Epic Dog-like-beings adventure

[freedom_is_grey]

Some days Milliways is boring. Ysalwen insists on reading in the library, or finding lab space, or sitting in the tavern watching people and not eating anything.

Occasionally on those days she'll let him go outside by himself and run around investigating until he gets tired and wants to come in.

Today is one of those days! He is still sad that demon rabbits do not taste good, and splashing in the lake trying to catch fish only makes the merpeople glare at his splashing.

And he is not a good enough swimmer to play with Sunshine Dust. It is unfair! So now he is on the hunt for playmates. Maybe there is a houndeye around somewhere, or another dog! Another dog would be great!

Comments

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

There are robots all over the place on Dogmeat's side of the door right now. Dangerous ones, too. You'd think his human would've wanted extra protection from the things, but no, she left him here for some reason.

Well, that's okay. He'll protect her again as soon as he can.

Doesn't mean he's not looking for something to do outside, though.

[dejah_thoris]

Woola is trying to sleep outside the forge, but his person is thinking really hard, which always tires him out. He goes to check on her and she tells him to go for a run. That sounds like a really good idea.

He'd made it as far as the lake before the splashing caught his attention. Did someone fall in? No? The mabari is playing in the water. Woola watches, enrapt.

He stops a few yards away and watches with big intent eyes.

[freedom_is_grey]

Liranan barks twice, loudly! New friend!

New friends! Come and play!

Or he can come out and get all dusty and muddy! That is okay too!

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

That is a lot of water and Dogmeat is not used to the idea of water being something you play in. It tends to burn or smell funny or both. Then again, this water smells more alive than chemical, which is at least something...

He can trot on over to sniff at the water and maybe the other dog, right? That's safe enough, right?

[dejah_thoris]

Liranan's message is received loud and clear, but Woola has serious reservations about that much water. Dogmeat shows up and Woola's grin surfaces.

Friends. He hasn't had friends before, here or back on Barsoom. Having friends could be fun. He chuffs a welcome greeting to Dogmeat and slouches along behind him to snuffle at the water's edge.

[freedom_is_grey]

Why is everybody so nervous! It is water! Water is great!

He will splash closer to shore, however. Everyone can sniff each other and he can get them wet!

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

That, at least, Dogmeat can leave with. He lets out a cheerful whurf and pads over to the water's edge.

Definitely doesn't smell like the water his human always pulls him away from. Maybe it's safe to drink?

[dejah_thoris]

Woola sees the splashes and shuffles his six feet, watching the arcs of water rise and fall with bright eyes. This stuff is weird.

[freedom_is_grey]

The soaking-wet mabari makes his way over to the bank, stretching out his nose to sniff at Dogmeat, tail waving and scattering water droplets in its wake. (Maybe not as far as Woola, but maybe so.)

Hello! Hi! Hello!

Do you want to play??

Woola! Woola! Come and play!

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Dogmeat's maybe half the size of Liranan and nowhere near any respectable measure next to Woola, but sure, why not. Hopping into the AUGH THAT'S COLD MUST SHAKE OFF MUST MUST MUST-

Sorry, Woola.

[dejah_thoris]

Woola is stunned by the icy spray and zips backwards a few feet, sliding to a halt. When he realizes it's not acid or poison, his tongue lolls out of his mouth to taste the stuff. It's pure, clean, cold water.

A heartbeat later, he charges into the water at full speed.

Take THAT, Dogmeat.

[freedom_is_grey]

Best!

Liranan barks again, a ringing, cheerful sound, and darts away from Woola to circle around him and Dogmeat both.

You cannot catch him! He has dealt with this water stuff before!

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

AAAUUUUUGGGH WET AND COLD

AND NOW THE GROUND IS MISSING UNDER HIS PAWS oh wait-

Funny thing about dogs; they're better at instinctively swimming than humans. Dogmeat's only gonna panic a little when he realizes he stepped into an area where the bottom dropped out from under him.

[dejah_thoris]

See, the thing about that much mass hitting that much water with that much speed, is that it forces water into places. Places that water was not meant to go.

Cue one horrendous calot sneeze, followed by a string of tiny calot sneezes. All while Woola squelches into the shallows trying to pick his feet up really high. Give him a second, new friends. He'll be right with you.

