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The field looked a bit odd, set up for training in the middle of the cold. But a sudden warm snap had come in and she was using it. The ground under her feet had dried out as the warmer weather had kicked in and the moisture from melted snow drained out. It truthfully wasn't that warm, but it was warm enough to not worry about catching a chill if you were out all day with a coat on. The next snap would have everything frozen again anyway.

"There, that should do it."

The platform was solid and clear, a few targets a short distance away. It wasn't one of her usual practices. Rather she was setting up for lassoing lessons. Now if Elle would show up...

Perfect timing. The woman grinned when she was hugged. She hadn't gotten enough of those lately. Her own outfit was the usual worn old jeans with tail modifications, layered light shirts and her ever present fingerless gloves and chocker.

"Not long at all. No worries. Now you wanted to learn to rope properly? From a distance? I've got a few targets for standing practice first. Then, if you handle that well, we can get on to moving targets a bit later, all right? Now which hand is your lead hand?"

A distance away the barn door opened and Lonan stepped out, leading one of the new equines that had come to stay. The large creature was black and white, nudging playfully at Lonan's feathers and snuffling a few as the teen closed the door agian to keep out the wind.

"It worked for me with Devi, so I can't really tell you not to." There was defiantely a sly wink involved in that statement.

Though there was almost a snort of laughter thrown in there as well.

"Maybe! Later though. Now, what you want to do is aim the loop in front of your target so it falls around them. I'll show you how to head rope and then, if you're good at that, foot rope. That's good for smaller aminals, or children you do'nt want to choke." Definately some funny memories of that, that Devi would probably like forgotten.

Drac coached her, knowing that every once in a while her attention would stray. At elast she covered well. Chuckling a bit she led her through the steps of standing roping, looping the lasso over the barrels.

Lonan, for all his hearing was acute, had actually not heard the two. Then again having a large nose whuffing in your ear could have that effect.

Leading the large equine to an open area he lightly jumped on it's back and began leading it through some stretches, light on the reins and pulling just enough to work the kinks out.

"Yes, now you've got it. Perfect." She helped Elle through a few more repetitions on the standing targets until the actions came easily.

"Good. Ready to try something moving?" The draconic woman was grinning. It was great to teach a willing learner.

Lonan was pacing the equine, gently nudging him through his paces. The creature was fit, just in need of a bit of practical stretching to make sure he was in his best shape.

Drac waited patiently while Elle worked out the kink in her arm. She was so used to doing things like this every day that she often forgot others could cramp using new muscles.

"Well, it helps to have a willing student. Try to increase the size of your loop a bit. Not enough to throw you off, but enough to let you get a good area around the target. It'll also give you more fall time before it tightens." Smiling she demonstrated how to make the larger loop fly steadily at the target. First stationary and then moving.

"The only time it owuld hurt would be if it landed around a humanoid's neck and was pulled tight way too fast or if you used the lasso to pull them off something thatw as moving really fast. Done right it'll restrain or hinder the target without actually causing them harm."

Lonan was pulling the big black and white creature through some tight turns and pivots. How he could guage the distance to anything was anyone's guess.

"Yeah. If you're not sure just let it fall. More often than not whatever you're trying to rope will move instinctively to avoid having it's neck looped and save you the trouble." A few more careful corrections and Elle was throwing the loops much more acurately.

"Fell that pull? That means you're doing it right. It's an effort and it should feel like one." At Elle's question though she paused.

"First tell me, how old do you think I am?" She stood, natural relaxed pose, thumbs in the beltloops of her old jeans. There was heaviness in her shoulder though. Something that spoke of old knowledge.

"That's always a matter of culture!* She couldn't help adding her own chuckle at that response.

"That's entirely true. I've probably been around long enough to know this generation's great-great-soemthing grandparents. Well, at least the humans, anyway." She seemed to take a measure of the young woman before coming to a decision.

"I'll be honest with you, I used to be a warrior where I came from. I lead my own 'mob' back then." Smileing she dropped her guise and let Elle see her for what she really was, wings sprouting from the lines of scales on her back, feet becoming talons and her tail changing to draconic with a tuft of feathers at the end. She was closer to Devi's height if she stood fully upright now.

"I learned to rope like that to take down enemies without killing them. Very few enemies in flight ever expect to be turned into a living bolo. This is a simpler version though. Afterall, you only need to think in 2D." Her grin was definately more fanged before she let the facade back into place. That she'd shown Elle was a mark of how integrated she was into the family. Very few outside it had seen it and knew it for what it was.

Lonan was finishing pacing his mount, carefully ending with another set of stretches before dismounting and walking the beast to cool.

Drac's body creaked a bit as it was shifted back, bones and ligaments realigning properly. A small smile crossed her face, glad that Elle understood just what she'd been shown. Lonan had good taste.

"Ok, you're got the still thing. Now I want you to try to lopp my feet. Don't worry, I'll just be jogging slowly back and forth along the deck until you get it." That said she started to do just that, lifting her feeta bit higher than she normally would to give Elle a better chance.

Lonan hitched the now whuffing creature to the side of the abrn, returning with a set of brushes and proceeded to groom the mottled coat out. Every once in a while he'd have to dodge a playful n**, but didn't seem to mind it in the least.