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[hecu_marine]

The boxsplosion has been dealt with, and Shephard thanked Kanaya appropriately before taking his various Christmas gifts home. Except the mug- he's keeping that in one of the abstracted pockets of the jacket Kanaya gave him a while back, as he intends to make a point of using it where people can see. He's not drinking now, though. Alene, one of Mrs. Wilson's first litter, insisted on following him when he started putting things away, so she's trotting happily along behind him as he heads out to the target range. It's been a while since he's been able to get in any time with a bow, and he's got some recently fletched and tipped arrows to test out anyway. Best to have one of the houndeyes around in case someone- not naming any names, but they're probably French- wanders through. Again.

He'll be happy to talk in between flights, though.

Comments

[freedom_is_grey]

A joyful bark comes from somewhere across the grass -- not too near, really, but the sound carries.

Then it gets muffled (by a frisbee).

This is followed by the sound of a very large dog bolting across the grass, fleeing someone who wants to take the wooden disc of happiness and joy away. (That monster.)

"Liranan! Would you -- "

The dog comes to a stop when he catches sight of Shephard and his bow, however.

He is a very smart dog, and a bow is a powerful weapon. He promptly drops the frisbee and barks. Twice.

"I despair of him sometimes," Ysalwen says. Calls, rather, as Shephard and Alene come into her view (or she comes into theirs). "I'm sorry, I hope he didn't interrupt too badly!"

[hecu_marine]

It's been a while since Shephard's heard a bark even a little bit like that- the huskies on Svalbard don't have the size you'd need to get a mabari's resonant sound. Shephard lowers the bow and glances over in the dog's direction. "Naw, it ain't no big thing," he answers. "Just out for practice. Alene, sit."

The houndeye had come to her feet to get a better look at the new arrivals. Fortunately, 'sit' on a houndeye only involves one leg's worth of work.

[freedom_is_grey]

"Every time I think I've found all this place has to offer."

Ysalwen shakes her head, looking a cross between rueful and amused.

"Thanks for understanding. You've got your own bit of trouble, I see?"

Really strange-looking trouble, but it doesn't feel like darkspawn or demon, so that's all right.

Liranan barks again, just as loudly as before. Then he attempts to nudge the chewed-on frisbee toward the three-legged eyeball thing.

Maybe it wants to play? If it's allowed?

Can it be allowed? Can it? Please?

[hecu_marine]

"She ain't trouble so much as makin' sure other folks don't git into trouble," says Shephard amiably. "Alene here's all right. I git folks who don't allus recognize they're about to walk onto an active lane. She's better'n me at chasing 'em off."

He glances down at the dog, and then at Alene, who turns to blink hopefully up at him.

"Oh, all right. You c'n play if you want."

She jumps up in a gleefully wriggly fashion and scampers over to the frisbee. Given that her mouth is on her lower side between her legs, picking it up is a little awkward, but she manages. This should be fun!

[freedom_is_grey]

"If I were more of an archer, I'm sure Liranan would be good for that, too. Instead he mostly defends me when other people get the idea to interrupt my spellcasting. Or my sleep, honestly."

She laughs a little, quietly, watching Liranan cock his head left, then right, then left again, as if to figure out how best to play with someone with a mouth in that particular location.

No sense not trying tug-of-war, right? Right??????

"I'm Ysalwen, by the way. Before they, and we, get too engrossed and I forget to mention. Hello."

[hecu_marine]

Liranan will probably win at the tug-of-war, but that doesn't mean Alene isn't going to try. She'll just dig her hind hoof into the ground and go up on her one leg to keep her grip, that's all. (Even if she is considerably smaller than Liranan and will probably get dragged around somewhat as a result.)

"Shephard," says Shephard by way of introduction. "Pleasure to meet you, ma'am. I'm gonna guess you're new 'round here?"

[freedom_is_grey]

Liranan is careful with his playmates! Well, he tries to be, but it's more a matter of trial and error than anything.

