Molly heard Doug approaching and spun around, ready to face a new adversary. “Easy now, Molly, it’s just me,” Doug purred with a calm few would have had with a two-thousand pound pissed-off mother staring down at them. He moved fluidly between the mare and her quarry. “Come on now big momma, it’s time for you to back off.” His voice was firm and familiar and his posture was commanding without being threatening. Molly seemed to accept Doug would protect her colt, so she went back to grazing with the family. “Good girl.”
Doug took a deep breath. Dealing with a well-trained hippogriff that he knew, understood, and had years of history to pull from, was a whole different story than handling a young frightened beast.
Doug could tell the professor was doing his best to keep himself between his young charge and the perturbed Hippogriff. However they were in an open field with only a lone tree to use as a shield.
Doug reached for the coil of rope he usually kept tied to his belt and was horrified to realize it was not there. Water nymphs did not like tying things, and he had purposely left it at home for today’s encounter. Luckily, the gamekeeper had a rope, and Doug saw him toss it in the air. With a flash and a crack it was on the ground at his feet. The noise startled the hippogriff, and it spun with a vengeance, blindly charging the new threat. Doug danced out of the large animal’s way as he picked up the rope and managed to toss the loose end around Arnold’s massive neck, looping it into a makeshift lasso and giving him just a bit of control.
“Now that’s a good boy.” Doug bowed, he touched the ground with his free hand, but never took his eyes off the large animal. Under most circumstances he could trust the creatures he worked with, but when scared, or confused any animal could become a deadly threat.
Carefully, Doug positioned himself between the hippogriff and the trapped girl and professor. “Professor Funkly… Please turn your shoulders away from Arnold and try to back towards the fence line… Easy boy, it’s okay.”
“What? Who?”
“The hippogriff, professor, turn away from the hippogriff.”
Professor Funkly turned and took one step away from the tree. Arnold seemed to settle slightly, though never taking his eyes off the young professor. He took another step, and the hippogriff stood still. Suddenly the professor reached for Ronnie’s arm and pulled her behind him, and the hippogriff lunged forward. Although the whole ordeal took only a second to unfold, in Doug’s eyes it all became clear.
“Professor, NO! Let go of the girl! Step away from her! Put your hands on the ground now!” Doug’s young voice was firm and urgent enough that the young professor obeyed instantly. It was this instant submission that saved the teacher. “Now keep your eyes down, and stay bent over, and quickly backup to the fence line.” Once the professor was halfway to the fence, the young Hippogriff visibly relaxed and turned his attention back on the girl by the tree.
To Doug’s amazement, Ronnie wasn’t terrified. Instead she looked deeply concerned for the animal. Her bright eyes stared profoundly into the young animal’s eyes, as if she were connecting to his soul, as if she were pleading with him to forgive her for some terrible sin.
“Are you ok? Miss… Are you ok?”
“Oh yes… Thank you... Yes, I am fine.” She finally pulled her gaze off the Hippogriff and looked at Doug, who smiled broadly.
“Good. So tell me what happened?”
***
Doug took a deep breath. Dealing with a well-trained hippogriff that he knew, understood, and had years of history to pull from, was a whole different story than handling a young frightened beast.
Doug could tell the professor was doing his best to keep himself between his young charge and the perturbed Hippogriff. However they were in an open field with only a lone tree to use as a shield.
Doug reached for the coil of rope he usually kept tied to his belt and was horrified to realize it was not there. Water nymphs did not like tying things, and he had purposely left it at home for today’s encounter. Luckily, the gamekeeper had a rope, and Doug saw him toss it in the air. With a flash and a crack it was on the ground at his feet. The noise startled the hippogriff, and it spun with a vengeance, blindly charging the new threat. Doug danced out of the large animal’s way as he picked up the rope and managed to toss the loose end around Arnold’s massive neck, looping it into a makeshift lasso and giving him just a bit of control.
“Now that’s a good boy.” Doug bowed, he touched the ground with his free hand, but never took his eyes off the large animal. Under most circumstances he could trust the creatures he worked with, but when scared, or confused any animal could become a deadly threat.
Carefully, Doug positioned himself between the hippogriff and the trapped girl and professor. “Professor Funkly… Please turn your shoulders away from Arnold and try to back towards the fence line… Easy boy, it’s okay.”
“What? Who?”
“The hippogriff, professor, turn away from the hippogriff.”
Professor Funkly turned and took one step away from the tree. Arnold seemed to settle slightly, though never taking his eyes off the young professor. He took another step, and the hippogriff stood still. Suddenly the professor reached for Ronnie’s arm and pulled her behind him, and the hippogriff lunged forward. Although the whole ordeal took only a second to unfold, in Doug’s eyes it all became clear.
“Professor, NO! Let go of the girl! Step away from her! Put your hands on the ground now!” Doug’s young voice was firm and urgent enough that the young professor obeyed instantly. It was this instant submission that saved the teacher. “Now keep your eyes down, and stay bent over, and quickly backup to the fence line.” Once the professor was halfway to the fence, the young Hippogriff visibly relaxed and turned his attention back on the girl by the tree.
To Doug’s amazement, Ronnie wasn’t terrified. Instead she looked deeply concerned for the animal. Her bright eyes stared profoundly into the young animal’s eyes, as if she were connecting to his soul, as if she were pleading with him to forgive her for some terrible sin.
“Are you ok? Miss… Are you ok?”
“Oh yes… Thank you... Yes, I am fine.” She finally pulled her gaze off the Hippogriff and looked at Doug, who smiled broadly.
“Good. So tell me what happened?”
***
No comments:
Post a Comment