Post by Ashen on May 24, 2007 23:59:10 GMT -5
Cast: Freyr, Harlequin, Rainier
Location: Sparse Copse
The sun is setting on an unusually warm evening. The clouds are thick and bright with brilliant pinks and oranges. But it is the thick, muggy breeze that keeps one dog moving on her feet; the scent of spices and the wilderness enticing her further and further from her past and into her future. Large paws imprint the grass as she moves and every now and then, the unusually hued creature stops and allows her hind foot to violently tug at a thick leather strap that grips her neck. "Ugh.." she grumbles in frustration, picking up her pace to a trot--a specific destination in mind. If her nose is right, it should be just over this hill, and as she climbs to the top, fear sets in. Harlequin hesitates, one paw lifted and her stiff, pointed ears flapped back against her head. This might be bad, but its the only family she ever really had.
As the adolescent reaches the hill's apex, another dog makes his way into the copse, but from another angle. The mastiff ambles up from the stream, his steps heavy from the weight of exhaustion. Real sleep is not something he's had in a long time. Freyr looks forward to is, knowing it likely won't come. But tonight it will have to wait. The wind carries something, something that alerts the large dog. A sound? A smell? Either way, he looks around carefully. There's been quite enough troubles with interlopers, and the mastiff doesn't look at his most patient tonight.
Not far from the mastiff is Rainier. She plods along calmly - at least until her nose picks up something on the wind. Her head lifts, as does her tail, before she quickens her pace and stops nearby. She spots something cresting the hill and she squints... Another dog? She lets out a deep "Whuff!" in acknowledgement.
Harlequin turns her head toward a familiar face. She knows the face, but her memory has stolen his name. Her attention rests on him, a look of relief falling opon her sculpted features. However, the sudden call from another direction quickly throws her defenses up. Both large, triangular ears pull upright on her head, her chin lifts as does her tail and her deep chest is puffed out. Alright, here comes the welcome wagon right? It's been a long time since she's set foot upon this ground, and she is a much different dog. Unfortunately, the collar on her neck will not be taken lightly by this group if her memory serves her correctly. Taking a stab in the dark, Harlequin turns again toward the mastiff mix and says,"I remember you.." as confidently as she can.
Freyr squints his dark eyes, taking in the newcomer's appearance, notably the collar. Has he seen her before? There's a feeling of familiarity that he can't place. The mastiff glances at Rainier, his perplexity rather evident, before stepping closer to the younger female. "Tell me... what's your name?" He requests, his voice thick and rumbling, moreso than it was a season or so ago.
Rainier doesn't growl, although keeps her alert position as she steps forward. She remembers him? A collared dog remembers him? Mmm... Rainier thinks a moment. Though she holds back from asking questions to allow Freyr to introduce her. That is, if this newcomer is telling the truth.
Despite her past; any form of love, affection...even a kind thought antagonized and beaten out of her, the proud dogs tail begins to wag hesitantly behind her. She knows him, she remembers that voice and his face...the name, if she could only place his name. Her gaze shifts toward the other female, keeping her in her radar to make sure she's not planning anything. Her eyes search to meet her gaze dead on, if only for a moment before stepping toward the older male. His question forces her to smile a bit; if she'd remembered anything, anything at all it was her name. Not dog, not mutt or beast. "Harelquin" she says softly, her brows furrowing up over her eyes in desperation. "Please remember me.." she whispers softly to herself.."I remember you."
Harlequin? The name burrows into his memory, pulling up images of bandages; of a small pup. The mastiff's eyes go to her ears, and then widen in realization, followed by three more expressions that cross Freyr face in succession: Astonishment, then relief, and finally worry. "Harle...?" He questions, hushed at first. Is this that same pup from all that time ago? He had believed her dead, still hadn't completely moved on. "How did... I thought... What happened to you?"
Oh! They do recognize each other!? Oh, well then... Rainier's posture relaxes, if only slightly. Her eyes lock on the younger female's, though no words are said. "You remember her, eh? Phew. Cause for a moment I thought we were dealing with a pet."
Her expressions mimic those of her former leader, that is until his face turns to worry, and hers turns to exhaustion, sorrow and happiness all rolled into one. Her head bows down to him and her ears fall back. Her dapple grey tail wags furiously behind her as she moves as close as she dares, affectionately attempting a good head bump.
