Post by Pavane on Aug 11, 2010 22:28:53 GMT -5
Setting:
Abandoned Farmhouse - Early Autumn (RL day 5)
Characters:
Itou - Female Catahoula Leopard Dog
Vega - Female Irish Setter
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Autumn brings cooler temperature, the turning of the leaves... and rain. That's what leads Itou to the farmhouse, this afternoon - it's not just the being wet, it's the being wet when it's cold out. The door is already ajar, and she pushes it further open with her nose before stepping inside, dripping on the floor as the rain continues to fall outside, pattering on the roof of this sturdily-built shelter.
Unlike Itou, the setter had made something of a home of the old farmhouse. It provided the echoes of comforts long lost; an old bed, sunken and less comfortable than her memories screamed, but Vega had learned it was the best she would get. As such, her body stretched along the length of the old, creaky matress, pink tongue rasping at a slightly muddy paw. Disgusting. A creaking sound made Vega bolt her head up, ears perked - and it didn't take long for her fluid body to slide to the floor, no longer pristine claws clattering. "Hello?"
For Itou, the farmhouse is a combination of familiarity and strangeness. It's a bit too fancy for her to feel rightfully comfortable in, but then - anyplace with this much dust can't be all that fancy, now can it? She starts looking around at the pelts and mounted heads on the walls - hunted them. Hunted those. Yep, that too... and then she hears the sound of approaching feet, and a voice calling to her. She looks in that direction, and calls back, "A-hey-ho."
Vega slinks through the door to the bedroom, looking as well groomed as she could, without someone to brush her. Shaking her proud head, long ears cascading right and left, the setter took her time in assessing the stocky dog before her. It was clear that the setter had never seen anything quite like the other female; but then, that was hardly surprising. "You're new," the setter states bluntly, the obvious, for sure. Clearly, Vega left the whole dog party before Itou had made herself known; before her scent had penetrated the late summer air.
Itou is nearly dry, already - though there's a trail of little puddles leading back to the door. One benefit of her coat, so very short when compared to Vega's. "Sure am," she replies, seeming unperturbed by the bluntness of it, and takes her time to look over the setter in turn. Not someone whose like she's seen before, either... maybe some distant crosses, but her people didn't much go for bringing in exotic dogs when they had some that'd do just fine. "You from round here?"
It is almost painfully obvious that Vega is using every ounce of willpower that she possesses to keep herself from backing away. It's not that she was neccesarily afraid of the other; rather, Itou just didn't seem...right to her. Vega was from a world of other purebreds, her lot in life being to pace about a ring. Even if Itou's mongrel-breed went into show, there were probably few enough used to display standards that Vega had never laid eyes on one. "For some time now, depressing as that is," Vega decides to drawl; tearing her amber gaze from the other, looking casually around. "Dirty in here, isn't it?"
The cur just ain't proper, that's the thing of it. She doesn't seem to mind, though - she stands her ground, neither backing off nor approaching, but she's pretty relaxed about it. Different worlds, these two come from - Itou's not exactly a mongrel, but her breed's not the kind that gets registered anywhere, let alone shown. The test for whether a Catahoula's purebred is how she performs on the trail, not her conformation. "Ain't so bad as might be," she replies, chuckling a bit. "Least it's dry, in here."
Vega makes an odd noise, as if she had started to perhaps utter a disdainful huff, but thought the better of it. Hardly ladylike; hardly like what she had been trained to act. Then again...did that stuff matter anymore? It was a curious question, one that Vega would ignore. "I would prefer clean and dry, though I suppose I shouldn't complain too much. At least I don't sleep OUTSIDE." If she were human, the setter would probably be shuddering. She may be learning how to embrace the dog underneath the item, but it was still a long, long road.
Itou sits herself down, and chuckles in unconcealed amusement. Sure, clean and dry and good things - she can't argue with that bit. But the tone of horror in Vega's voice at the mention of the outdoors! She's like one of them fancy ladies from the town, with their frilly dresses that won't last five minutes of action. Though, the cur can't deny that a bit of comfort's a pleasant thing. "Sure has gone to mess. Ain't been no humans here, long time gone by?"
