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 Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 3:24 pm
Daisuke had made his way out of the city and stopped at the dump. The gulls were feeding eagerly on some new garbage and the Golden Retriever couldn't help himself. He had one of the birds in his mouth as he trotted away from the stinking mess and headed toward the outskirts of the city on his way back to the forest.
He still had yet to find any sign of Kirby, but he had met some interesting dogs along the way.
The buildings were fewer and far between out here and that was good news for Daisuke. He hated humans and being so close to them had made his skin crawl, not to mention very, very, very paranoid. Their pets usually weren't much better. He hadn't slept well for the past few days and was ready for a good long sleep tonight. The limp he had acquired was slowly getting better and was barely noticeable now.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 11:21 am
It was cold.
He knew was cold was and how horrible it could be, but he had never experienced this kinda of cold. This biting, aching cold that never seemed to leave his bones. He felt weak, like an old dog (like his mother) must feel before they lie down by a fireplace or alongside one of their comrades. He would never know a fireplace, nor would he ever know a comrade.
Or so he thought.
He was far from the dump now, his belly rumbling as always and his small paws shaking with each step. It was unknown to him. Everything that other dogs could claim to have seen or done; he knew none of it. He didn't know how to hunt, or how to make a proper night shelter. He didn't know how to avoid humans or even how to survive. It was a bleak outlook on life, and he was barely eight months old.
His heart ached every time he thought about going back.
Surely, such a small pup as himself could never survive?
But then came the violent surge of anger at his brother, and the deep sense of pity for his sister, and the heavy, horrible sense of guilt for his mother. He would then steel himself and hold his head higher, stalking away in a rage, until the cold set in again and he remembered how hungry he was. It was a horrid circle, and it was draining him of more, and more vital energy. He eventually had to stop and sit and rest, panting as he stared out across the street, the older, more decrepit buildings looming overhead like large, hungry vultures.
He nearly peed himself when he saw the bigger, darker dog come trotting down the street, a gull hanging limply in his jaws. His thoughts ran to the dump, and how they loved to eat the rotting garbage, and how Takashi was the best at hunting them. Truth be told, they never did catch one, but Takashi came close enough and obtained that title. He shivered, and shrank back into the shadows, against a fence, hoping the larger dog wouldn't see him.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 1:46 pm
Daisuke set the gull down and yawned, tongue stretching out as he did so. Ever viligent, he scented the air and instead of smelling petrol or humans, he caught a very interesting scent. He turned to his left where a rusty, dilapidated old fence stood bowing in spots. His nose twitched again and he picked up the gull and trotted over.
His blue eyes scanned the fence line. Orange, white and brown caught his attention. Whomever it was, he or she was very small and looked scared stiff. He wagged his tail and smiled, ears perked to try and seem as un-threatening as possible.
He stopped about three metres from the pup and put his gull in the grass in front of him before lieing down like a sphynx. He knew he would be at a disadvantage but whomever it was could look down on him instead. He was pretty sure the dog was a puppy and thus, he wasn't too worried.
"Konban-wa." He said with a bow of his head. "I won't hurt you." He added in a gentle tone.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 3:05 pm
He was so big that the gull looked meager in his jaws. His mother had never been a big dog, and the other dogs that passed by were all far away and barred out by the fence at night. They had all seemed so tiny. But this dog, this... thing was so big that Isamu could have mistaken him for a bear at first glance. Gray and white and black, he was a mixture of light and shadow himself, where as Isamu, with his brown and orange and white, looked more like something out of a pastry shop.
There.
Right there.
His legs began to shake as the bigger dog suddenly looked his way, and he shrank back farther, the chain-link fence jingling behind him. He silently cursed it for giving his away his position before he realized that it had been forsaken long ago. His tail was wagging and his ears were perked up, and Isamu severely wanted to think he was friendly. Alas, there was a part in his small, underdeveloped brain that warned him to keep his distance. His rump against the cold metal fence was uncomfortable, to say the least, but the approaching dog was worse. There was, soon, very little distance left between them as the larger dog dropped the gull in front of him.
Three measly meters between himself and those teeth.
Three measly meters between himself and a free meal.