"And you.." she says, relieved. "You're Freyr." The Beauceron chuckles, basking in the happiness she thought had been lost to her. "I ran off to play and these humans found me and, this.." she rambles, leaning her head down to show the collar. Though the other females words strike a nerve in the young canine. Harley' tenses, and to no fault of hers, glares viciously. A face of sheer hatred and dangerous agression forms on her elegant face before she falls back onto her haunches and clenches her teeth and eyes shut. A sharp reminder of how fresh her recent past remains.
Freyr spares Rainier an explaination. He realizes this must seem a bit odd to her, she wasn't around when Harlequin was. "Yes, I do. I haven't seen her since she was a pup." When Harley comes near, the mastiff's dark eyes soften in a way they haven't for a long time, and he meets the head bump gently, for a moment not sure if this isn't an illusion. "Yes I am." He responds to the name. "I'm so sorry. I should've... should've been watching closer." So many thing's he's done wrong. After a pause, he steps back, sending a harsh look to the collar as if it were a vile parasite. "We should rid you of that."
Rainier's eras twitch slightly at the glare. Ah... So there's the reason, hmm? Well, if anything, she forgave the newcomer silently, and steps closer. "Yes. We'll get that thing off of you." She playfully stomped a forepaw and wagged once. "I'm Rainier. A pleasure to meet any friend of Freyr's."
After a moment, as if waiting for a muscle cramp to ease, the Beuceron lifts her head and tilts it back, letting out a sigh. "No no, it was no one's fault but my own..I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." Ha! If only it were so easy. Grown now, Harlequin looks intently at Freyr, on his level instead of straight up from the ground; her story will come out in full soon enough. They'd both missed her youth and had a lot of catching up to do. A soft smile pulls back at her long muzzle and she nods,"Please." she says softly, pulling her nose down to her neck to try to look at it. The playful stomp of Rainier is greeted with a tail wag and nod. "I'm Harlequin." she responds with a nod of her head. "This thing is suffocating. I've been trying to get it off myself." The last hold humanity had on her.
It's not so easy to accept that he couldn't have changed things, but he nods anyway as if conceding. Pushing that issue aside for now, Freyr steps up and examines the collar carefully, searching for a good place to grip. "Rainier, get the other side, could you?" Pulling in one spot only could harm Harlequin's neck, something he learned from his own collar removal. But pulling it in two should do the trick. "This shouldn't hurt terribly." He assures, before tilting his head to slide his teeth around the strip of cloth.
Rainier gave the younger dog a wag and a lick on the ear before lifting her head to Freyr's instructions. "Will do." She moves to the other side and maneuvers her jaw beneath the collar, searching a moment but finally setting her jaws tightly around it, level with Freyr. "Ready?"
Harlequin sucks in a deep breath and grins. She keeps her rump firmly planted on the ground, but braces herself with her front paws. She squints her eyes shut, peeping one open to look at both dogs on either side of her, each with a good grip on the collar. "Ready." she replies, finding the situation quite humorous but relieving simultaneously. This is it. The last step. Her face scrunches up, ready for the release.
Freyr sturdies himself. This isn't something he has a lot of practice with, but he's determined to do it right. When Harlequin signals she's ready, the mastiff's tail swishes in acknowedgement. "Three, two..." His voice is somewhat muffled. "One... pull." And then, hoping Rainier got the cue, he gives the collar a sharp yank.
Indeed she does, and the pale female puts all her muscle into the pull. She is careful not to harm Harley, and keeps a tight grip on the collar, digging in and even growling as her teeth burrow into the leather ornament.
Harlequin waits for the countdown and then feels both dogs pulling hard on either side of it. This forces the collar to squeeze on her neck from the front and the back and her eyes pop open. The one thing those humans did right was to strap a hardy piece of leather to her neck. An odd kind of choking noise seems to creep out from her throat and both of her ears fall back. Uh oh. Pushing with her paws, Harley pulls her head back and wriggles violently until she feels the collar squeeze over her ears and the top of her head. In a moment she gives a good yank and and its over her snout and off. Immediately she shakes her head and body before lifting her head up proudly. She was free.
Wretched thing, not giving way how Freyr had hoped. But his underbite keeps him latched on, until finally the thing come off, if not exactly how he planned. It tastes thickly of human rank, and the mastiff shakes it free from his jaws once the work is done, a disgusted contortion on his nose. Without wasting anymore time, he turns back to Harley, studying her neck with an almost paternal concern. "Sorry about that. It didn't hurt too badly, I hope?"