[freedom_is_grey]

Liranan experiences a moment of great concern that water is poisonous to calots.

Then he realizes that his friend is just getting used to it! That is okay!

He will keep Dogmeat busy while Woola adjusts. Here, swim away from him, Dogmeat! He will move slowly to pounce, but not on you! Not while you are swimming! This will be great!

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

It's worth a try, right? He'll swim. Maybe not very well, but he'll swim, and it'll be in the right direction and everything!

[dejah_thoris]

Eventually, Woola stops sneezing and glances at what the small four-legged being is doing. It's -- floating. On the water. And walking like there's ground beneath it.

...oh.



......OH.




A wide-eyed calot tentatively steps into deeper water and lets it take his weight. He has to lift his nose up to keep it out of the water, and he can't open his mouth, but -- it's working. It's actually working! Look at him, ma! He's swimming! A desert calot! Can swim!

[freedom_is_grey]

And now, they race!






Or Liranan does his best to demonstrate excellent swimming form, in case they want to go faster!

It is like a race! Kind of!

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

There's a ridiculous amount of splashing coming from Dogmeat's direction. Mostly because flailing while in the water tends to do that to you.

Still, he's making good headway. That's something, right?

[dejah_thoris]

Woola has to experiment with the amount of movement. Too much and the water churns around his face. Too little and not much happens. It takes him a few minutes, but he gets it eventually, even becoming confident enough to paddle towards his new friends.

It's not so wise to get too far away from the shore, so he parallels it, and after a moment he feels something beneath his feet. The water is really shallow here so -- he tentatively finds his footing and stands up. This way he can see!

He grumble chuffs at his new friends This is fun! But I think I'm sinking!

[freedom_is_grey]

Oh. Oh that is not good!

Maybe they should all go back to shore! Unless Woola is sinking in the mud. Then they will have to find sticks!

Are you sinking in the mud? Liranan comes over to investigate. And, most likely, to move into the shallows so that there is help ready if the bottom falls out of the world.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Dogmeat's just... uh... he's just gonna follow Liranan. Yeah. To help.

Not because he's really kinda wigged out about swimming, why would you ever think that.

[dejah_thoris]

Woola decides that the sandy silt beneath his feet is not that squishy after all, and he wades a little farther out. The littlest one looks like he's not enjoying himself so much. Woola watches with growing concern.

This way, come this way. It's shallow here. Woola's eyebrows can be very expressive.

[freedom_is_grey]

Well, if Woola is okay --

Here Dogmeat! Like this! Liranan will swim behind you so he can push you to shore if everything is terrible!

He promises!

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

That should help. Dogmeat's a persistent fellow, but unfamiliar circumstances like this usually only get better if he bites someone, and there is no one here to bite. AUGH.

Well, maybe once he's on shore and shaken off?

[dejah_thoris]

Woola watches until Dogmeat and Liranan are safely back on shore. And then he very carefully makes his way back himself. He places each foot deliberately on the sand until he's only standing in ankle deep water. And then he relaxes, gracing his companions with an idiotic calot grin, featuring all three rows of teeth and a huge blue tongue.

Okay, now what? More play? Anyone want to race?

[freedom_is_grey]

Liranan does not volunteer for being bitten!

He is up for racing, however, and shoulder-checks Woola on his way past! He may also bark gleefully in Dogmeat's direction.

Chase him! He will be the prey first!

(He has a plan!)

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

This, now- this, Dogmeat understands! He can chase the much bigger dog- he does it all the time at home!

Not so much with dogs, but with two-headed cows, and that's almost as good, right?

[dejah_thoris]

The shoulder check gets a huge grin in response. Racing is Woola's favourite thing!

He lets the small one go passed him and then zips ahead to stop in Liranan's path. And then he zips around them both in a wide circle, leaving a cloud of dirt and grass hovering in the air to mark his passage.

This is fun! Come on! Run some more so he can chase you!

[freedom_is_grey]

Liranan's part of the game is clearly to keep running and then dart away just before he runs into Woola in front of him.

It is the best game!

He has to avoid being caught by Dogmeat from behind at the same time!

Brilliant!

But eventually Liranan will decide to be sneaky. Once he remembers his plan!

