dogs! page75
You are careful not to make extended contact with any of the glowing eyes outside the ring of your fire. You make no sudden moves and try your best to be calm and relaxed. You force a huge fake yawn and try tensely to be casual as you add fuel to your fire.
Nothing happens. And then more nothing.
There’s a little rustling in the brush… You and Clarisse give each other an eye, but make not a sound.
A little light mewling comes from the wolves. It sounds more like purring than threatening.
You chance a glance around.
One of the wolves has entered your firelight. Its pacing nervously , tail low as if trying to work up the courage to approach. It’s got something in its mouth. You’re not sure what makes you do it, but you whistle.
Its not a wolf that steps out of the half shadow, and walks, fearfully hesitantly to you- it’s a dog. An inky black animal, something like a pitbull It drops a squirrel at your feet and looks up at you hopefully.
You choke out a little laugh of relief!
Lots of dogs went back to the wild during the Kaa war. Now that you are no longer terrified, you can see that the half dozen around canines your fire, are a variety of breeds. Collie, German Sheppard, Rottweiler, retrievers and probably even some real wolf blood is evident in the pack. It was hunger that brought them to your fire tonight- hunger for people- as companions, not as food. Man is dog’s best friend.
Its still a bit unnerving, being ringed by this pack, but the rest of the night is much more relaxing. Only a few of them approach with in stroking distance, but the rest seem happy to stretch out at the lights edge and doze. A couple of them seem so happy to meet people they keep dashing off into the dark to find you small game. Squirrels and rabbits you don’t mind toasting and sharing around with the dogs. Rats and frogs you also toast and toss to the dogs entirely. They seem to find it quite a treat.
Nothing happens. And then more nothing.
There’s a little rustling in the brush… You and Clarisse give each other an eye, but make not a sound.
A little light mewling comes from the wolves. It sounds more like purring than threatening.
You chance a glance around.
One of the wolves has entered your firelight. Its pacing nervously , tail low as if trying to work up the courage to approach. It’s got something in its mouth. You’re not sure what makes you do it, but you whistle.
Its not a wolf that steps out of the half shadow, and walks, fearfully hesitantly to you- it’s a dog. An inky black animal, something like a pitbull It drops a squirrel at your feet and looks up at you hopefully.
You choke out a little laugh of relief!
Lots of dogs went back to the wild during the Kaa war. Now that you are no longer terrified, you can see that the half dozen around canines your fire, are a variety of breeds. Collie, German Sheppard, Rottweiler, retrievers and probably even some real wolf blood is evident in the pack. It was hunger that brought them to your fire tonight- hunger for people- as companions, not as food. Man is dog’s best friend.
Its still a bit unnerving, being ringed by this pack, but the rest of the night is much more relaxing. Only a few of them approach with in stroking distance, but the rest seem happy to stretch out at the lights edge and doze. A couple of them seem so happy to meet people they keep dashing off into the dark to find you small game. Squirrels and rabbits you don’t mind toasting and sharing around with the dogs. Rats and frogs you also toast and toss to the dogs entirely. They seem to find it quite a treat.
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