Harlequin gives herself another good shake before she looks down and stares at the thing that she'd felt but hadn't seen for so long. It did wreak of humans, and she must as well. Her expressive tan brows furrow over her eyes as she examines it, giving it a nudge with her paw. Gross. Both ears flap up again though as Freyr comes closer to her neck and she sticks it out for him. "Nope. I'm good." she says, a wrinkled smile bunching up her face. "Thank you." she continues, sincerity heavy in her tone. Harley arches her back and gives her back a stretch. "I'm glad I found you. I don't know where I would have gone..I'm just glad I'm here."
Freyr isn't sure how he plans to dispose of the collar. But for right now, it's the least of his worries. Satisfied that Harley isn't badly mauled from the effort, Freyr relaxes a mite. "Don't worry about it. You're safe now, and I won't ever let anything happen again." He promises firmly, nose pressing affectionately against her shoulder. "You should rest." He has no idea what she's been through, but it surely must have been a lot. There's much to say, and to ask, but that can all wait for a better time.
Harlequin beams at him, a warm, welcome feeling coming over her as he speaks. She was finally home. Everything seemed strangely familiar around her yet, different all the same. The trees looked a lot bigger when she remembered them. Ah well. The growing girl leans into him a bit before rising up onto her sturdy legs. "Sleep, sleep sounds good." she replies, her shoulders hunching over in exhaustion. After all she'd been through and coming here, her body aches for real rest and it all seems to to weigh down on her now; only masked earlier by emotion. Harlequin sniffs the ground and then allows herself to fall to lower to the ground, curling herself up and resting her head on her paws. "You'd better be here when I wake up. This better not have been a dream.." she warns, but not really to him in particular..as if she were warning fate. Her honey gaze shifts up to the large mastiff and she smiles genuinely as her eyelids droop more and more to a close.
Even with all that's been happening within the past few days, with all the stress that's been mounting without end, Freyr can manage to feel happy again. She's no longer a pup, but he can't help but look back fondly. Everything seemed so right and carefree back then. "Sleep all you'd like. I won't go anywhere." And like a stalwart guardian, the mastiff sits beside Harley, keeping watch. He doesn't even dare consider sleep of his own, for fear she might vanish again like before. It's not a mistake he wishes to repeat.
Location: Sparse Copse
The sun is setting on an unusually warm evening. The clouds are thick and bright with brilliant pinks and oranges. But it is the thick, muggy breeze that keeps one dog moving on her feet; the scent of spices and the wilderness enticing her further and further from her past and into her future. Large paws imprint the grass as she moves and every now and then, the unusually hued creature stops and allows her hind foot to violently tug at a thick leather strap that grips her neck. "Ugh.." she grumbles in frustration, picking up her pace to a trot--a specific destination in mind. If her nose is right, it should be just over this hill, and as she climbs to the top, fear sets in. Harlequin hesitates, one paw lifted and her stiff, pointed ears flapped back against her head. This might be bad, but its the only family she ever really had.
As the adolescent reaches the hill's apex, another dog makes his way into the copse, but from another angle. The mastiff ambles up from the stream, his steps heavy from the weight of exhaustion. Real sleep is not something he's had in a long time. Freyr looks forward to is, knowing it likely won't come. But tonight it will have to wait. The wind carries something, something that alerts the large dog. A sound? A smell? Either way, he looks around carefully. There's been quite enough troubles with interlopers, and the mastiff doesn't look at his most patient tonight.
Not far from the mastiff is Rainier. She plods along calmly - at least until her nose picks up something on the wind. Her head lifts, as does her tail, before she quickens her pace and stops nearby. She spots something cresting the hill and she squints... Another dog? She lets out a deep "Whuff!" in acknowledgement.
Harlequin turns her head toward a familiar face. She knows the face, but her memory has stolen his name. Her attention rests on him, a look of relief falling opon her sculpted features. However, the sudden call from another direction quickly throws her defenses up. Both large, triangular ears pull upright on her head, her chin lifts as does her tail and her deep chest is puffed out. Alright, here comes the welcome wagon right? It's been a long time since she's set foot upon this ground, and she is a much different dog. Unfortunately, the collar on her neck will not be taken lightly by this group if her memory serves her correctly. Taking a stab in the dark, Harlequin turns again toward the mastiff mix and says,"I remember you.." as confidently as she can.