Right now he is too distracted by a new game!

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Sneaky? Dogmeat will consider sneaky later. Maybe. He's not really all that good at sneaky. He tends to get halfway through sneaky and then decide IT IS POUNCING TIME.

At the moment he's more in the POUNCING TIME mode, if he can just catch up with Liranan.

[dejah_thoris]

Woola likes the pouncing part. Especially if he can dart out of the way at the last moment! Liranan, come on, you're not even trying!

Woola zips around behind Dogmeat and trots beside him for a bit before dashing ahead again. Running is Woola's happy place.

[freedom_is_grey]

Fine. It is time to up the challenge!

Liranan makes a sharp hairpin turn and bolts for the back door of the bar.

Was there always an enormous doggie door there?

From his view, probably!

Time to see how good everyone is with obstacles!

AUGH I lost track of the notification email SO SORRY

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Obstacles? Bah! Dogmeat laughs-

um.

Dogmeat slavers in the face of obstacles! Yes. That's more like it.

REGARDLESS he is following Liranan at top speed JUST IN CASE the mabari finds something interesting or edible* first.


*To Dogmeat's surprise these two categories do not always overlap. Who knew.

okay, I'm back. sorry for the delay.

[dejah_thoris]

Woola was going to run another lap, but his new friends are bounding towards the door. They're bounding through the door. How is that even...

His huge brow knits.

...Wait! Come back!

He dashes through the door at full tilt, barely feeling the smack on the nose.

Re: okay, I'm back. sorry for the delay.

[freedom_is_grey]

Dodging between tables, chairs, and people's legs gets boring very fast! Which is why Liranan makes a beeline for his own front door.

There are way more adventures there! And good things to eat! And dragons!

Come on, new friends! Come with him through the Front Door!

There's apparently a doggy-door there, too. Liranan appreciates this kindness!

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Well, this should be interesting! LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEROY JENKINS!!!

[dejah_thoris]

Woola is following! Because going under chairs and over people is awkward and makes for lots of shouting. Doors are good. Maybe there's more space out there?

[freedom_is_grey]

There is so much more space! Fields and a dirt road and some trees in the distance! And a city.

And lots of trees! But in the meantime, a field full of rabbits!!

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Well, this is new. The rabbits move like the ones at Milliways, but they don't smell so awful.

There should be chasing!

[dejah_thoris]

What's a rabbit? Woola comes to a hard stop, his eyes darting left and right, watching Liranan and Dogmeat as they chase the furry creatures.

He closes his mouth and squints, watching intently. A moment later, he's in motion.

He immediately catches a rabbit, scooping it up delicately in his jaws. The treeline is just a few steps away. He spits the creature out and zips back to catch another one.

Woola has strange ideas about how this game works.

[freedom_is_grey]

Liranan will accept your challenge, Woola!

(And Ysalwen will be glad he is not worrying all the rabbits to death, too. So there is that.)

But something that struggles while you carry it would be even more of a challenge!

And Liranan knows just where to find such things!

Caves!!

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Caves are good! Dogmeat's been in plenty of caves. Usually they smell of yao guai. Sometimes mirelurks! Big crab things that take a lot of biting and sometimes help from a human to bring down, but they taste good!

He doesn't smell any of those right now, but that's okay. New cave! New smell! What does he get to bite this time?

[dejah_thoris]

Woola spits out the last rabbit and it wobbles off, slightly damp and disoriented. He looks up just in time to see Liranan and Dogmeat dashing into a dark hole in the ground.

Caves! They're what Woola calls home, really. Will there be scritches? Only one way to find out!

[freedom_is_grey]

There will be scratches, probably!

Because when the tunnel starts sloping downward, the smell of lizardy-scales gets stronger!

Deepstalkers! They are spry and quick, with teeth, but they are also tasty! Well. Interesting, anyway! Because tiny maroon-scaled two-legged saurians are like that everywhere you find them.

Ignore the smell of sulfur and smoke for now! It is probably only tangential!

Clear the Deepstalker infestation! Ysalwen and Oghren will be very pleased! Liranan bets he can catch the most! Or he would, if he were a betting dog. Right now he is busy chasing things that are far more skilled combatants than regular rabbits. (This is not hard.)