He looked from the gull to the dog, flinching as it sat down, sphinx-like. He could just as easily run away right now as grab the gull and run towards home. That would make Takashi see. That would make him shut up. But this dog was watching him, and there was something that said 'stay' in the far reaches of his mind. He flinched again as it spoke, using the traditional japanese greeting, appropriate for the time of the day, and he shakily replied, "Kon... Konban-wa." He was closer, and Isamu could see that it was a thick-furred dog, though he knew nothing of the difference of breeds, save for looks and talents.
The bigger dog spoke again, and he muttered, very meekly, "How do I know?"
However, before he could respond, the pup continued with, "Who are you, mister?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 3:17 pm
Daisuke smirked. "A very smart dog, all ready." He looked to the pup kindly. "What does a dog have if not his word?" He asked simply. The male chuckled. "It's polite to introduce one's self before asking about names, but I'm Daisuke." He said.
He studied the pup carefully for a moment before taking the gull in his mouth and tossing it at the pup's feet with a jerk of his head. "You look hungry. So, by taking this gull you'll agree to indulge me in a little conversation, ne?" He asked lofting a brow.
"So...are you alone in this world?" He asked curiously.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 4:09 pm
Praise?
Was this older dog praising him?
There was a spark of confidence in his chest, a spark of pride (trust, even), but it was soon quelled by the overwhelming fear of what this dog could do. A b***h, however, a b***h he could have, perhaps, trusted, if only based on how his mother was, but a full grown dog? He was not willing to test it's patience, nor it's cunning. "I only know what instinct tells to know, sir," he muttered, looking down, and then away. "He has teeth and claws." Suddenly, he felt too bold, and shrank away, in case the older dog lashed out at him. "Forgive me, sir," he said, trying to rectify it.
His nose quivered as he looked back up, thinking that, perhaps, he was not as bad as he thought. He had offered a name, and praised him, even. Perhaps he could be trusted. Mother said to never trust a dog you can't leave your well being with, he quietly hissed to himself, staring at the ground.
Visions of grass and dirt soon turned to the white of a gull's belly, and he lept back, splaying his paws defensively. It was only the gull, he realized, and as he looked up at the older dog curiously, cautiously nudging it with his nose, he decided that he would trust the older dog not to kill him just yet.
Mother never said anything about not trusting someone who gace you food, after all.
He gave a soft "Hai," before burying his jaws into the bird's soft belly, spitting out the feathers and making for the innards. He kept his eyes on the older dog at all times, however, and as he bit into the liver of the bird, he was surprised to find how hungry he had actually been. He dropped his gaze and delved deeper, crunching through the ribs as he made his way towards the bird's heart.
He jerked his head back up as the dog questioned him, and with a shrug, he bit at the bird again. "I am now," he said through the meat, hoping the conversation would stray elsewhere.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 4:48 pm
Daisuke merely nodded, his stomach rumbling softly, as he watched the pup eat. There would be time for another gull later. "No offense, akita-kun," He stressed his breed to denote he still did not know his name. "But you don't seem to be doing too well on your own." He thought for a moment. "Would you fancy some help? A filled tummy every day ought to make you feel better." He said with a soft smile.
"And learning to hunt cannot hurt." He added.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 6:44 pm
His ears twitched and he looked up callously, staring at the larger breed for a moment.
"Isamu," he said quietly, only now realizing how rude he had been for not returning the formality. "Gomen," he whispered softly, looking back down at the bird, "but my mother always said to be careful when around others." He felt the tears p***k at his eyes, and quickly shook his head, burying his nose back into the bird's belly. He wouldn't cry, not now. He had been strong the whole day, and he wouldn't let that wall crumble now. Not when he knew there was no benefit to crying.
His ears fell backward slightly. Was he really that bad off? He hadn't been alone for more than four hours, at the latest. He wanted very badly to tell Daisuke off, to tell him that he was doing fine, thank you very much, to lash out and get angry, but he was too tired, and he knew it would do no good. Instead, he rocked his head to the left and right rhythmically, a low 'hmm' in his throat. He glanced up, and thought for a moment, before grinning slightly. "Actually, I'd rather have a warm place to sleep, for now," he said. Truth be told, he was exhausted.