Freyr squints his dark eyes, taking in the newcomer's appearance, notably the collar. Has he seen her before? There's a feeling of familiarity that he can't place. The mastiff glances at Rainier, his perplexity rather evident, before stepping closer to the younger female. "Tell me... what's your name?" He requests, his voice thick and rumbling, moreso than it was a season or so ago.
Rainier doesn't growl, although keeps her alert position as she steps forward. She remembers him? A collared dog remembers him? Mmm... Rainier thinks a moment. Though she holds back from asking questions to allow Freyr to introduce her. That is, if this newcomer is telling the truth.
Despite her past; any form of love, affection...even a kind thought antagonized and beaten out of her, the proud dogs tail begins to wag hesitantly behind her. She knows him, she remembers that voice and his face...the name, if she could only place his name. Her gaze shifts toward the other female, keeping her in her radar to make sure she's not planning anything. Her eyes search to meet her gaze dead on, if only for a moment before stepping toward the older male. His question forces her to smile a bit; if she'd remembered anything, anything at all it was her name. Not dog, not mutt or beast. "Harelquin" she says softly, her brows furrowing up over her eyes in desperation. "Please remember me.." she whispers softly to herself.."I remember you."
Harlequin? The name burrows into his memory, pulling up images of bandages; of a small pup. The mastiff's eyes go to her ears, and then widen in realization, followed by three more expressions that cross Freyr face in succession: Astonishment, then relief, and finally worry. "Harle...?" He questions, hushed at first. Is this that same pup from all that time ago? He had believed her dead, still hadn't completely moved on. "How did... I thought... What happened to you?"
Oh! They do recognize each other!? Oh, well then... Rainier's posture relaxes, if only slightly. Her eyes lock on the younger female's, though no words are said. "You remember her, eh? Phew. Cause for a moment I thought we were dealing with a pet."
Her expressions mimic those of her former leader, that is until his face turns to worry, and hers turns to exhaustion, sorrow and happiness all rolled into one. Her head bows down to him and her ears fall back. Her dapple grey tail wags furiously behind her as she moves as close as she dares, affectionately attempting a good head bump.
"And you.." she says, relieved. "You're Freyr." The Beauceron chuckles, basking in the happiness she thought had been lost to her. "I ran off to play and these humans found me and, this.." she rambles, leaning her head down to show the collar. Though the other females words strike a nerve in the young canine. Harley' tenses, and to no fault of hers, glares viciously. A face of sheer hatred and dangerous agression forms on her elegant face before she falls back onto her haunches and clenches her teeth and eyes shut. A sharp reminder of how fresh her recent past remains.
Freyr spares Rainier an explaination. He realizes this must seem a bit odd to her, she wasn't around when Harlequin was. "Yes, I do. I haven't seen her since she was a pup." When Harley comes near, the mastiff's dark eyes soften in a way they haven't for a long time, and he meets the head bump gently, for a moment not sure if this isn't an illusion. "Yes I am." He responds to the name. "I'm so sorry. I should've... should've been watching closer." So many thing's he's done wrong. After a pause, he steps back, sending a harsh look to the collar as if it were a vile parasite. "We should rid you of that."
Rainier's eras twitch slightly at the glare. Ah... So there's the reason, hmm? Well, if anything, she forgave the newcomer silently, and steps closer. "Yes. We'll get that thing off of you." She playfully stomped a forepaw and wagged once. "I'm Rainier. A pleasure to meet any friend of Freyr's."
After a moment, as if waiting for a muscle cramp to ease, the Beuceron lifts her head and tilts it back, letting out a sigh. "No no, it was no one's fault but my own..I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." Ha! If only it were so easy. Grown now, Harlequin looks intently at Freyr, on his level instead of straight up from the ground; her story will come out in full soon enough. They'd both missed her youth and had a lot of catching up to do. A soft smile pulls back at her long muzzle and she nods,"Please." she says softly, pulling her nose down to her neck to try to look at it. The playful stomp of Rainier is greeted with a tail wag and nod. "I'm Harlequin." she responds with a nod of her head. "This thing is suffocating. I've been trying to get it off myself." The last hold humanity had on her.
It's not so easy to accept that he couldn't have changed things, but he nods anyway as if conceding. Pushing that issue aside for now, Freyr steps up and examines the collar carefully, searching for a good place to grip. "Rainier, get the other side, could you?" Pulling in one spot only could harm Harlequin's neck, something he learned from his own collar removal. But pulling it in two should do the trick. "This shouldn't hurt terribly." He assures, before tilting his head to slide his teeth around the strip of cloth.