Vega nods her head slowly, her gaze settling back on this strange female. "I guess. Wasn't here when they left, which is fine by me. These don't seem like my kind of people," she adds idly, swishing that flag of a tail of hers as she turns slightly, looking at all the beasts, dead and mounted. "Horrible." Not to mention, the trophy animals made Vega rather hungry, not that she'd admit such a thing to a complete stranger.
They don't quite seem to have been quite like Itou's sort of people either, but that's less to do with the mounted beasts on display, and more with what else they were doing when not hunting. "Don't seem too bad a job of it to me," she replies mildly, gazing at some of the trophies. "Scent's all wrong, a'course, but they got them the right look, more or less."
The setter is clearly taken aback by Itous words, turning her head slightly, the better to see the other dog. "Smells perfectly rancid to me," Vega informed the Leopard Dog coolly. Perhaps Vega was even a tad afraid of the larger game on display; after all, her quarry had a tendancy to all be small rodents, or rabbits (if they were young.)
"Ain't gonna eat 'em, that's for sure," Itou replies with a chuckle. "Don't mean I won't use 'em to teach a puppy what he runs after, he gets bigger." After all, she's hunted most of the things on these walls - deer, wolves, even bear. And smelled their carcasses after a week in the sun, too - which is far worse than the chemicals and dried flesh, here.
Vega doesn't quite know what to make of that; so she remains silent, if briefly. This other female...how weird! So...unlike Vega. Yes, that was a good way to put it. "If I had my way these things would all be taken out and buried," the setter grumps. Still, Vega couldn't (but she would) deny that Itou had a point - they make impressions in a big way, and perhaps pups could learn from that. Though, the setter was more thinking about what to run away from , rather than stalk.
Now, that sounds just like like a lady from town, too, saying bad words when she can't come up with anything more practical. Well, Itou's fine with that - sometimes, that moon just plain needs howling at. She just smiles, looking at the trophies for a few moments in silence, then turns her gaze back to Vega. "You come from some nice town, don't you? What you doin' back here in the country?"
Vega appears to puff up slightly when spoken to this time; her head held a little bit higher, her chest thrust somewhat forward. "A very nice town, and a very nice house." She pauses here, trying to figure out a way to be vague about why she had wound up sleeping on old, abandoned beds. "I wasn't good enough for the house," she wound up saying, even though it wasn't exactly the truth. Vega didn't really understand it all; there had been some kind of squalling pink potato, which she had sniffed at - it smelled like her Humans. The next thing, Madam was screaming, Master was dragging her away - and then there was dirt under her paws.
Wasn't good enough? Itou may not have known Vega for very long, but that smells downright suspicious. "Seems to me you'd fit right in, someplace nice." Is that a compliment, or an implication that the setter doesn't fit in here? Or maybe it's just fishing for more information... the cur's expression doesn't give much clue how to interpret it.
Perhaps it was some mixture of all? Not that Vega would ever suspect a thing; although suspicious by nature, she's never been the type to pick up on subtle digs. Quite sad, really. "I do. Did. Whatever," she finishes, with a shake of her head. Instead of granting the curs maybe-wish of more information, the setter decides to offer a name instead. "I am Vega, by the way. So my Humans called me."
Itou is, perhaps, a bit disappointed that more isn't forthcoming - but she's also patient. She'll figure out the whole story sometime; no point in scaring the prey off early by baying at the first hint of a trail. "Well, nice to meet ya, Vega," she replies with her best manners. Still rough and unpolished, but, hey, at least she's trying, right? "I'm Itou." Outside, the rain is coming to an end, the pattering on the roof tapering off.
Vega nods in response, perhaps a tad stiff - she's never really enjoyed speaking of her past. Not, at least, the parts that weren't all glitz and glamour. Feigning fatigue, the setter yawns largely, starting to turn towards the bedroom once more. "I hope you're happy here, then, Itou. I am so tired though - all sorts of noises keeping me awake. Oh, and please, try not to drag mud through the house, if you can?"
Itou watches Vega depart, then turns to head back outside. Rain's done, after all, and she's inclined to catch a bit of dinner before it starts up again.