Alene is great!

"I am new, does it show so much?"

Something to work on, then, certainly.

[hecu_marine]

"Naw, I just been comin' here a while now and I'm pretty sure I ain't seen you around before," says Shephard. "That ain't to say I know everybody here, but I got a fair enough memory. Fine-lookin' dog you got there, by the by."

[freedom_is_grey]

"It's more like he's got me, but thank you anyway."

She lifts her voice just enough to be heard over Alene and Liranan's play.

"Did you hear that, Lir? He said you look very nice."

The mabari lets go of the frisbee long enough to bark twice. Happily.

He neglects to consider what this loss might do for Alene.

Whoops!

[hecu_marine]

Does the phrase 'ass over teakettle' exist in Thedas? Probably not. Well, assume it does because that's how the houndeye flips; fortunately she's too startled to let out more than a single low yelp. Also she drops the frisbee in the process.

"You ain't in trouble, girl, don't worry," Shephard says when Alene turns anxiously his way. To Ysalwen he adds, "Her kind, uh... they ain't that great at bitin' like a proper dog, but they c'n bark fit to break a man's bones if they're in the mood for it. I got her trained not to bark less'n I give the order."

[freedom_is_grey]

Liranan cocks his head at Shephard, as if listening.

Then he barks once at Alene. Quietly. It's like an apology.

Ysalwen reaches over to ruffle his ears.

"That's a powerful bark. Does her kind work with people on the battlefield like that? Or in rescue operations? If her bark can shatter stone as well as bone, I mean to say."

[hecu_marine]

"Not yet, but that's on account of Alene here's part of the first litter born to a tame momma," says Shephard. "These're mostly wild critters back home. I been workin' on taming'n training Alene'n her brothers'n sisters, since we ain't really got proper dogs these days."

He nods soberly to Liranan; as far as he's concerned the apology is accepted. Alene, for her part, gets up and shakes herself off before grabbing the frisbee again.

[freedom_is_grey]

Alene is the best! (Again.)

Liranan is much more careful this time. It's only fair.

"No proper dogs?"

Ysalwen looks both startled and horrified.

"What happened?"

[not_his_pa]

William's had a good Christmas and he's stopped in to check on the stables and see if Adrian's picked up the cattle yet.

With some looking, he ends up finding Adrian at the range and waits for a good moment to say, "Hello."

[hecu_marine]

Shephard lowers his bow. "Hey there," he calls. "Got your note. Reckoned I'd better see you in person before botherin' your cows."

[not_his_pa]

"They're yours now and they're doin' good. I just checked on 'em. How are you doin'?"

[hecu_marine]

"Doin' all right," says Shephard. "Winter's comin' on hard back home, least for those of us in the northern hemisphere. I been busy helpin' prep for that'n tradin' with folks in the warm parts of the world, mostly. You?"

[not_his_pa]

"Mark's home for the holidays, its not for too long but its nice to have him around again. Yeah, its settlin' in to be a cold winter for us as well."

[hecu_marine]

"I wish you luck," Shephard says soberly. "It ain't never easy when you got livestock to look after, this time of year."

[not_his_pa]

"No, but I know most of the tricks to get 'em healthy. And no one can make the weather do as they want at least not in my world."

[hecu_marine]

"Yeah, we can't do shit with that either," Shephard admits. "Best we c'n manage is good walls'n good heating indoors."

[not_his_pa]

"That only works if they all stay in the same place, but that'll work just fine for the ones you'll be gettin'."

[hecu_marine]

"We got small farms compared to where you live," Shephard points out. "Easier to bring the family cattle under a roof or two when you ain't got a whole huge open space to run 'em in. Mountain country's different."

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, then you get their warmth too."

[hecu_marine]

Shephard nods. "Goes a long way. 'Specially when you got half your houses in caves, the way my momma's folk do."