He snapped his head up, staring openly at Daisuke. "You'd help me learn how to hunt?" he asked, cautiously. He knew nothing of the wilderness, nothing of the outside world. He had only ever known the dump and what his mother told him. The thought of going into the wild, unprepared and completely blind (in a sense), scared him.
A lot.
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Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 9:33 am
Daisuke nodded. "And your mother's very wise." He said. The male rose to his paws and stretched a bit. He put his left hind leg down a little harder than he expected and it cramped in protest. Nothing showed on his face, however. "Well, Isamu-kun, would you trust me well enough to come with me?" He asked.
"We can find some place to sleep and tomorrow, I can help you learn to hunt." He added. His stomach growled again. "Ehehehe...and maybe you could have a demonstration along the way." He said. He really hadn't expected to run into anyone on his way back to Zehn.
He intended to eat the gull himself but he thought the pup needed it more.
Daisuke heard a soft cooing sound as pigeons began to make their way back to the dilapidated buildings to roost for the night. A few of them were scratching at some stale crisps that someone had left. "Shhhhh." He said softly before slowly turning around. He moved slow and steady, whenever a pigeon stopped eating he would freeze. When they went back to eating he moved again.
This whole venture took about ten minutes as it was harder to work birds than non-flighted animals. Once he felt he was close enough he sprang after them. He crushed one's head and leaped up and snatched a bird out of the air.
The jumping wasn't the best of ideas due to his leg but he picked up the birds by their necks, the heads in his mouth and walked back toward the akita pup. He set them down. "Gomen for leaving the conversation, Isamu-kun." He said, head bowed ever so slightly. He reclined to his haunches. "So, would you like to come along?" He asked.
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Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 12:28 pm
It was there again, that pride.
The retriever had called his mother wise. He had complimented her when he didn't even know her. It made him smile softly, and he nodded, however tiredly. "I can trust you. You've given me food. If you wanted to hurt me, I think you would have done it by now," he said, leaning down to take another bite of the bird. Just one more, he thought. He didn't know when he would next have a meal.
He looked up, his cheeks bulging slightly with the raw meat still in them, as he heard Daisuke's stomach growl. It was an awkward sound, coming from a full grown dog. Sure, his mother's stomach had always made that sound, but he never thought that such a thing was possible with a grown dog. He swallowed delicately, and smiled at the thought. He was learning so much, and he'd only known this dog for, perhaps, fifteen minutes. Maybe meeting and greeting with strangers wasn't always as bad as his mother had made it out to be. Suddenly, he thought back to Sakura and Takashi, wondering if they were still hungry and knowing that they were, before shaking his head vigorously. Whatever the case, he didn't care.
He couldn't care.
To care, at this point, was to be weak.
He was suddenly aware that Daisuke was no longer in front of him and, instead, was stalking a flock of pigeons. He watched in awe at the skill Daisuke exerted, the flawless execution of the strike. He could do that, if Daisuke taught him. He could be the one to get the food. Thoughts of his siblings returned again, and he realized, with a start, that (if they were still alive when he came back) he could be the one to support them. Despite the thought that caring would be weak, he couldn't help but feel his eyes sting with tears of utter joy. He had watched as intently as possible, and when he came back, he merely stared, his jaw slack.
He shook his head vigorously, smiling at the retriever. "No! That was brilliant! Will I be able to do that?" he asked, suddenly brimming with questions. He wanted to know everything Daisuke had to teach him, everything he had to say. His ears twitched, however, at his invitation, and his smile only grew in size.
"Hai. I'd like that."
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Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 5:59 pm
Daisuke smiled, his blue eyes twinkling. "Heh, arigato, Isamu." His tail flicked back and forth softly in a slight wag. "Hai, you'll be more than able with some practice. The double catch might take a bit of work, but you'll be more than able to get one at a time. I'd give it a fortnight, seeing as you're so eager." He explained.
"Are you tried enough that you'd rather get to our over-night shelter before I eat?" He asked. "Either or is fine with me." The retriever added. "You'll love to meet my good friend Raithen and his son, Tatsuya. He's about your age. I think you two would hit it off. He took him in as well, and I'm sort of an uncle figure to him." He seemed proud of this fact.
"You'll find it's loads easier, making a living, in a pack." Daisuke told him. The dog rose to his paws and looked to the pup. He was really starting to like the lad, but then again he took like kids like a duck takes to water.
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