Walkabout - Chapter One
#1 of Walkabout
Soft yips from within were all the gave away the presence of something in the underbrush. Poking his nose through the bush, and stepping through to the other side, he nearly barked a chuckle. His ears were black, and a white face, and muzzle. The white continued down the back of his neck, to just below his shoulders, and down his back. His front forelegs were spotted with tiny black dots, as was the rest of the fur on his body. His tail however, was completely white, as was along his spine. Before his eyes was an obviously young pup, no more then 6 months old. Her foot had gotten snagged in a vine, and the yips from earlier, were her calls of frustration. But as he watched, she managed to chew it through, and get free.
"Nicely done."
"Ah." She lowered her ears, and tucked her tail lower. "Thank you, oniisan."
"Oniisan?" He perked his ears forward. "Aren't you a polite pup."
"I guess."
"Do not worry. My name is Smith."
"Smith-san?"
"Hm?" He looked at her.
"Um..." She flattened her ears. "Have you ever heard of a dog named Numer?"
He stared a her a moment, before answering. "The one who leads the dogs, in the mountains? Yes, I have. What of him?"
"N-nevermind."
"Where is your mother?" he asked, sensing she was too shy to speak more of it.
"She's at home. If you're hungry, come with me." His ears perked up.
"Alright."
He led her lead him toward a shelter near a human's house. But he was not prepared for what he found. "Reika - san?" He asked, bounding over to the dog who greeted them once there. She was a pale creme, kept very clean, but thinner then he had ever seen her before. She panted softly, in the last of the fall heat, but licked his cheek. He bowed his head then, his body following. "Forgive me..."
"There is nothing to forgive. I'm safe, and so is his pup."
"Ah, so she really is his daughter?"
"Yes." The she - dog nuzzled her pup softly.
The pup sighed, but nuzzled her mother in return.