Abandoned Farmhouse - Early Autumn (RL day 5)
Characters:
Itou - Female Catahoula Leopard Dog
Vega - Female Irish Setter
-------------------------------------------
Autumn brings cooler temperature, the turning of the leaves... and rain. That's what leads Itou to the farmhouse, this afternoon - it's not just the being wet, it's the being wet when it's cold out. The door is already ajar, and she pushes it further open with her nose before stepping inside, dripping on the floor as the rain continues to fall outside, pattering on the roof of this sturdily-built shelter.
Unlike Itou, the setter had made something of a home of the old farmhouse. It provided the echoes of comforts long lost; an old bed, sunken and less comfortable than her memories screamed, but Vega had learned it was the best she would get. As such, her body stretched along the length of the old, creaky matress, pink tongue rasping at a slightly muddy paw. Disgusting. A creaking sound made Vega bolt her head up, ears perked - and it didn't take long for her fluid body to slide to the floor, no longer pristine claws clattering. "Hello?"
For Itou, the farmhouse is a combination of familiarity and strangeness. It's a bit too fancy for her to feel rightfully comfortable in, but then - anyplace with this much dust can't be all that fancy, now can it? She starts looking around at the pelts and mounted heads on the walls - hunted them. Hunted those. Yep, that too... and then she hears the sound of approaching feet, and a voice calling to her. She looks in that direction, and calls back, "A-hey-ho."
Vega slinks through the door to the bedroom, looking as well groomed as she could, without someone to brush her. Shaking her proud head, long ears cascading right and left, the setter took her time in assessing the stocky dog before her. It was clear that the setter had never seen anything quite like the other female; but then, that was hardly surprising. "You're new," the setter states bluntly, the obvious, for sure. Clearly, Vega left the whole dog party before Itou had made herself known; before her scent had penetrated the late summer air.
Itou is nearly dry, already - though there's a trail of little puddles leading back to the door. One benefit of her coat, so very short when compared to Vega's. "Sure am," she replies, seeming unperturbed by the bluntness of it, and takes her time to look over the setter in turn. Not someone whose like she's seen before, either... maybe some distant crosses, but her people didn't much go for bringing in exotic dogs when they had some that'd do just fine. "You from round here?"
It is almost painfully obvious that Vega is using every ounce of willpower that she possesses to keep herself from backing away. It's not that she was neccesarily afraid of the other; rather, Itou just didn't seem...right to her. Vega was from a world of other purebreds, her lot in life being to pace about a ring. Even if Itou's mongrel-breed went into show, there were probably few enough used to display standards that Vega had never laid eyes on one. "For some time now, depressing as that is," Vega decides to drawl; tearing her amber gaze from the other, looking casually around. "Dirty in here, isn't it?"
The cur just ain't proper, that's the thing of it. She doesn't seem to mind, though - she stands her ground, neither backing off nor approaching, but she's pretty relaxed about it. Different worlds, these two come from - Itou's not exactly a mongrel, but her breed's not the kind that gets registered anywhere, let alone shown. The test for whether a Catahoula's purebred is how she performs on the trail, not her conformation. "Ain't so bad as might be," she replies, chuckling a bit. "Least it's dry, in here."
Vega makes an odd noise, as if she had started to perhaps utter a disdainful huff, but thought the better of it. Hardly ladylike; hardly like what she had been trained to act. Then again...did that stuff matter anymore? It was a curious question, one that Vega would ignore. "I would prefer clean and dry, though I suppose I shouldn't complain too much. At least I don't sleep OUTSIDE." If she were human, the setter would probably be shuddering. She may be learning how to embrace the dog underneath the item, but it was still a long, long road.
Itou sits herself down, and chuckles in unconcealed amusement. Sure, clean and dry and good things - she can't argue with that bit. But the tone of horror in Vega's voice at the mention of the outdoors! She's like one of them fancy ladies from the town, with their frilly dresses that won't last five minutes of action. Though, the cur can't deny that a bit of comfort's a pleasant thing. "Sure has gone to mess. Ain't been no humans here, long time gone by?"
