woof woof motherfluffer

[windbreak]

1

Wherever you are in the Holy City on the eve of martial law, whatever business you were going about, something catches your attention: a high-pitched yelp, a loud crash, or maybe just the frantic blur of paws. The point is, you are now looking at a small orange dog crawling out from behind an overturned bin. Asgard does have strays, but whether or not you're familiar with the ones in this area, this one might be hard to recognise. Besides, it looks a little too well-groomed to fit in with them even as it scrabbles to remove a discarded paper bag from its head, and a lot too disoriented. And it seems to have a collar -

- wait, is that a collar? Some collars do have stones inset into them, but...

2

One way or another, you have successfully identified the strange dog, which he's pretty relieved by, and life goes on. Unfortunately... well, life goes on, and biological processes with it.

Not necessarily that one, though. This whining and pawing at your ankles could mean anything, after all.

3

The metalworks scattered around town have been getting more and more business as tensions rise and more people sense the need to protect themselves. For the young native woman at this particular shop, today hasn't been too different. But right now it's quiet, so, she's on break: her door is propped wide open, for whatever little respite it offers from the heat of the forge, and she's lounging just outside.

She gives you an amicable nod as you pass by, completely ignoring the small fluffy dog nonchalantly padding up to her from the other side of the street. Sure, you don't usually see many pets or strays in this area, but it's not a suspicious sight or anything, is it?

4

All of a sudden, the door handle you were reaching towards turns by itself and bursts violently outwards.

Once you recover from the surprise or worse, you imagine you can hear a small squeak, which might sound almost apologetic or might just be the canine equivalent of snickering, but you can't see the source. How mysterious.

5

idk look he's a Pomeranian now let's just do this thing

Comments

[windbreak]

The dog doesn't seem to want to sniff his hand, although it does almost look like it's wrinkling its nose for the briefest of instants before, with a yelp, being rudely swept off the pavement.

Agitated, it paws at Ryoji's sleeve, trying to wriggle free. H-Hey, Mochizuki! Not cool!

[notsogrimreaper]

Ryoji catches that wrinkled nose, but he tries not to be too disappointed. Whether the dog likes him or not, he has to get him home.

“Calm down, buddy, I’m just taking you to Yosuke-kun. He can make a post to the network about you and eventually we’ll track down your owner.”

[windbreak]

Mysteriously enough, the dog stops struggling for a second, just to cock its head somewhat pointedly at Ryoji's wrist. That seems... awfully roundabout.

...Also, more importantly, don't talk about him like he's not here! ... And even more importantly, that's not going to work! Oh man, how to explain himself before Ryoji gets too fired up about this...?

Well, he's got nothing to lose. Without warning, the small dog launches itself at Ryoji's scarf, or as close to it as it can get.

[notsogrimreaper]

“Ah? Well, I guess I could make a call…”

He frowns in confusion as a realization hits him.

“Hey, how did you know about-”

He doesn’t have time to finish his sentence before the dog launches for his scarf, practically strangling him as it digs its teeth and claws in the fabric.

“H-Hey! Quit that, I can’t breathe!”

His hands flail about as he tries to push the dog away and get some air.