now when there was no other distraction, nothing else to think about. It almost seemed like Cassander was used to giving out commands. The girl frowned and cocked her head to a side little. Perhaps that was the trick she needed - order with intention and mean it.
Elowen smiled when Karl trotted over to Cassander at last. She near wanted to join in with the celebrations. But then it was her turn and nerves suddenly danced right under her skin.
She nodded back to Cassander and swalled once before raising her hand with the treat. "Ark!"
It took her a moment or two to realize that there would be no reaction from the black pup who continued to chuck his branch around.
Her heart hammered in her chest and her cheeks reddened a little. Elowen knew this was not a competition, nor was she being tested. She knew she asked Cassander to help her and that's why they were doing this together. But still, she hoped that perhaps, by a strike of luck or miracle, Ark would be obedient out of the blueand he would just run over to her straight away.
She stretched her hand up even higher. "Ark!"
There was still no response. Now Ark seemed to be settling down to vicious chewing instead.
Elowen dropped her arm to her side with a fierce frown taking over her face. How could she call him to her if he wasn't even heeding her voice? She pressed her teeth together giving her features a sharp look. Perhaps she had to use all the tricks she saw Cassander do.
She looked towards the man and tried to hide the frustration she felt behind a strained grimace of a smile. "Can take treat bag?" She asked. Perhaps the size of the prize needed to be bigger...louder.
She then called her pup's name a third time but her voice was level, grounded. The frustration undoubtedly seeped into it but gave it a quality of finality. She shook the bag also.
It was hard to tell whether it was the way she spoke the pup's name or the sounds of the treat bag, but Ark did pause and look her way.
That was only half the battle. Elowen knew that. So she tried to maintain the air of dominance she was hoping that she was exhuding.
"Come," she said in the same tone, but this time she also tapped her thigh twice.
It was a fraction of a moment when Elowen believed she had failed and Ark would ignore her. But contrary to the embarrassment unfolding in her mind, the pup dug its paws into the ground and took off running towards her.
The girl's behaviour changed straight away too. Her stiff features loosened and a quick, ringing laugh escaped her.
"Well done!" The girl praised the pup, taking another leaf out of Cassander's book before she gave Ark the promised treat. A moment after, as he munched on it with just as much vigor as the stick, Elowen looked at Cassander. Her eyes, as cold as they were in their colours, were now sparkling the same way a sun would reflect of a stream. But there was something more - unchecked curiosity.
"How you do it?" she asked. "How you speak so...determined?"
It seemed to be similar with Karl. So Elowen wondered what Cassander would do about that. Would he give up like she often did?
Of course not.
Instead, his voices became firmer. Something she had noticed before but it came out even stronger now when there was no other distraction, nothing else to think about. It almost seemed like Cassander was used to giving out commands. The girl frowned and cocked her head to a side little. Perhaps that was the trick she needed - order with intention and mean it.
Elowen smiled when Karl trotted over to Cassander at last. She near wanted to join in with the celebrations. But then it was her turn and nerves suddenly danced right under her skin.
She nodded back to Cassander and swalled once before raising her hand with the treat. "Ark!"
It took her a moment or two to realize that there would be no reaction from the black pup who continued to chuck his branch around.
Her heart hammered in her chest and her cheeks reddened a little. Elowen knew this was not a competition, nor was she being tested. She knew she asked Cassander to help her and that's why they were doing this together. But still, she hoped that perhaps, by a strike of luck or miracle, Ark would be obedient out of the blueand he would just run over to her straight away.
She stretched her hand up even higher. "Ark!"
There was still no response. Now Ark seemed to be settling down to vicious chewing instead.
Elowen dropped her arm to her side with a fierce frown taking over her face. How could she call him to her if he wasn't even heeding her voice? She pressed her teeth together giving her features a sharp look. Perhaps she had to use all the tricks she saw Cassander do.
She looked towards the man and tried to hide the frustration she felt behind a strained grimace of a smile. "Can take treat bag?" She asked. Perhaps the size of the prize needed to be bigger...louder.
She then called her pup's name a third time but her voice was level, grounded. The frustration undoubtedly seeped into it but gave it a quality of finality. She shook the bag also.
It was hard to tell whether it was the way she spoke the pup's name or the sounds of the treat bag, but Ark did pause and look her way.
That was only half the battle. Elowen knew that. So she tried to maintain the air of dominance she was hoping that she was exhuding.
"Come," she said in the same tone, but this time she also tapped her thigh twice.
It was a fraction of a moment when Elowen believed she had failed and Ark would ignore her. But contrary to the embarrassment unfolding in her mind, the pup dug its paws into the ground and took off running towards her.
The girl's behaviour changed straight away too. Her stiff features loosened and a quick, ringing laugh escaped her.
"Well done!" The girl praised the pup, taking another leaf out of Cassander's book before she gave Ark the promised treat. A moment after, as he munched on it with just as much vigor as the stick, Elowen looked at Cassander. Her eyes, as cold as they were in their colours, were now sparkling the same way a sun would reflect of a stream. But there was something more - unchecked curiosity.
"How you do it?" she asked. "How you speak so...determined?"