Vega nods her head slowly, her gaze settling back on this strange female. "I guess. Wasn't here when they left, which is fine by me. These don't seem like my kind of people," she adds idly, swishing that flag of a tail of hers as she turns slightly, looking at all the beasts, dead and mounted. "Horrible." Not to mention, the trophy animals made Vega rather hungry, not that she'd admit such a thing to a complete stranger.
They don't quite seem to have been quite like Itou's sort of people either, but that's less to do with the mounted beasts on display, and more with what else they were doing when not hunting. "Don't seem too bad a job of it to me," she replies mildly, gazing at some of the trophies. "Scent's all wrong, a'course, but they got them the right look, more or less."
The setter is clearly taken aback by Itous words, turning her head slightly, the better to see the other dog. "Smells perfectly rancid to me," Vega informed the Leopard Dog coolly. Perhaps Vega was even a tad afraid of the larger game on display; after all, her quarry had a tendancy to all be small rodents, or rabbits (if they were young.)
"Ain't gonna eat 'em, that's for sure," Itou replies with a chuckle. "Don't mean I won't use 'em to teach a puppy what he runs after, he gets bigger." After all, she's hunted most of the things on these walls - deer, wolves, even bear. And smelled their carcasses after a week in the sun, too - which is far worse than the chemicals and dried flesh, here.
Vega doesn't quite know what to make of that; so she remains silent, if briefly. This other female...how weird! So...unlike Vega. Yes, that was a good way to put it. "If I had my way these things would all be taken out and buried," the setter grumps. Still, Vega couldn't (but she would) deny that Itou had a point - they make impressions in a big way, and perhaps pups could learn from that. Though, the setter was more thinking about what to run away from , rather than stalk.
Now, that sounds just like like a lady from town, too, saying bad words when she can't come up with anything more practical. Well, Itou's fine with that - sometimes, that moon just plain needs howling at. She just smiles, looking at the trophies for a few moments in silence, then turns her gaze back to Vega. "You come from some nice town, don't you? What you doin' back here in the country?"
Vega appears to puff up slightly when spoken to this time; her head held a little bit higher, her chest thrust somewhat forward. "A very nice town, and a very nice house." She pauses here, trying to figure out a way to be vague about why she had wound up sleeping on old, abandoned beds. "I wasn't good enough for the house," she wound up saying, even though it wasn't exactly the truth. Vega didn't really understand it all; there had been some kind of squalling pink potato, which she had sniffed at - it smelled like her Humans. The next thing, Madam was screaming, Master was dragging her away - and then there was dirt under her paws.
Wasn't good enough? Itou may not have known Vega for very long, but that smells downright suspicious. "Seems to me you'd fit right in, someplace nice." Is that a compliment, or an implication that the setter doesn't fit in here? Or maybe it's just fishing for more information... the cur's expression doesn't give much clue how to interpret it.
Perhaps it was some mixture of all? Not that Vega would ever suspect a thing; although suspicious by nature, she's never been the type to pick up on subtle digs. Quite sad, really. "I do. Did. Whatever," she finishes, with a shake of her head. Instead of granting the curs maybe-wish of more information, the setter decides to offer a name instead. "I am Vega, by the way. So my Humans called me."
Itou is, perhaps, a bit disappointed that more isn't forthcoming - but she's also patient. She'll figure out the whole story sometime; no point in scaring the prey off early by baying at the first hint of a trail. "Well, nice to meet ya, Vega," she replies with her best manners. Still rough and unpolished, but, hey, at least she's trying, right? "I'm Itou." Outside, the rain is coming to an end, the pattering on the roof tapering off.
Vega nods in response, perhaps a tad stiff - she's never really enjoyed speaking of her past. Not, at least, the parts that weren't all glitz and glamour. Feigning fatigue, the setter yawns largely, starting to turn towards the bedroom once more. "I hope you're happy here, then, Itou. I am so tired though - all sorts of noises keeping me awake. Oh, and please, try not to drag mud through the house, if you can?"
Itou watches Vega depart, then turns to head back outside. Rain's done, after all, and she's inclined to catch a bit of dinner before it starts up again.