Rainier gave the younger dog a wag and a lick on the ear before lifting her head to Freyr's instructions. "Will do." She moves to the other side and maneuvers her jaw beneath the collar, searching a moment but finally setting her jaws tightly around it, level with Freyr. "Ready?"
Harlequin sucks in a deep breath and grins. She keeps her rump firmly planted on the ground, but braces herself with her front paws. She squints her eyes shut, peeping one open to look at both dogs on either side of her, each with a good grip on the collar. "Ready." she replies, finding the situation quite humorous but relieving simultaneously. This is it. The last step. Her face scrunches up, ready for the release.
Freyr sturdies himself. This isn't something he has a lot of practice with, but he's determined to do it right. When Harlequin signals she's ready, the mastiff's tail swishes in acknowedgement. "Three, two..." His voice is somewhat muffled. "One... pull." And then, hoping Rainier got the cue, he gives the collar a sharp yank.
Indeed she does, and the pale female puts all her muscle into the pull. She is careful not to harm Harley, and keeps a tight grip on the collar, digging in and even growling as her teeth burrow into the leather ornament.
Harlequin waits for the countdown and then feels both dogs pulling hard on either side of it. This forces the collar to squeeze on her neck from the front and the back and her eyes pop open. The one thing those humans did right was to strap a hardy piece of leather to her neck. An odd kind of choking noise seems to creep out from her throat and both of her ears fall back. Uh oh. Pushing with her paws, Harley pulls her head back and wriggles violently until she feels the collar squeeze over her ears and the top of her head. In a moment she gives a good yank and and its over her snout and off. Immediately she shakes her head and body before lifting her head up proudly. She was free.
Wretched thing, not giving way how Freyr had hoped. But his underbite keeps him latched on, until finally the thing come off, if not exactly how he planned. It tastes thickly of human rank, and the mastiff shakes it free from his jaws once the work is done, a disgusted contortion on his nose. Without wasting anymore time, he turns back to Harley, studying her neck with an almost paternal concern. "Sorry about that. It didn't hurt too badly, I hope?"
Harlequin gives herself another good shake before she looks down and stares at the thing that she'd felt but hadn't seen for so long. It did wreak of humans, and she must as well. Her expressive tan brows furrow over her eyes as she examines it, giving it a nudge with her paw. Gross. Both ears flap up again though as Freyr comes closer to her neck and she sticks it out for him. "Nope. I'm good." she says, a wrinkled smile bunching up her face. "Thank you." she continues, sincerity heavy in her tone. Harley arches her back and gives her back a stretch. "I'm glad I found you. I don't know where I would have gone..I'm just glad I'm here."
Freyr isn't sure how he plans to dispose of the collar. But for right now, it's the least of his worries. Satisfied that Harley isn't badly mauled from the effort, Freyr relaxes a mite. "Don't worry about it. You're safe now, and I won't ever let anything happen again." He promises firmly, nose pressing affectionately against her shoulder. "You should rest." He has no idea what she's been through, but it surely must have been a lot. There's much to say, and to ask, but that can all wait for a better time.
Harlequin beams at him, a warm, welcome feeling coming over her as he speaks. She was finally home. Everything seemed strangely familiar around her yet, different all the same. The trees looked a lot bigger when she remembered them. Ah well. The growing girl leans into him a bit before rising up onto her sturdy legs. "Sleep, sleep sounds good." she replies, her shoulders hunching over in exhaustion. After all she'd been through and coming here, her body aches for real rest and it all seems to to weigh down on her now; only masked earlier by emotion. Harlequin sniffs the ground and then allows herself to fall to lower to the ground, curling herself up and resting her head on her paws. "You'd better be here when I wake up. This better not have been a dream.." she warns, but not really to him in particular..as if she were warning fate. Her honey gaze shifts up to the large mastiff and she smiles genuinely as her eyelids droop more and more to a close.
Even with all that's been happening within the past few days, with all the stress that's been mounting without end, Freyr can manage to feel happy again. She's no longer a pup, but he can't help but look back fondly. Everything seemed so right and carefree back then. "Sleep all you'd like. I won't go anywhere." And like a stalwart guardian, the mastiff sits beside Harley, keeping watch. He doesn't even dare consider sleep of his own, for fear she might vanish again like before. It's not a mistake he wishes to repeat.