vlad_the_impaler | The hunter and her hound

The hunter and her hound

[OOC: Continued from here!]

~

It has been all day since he was gone, but he has returned back to her. With a nod, "What are you going to do with them? Put them in a vase?" Meaning the flowers. He's not going to wandering off anymore, since he has been looking forward to keep her warm and company for the rest of the night.

With a nod, he followed dutifully after her, so he could get dry. His body was cold from the rain. Once handed with a towel, he dried himself briskly and then smoothens out the tangles of his hair and the fur around the ears to squeeze the excess rainwater out.

"Now that I'm here, what are we going to do?" With a bit of a hunger pang, he hasn't eaten since that earlier afternoon. "Is there going to be any dinner tonight?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I vas thinking so. Zhere should be a few vases in the kitchen under the sink that vould vork." But, she could do that later. Right now he was wet and cold and she needed to get him dry.

So once he had the towel, she took a step back to let him dry off and might be watching him as he worked to smooth out the tangles in his long hair and his fur. She had to admit, he had quite the mane for a dog.

"First, I vas zhinking dinner before you brought it up." Though it might serve him right to go without tonight for worrying her. But...She had been cooking earlier while she was waiting for him so there was no reason for it to go to waste.

"I already haf dinner made. Zhough, it might be a little dry vith how long you made me vait."

"Once you find a vase, you should water it everyday." He said with a nod, agreeing with her. Once he's comfortably dry, the scent of rainwater is on his hair, he becomes a playful dog once more. At the announcement of dinner going to be made, he knew it. That she's going to cook for him. It's his reward for finding her flowers and being a good boy.

"Were you worried about me when I was gone? Do you miss me? You are sleepy." His tail is wagging lazily. Being a dog, he thinks of simple thoughts, but they're always about her. "I've been meaning to come back as soon as I could." He's very loyal to her, following at her heels to the kitchen where the food is at.

Hopefully, once he has something to eat on a full belly, he can cuddle with her, as he owes her one. Despite being away from her for hours, he wants the closeness of her body, the bed, the blanket, and the pillows as his body cold from the rain.

Was it really a reward though? Rip rolled her eyes at how quickly he shifted into a more playful demeanor once he was dried off. Dogs, so simple and yet she can appreciate his dedication and loyalty to her.

It made her life less... lonely.

"I vas vorried und if you ever vander off like zhat again vithout telling me, I vill lock you outside for zhe night." As idle as it sounded, it was a real threat from her just to tell him how displeased she was to be left worrying about him. Though, she wasn't going to answer his question about missing him.

Of course she did. As for being sleepy...well. Rip's not exactly known for having a normal sleep schedule as it is. She's always taking small naps here and there but, never for long. Nightmares still plagued her some nights of things from her past. Not that she would trouble her dog with those thoughts.

She lead the way to the kitchen with the flowers in her arms. A quick search yielded a vase to put them in and soon they were sitting in the middle of her kitchen table. Next she delved into the fridge to pull out what she originally made for dinner so she could heat it up again.

It was chicken seasoned with sage, rosemary and thyme and baked to perfection. Or it was, it might be a little dry now with the reheating. Along with the chicken was steamed carrots and a baked potato. Whether he wanted those or not, she'd let him decide. Either way, Rip went about reheating dinner.

"Now sit down so ve can eat togezher."

"Lock me outside all night? But it's cold." It was a soft whine. "But I came back in one piece. Having a collar helps." Got questioned by local authorities until they noticed his collar where there's identification number meaning he has an owner. They let him go.

He's in a cheerful mood, he's all wags and smiles. He thinks he's a good boy for bringing her all the flowers and if she's happy, then he's a good dog. Still, he'll try not to do that. Wandering off without warning. He just thinks the world is much interesting now he's a pet and not a stray, and now the outside world and even humans is an interesting adventure.

"Meant it as a surprise. So let's go to the woods together and go on walks."

Sitting at the table, what she cooks is really good. Everything she made was literally his favorite, but the chicken made with herbs and seasonings is the best. Baked potato could use some buttering and steamed carrots he didn't mind it. He came a long way to learn table manners using utensils of knife and fork, instead of eating with his bare hands in a cold lonely street corner and fighting other dogs or cats to keep his food.

"Thank you." He said. So, he eats very slowly, cutting up the chicken and vegetables in neat pieces without much worry, unhurried, and not rushing.

She relented a little seeing that he was in a good mood and was legitimately trying to make her happy. With a sigh she set the food down before him and then served up her own plate. Rip took a seat across from him and started to peck at her food.

As delicious as it was, she barely ate much. But, that was normal for her. It was rare that Rip ate more than a few bites of her meals or even half of one unlike her pet that usually eats all his down to the last crumb. Not that she could blame him.

While he ate, Rip watched him. Her eyes idly took in his appearance, noting just how much he's really changed since she took him in and lingering on his collar and tag. A lot of her neighbors had advised her against taking in the ragged stray but, Rip was very glad she did.

"You're velcome. Ve can try und go on more valks before vinter hits again und it gets too cold. Zhough, for tonight, I vas zhinking of heading up to bed after ve finish eating."

It was a good meal and she's a good cook. Chicken, potatoes, carrots, everything is all gone as he ate everything, but it tastes better when she's the one cooking it. Being an active dog, especially with his build and size, he eats alot to keep up his strength.

In return, he utilized his strength to keep up with her, and lend it to her whenever she needs it. Despite what the neighbors told her, he was inwardly a sweet dog who had it rough beneath that scary interior, but then again, he doesn't worry what they think as he didn't like socializing with humans at all. He didn't mind them, but he's more focused on staying alive and not dying, and he was close to that when she found him. There were times he had wondered if there is something out there worth living for...and he's learning she's worth living for and staying by her side and that's probably good enough.

"Okay. Whenever you feel like it, I'll take walks with you." He said, and with dinner all gone, he remembers to show his appreciation by washing the dishes as well and said a simple thank you. When it's near bedtime, he usually sleeps in his corner of his bed that she arranged for him, and he won't jumped and hopped on her bed unless she asked him too if she wanted cuddles.

Rip smiles a little as she sits back in her chair while he cleans up dinner and does the dishes. It really is a good thing she didn't listen to her neighbors when she first took him in. They couldn't see what kind of a treasure he really is.

It also didn't escape her that her pet made her lonely life more bearable. He made her smile and gave her the companionship she desperately craved, even if she wouldn't admit it to anyone.

"Ve can go for one tomorrow night, after sundown I zhink." Nighttime was always easier for her to move around in after all. "And..I zhink I'd like you near me tonight vhile I sleep." Rip only really asked him for cuddles when she knew her nightmares were getting bad again and she suspected tonight...they weren't going to be pleasant.

It's very likely he's a senior dog with the thick fur he has and his beard, with his tall size and muscular broad body. He doesn't look that old, but living without an owner for that long and alone, her companionship is probably the best for the remaining days he has. He was strong, but not as strong and spry as he used to be, but he's active to keep up with her. As long his age doesn't bother her, he's content.

Having a dog might be the best thing happened to her. He could help much motivating her to go out more and do the same activities. "After sundown then." His mistress preferred the night and so does he. He tends to be more energetic on their nightly walks. "Of course." That he won't deny.

Sharing one side on the bed, whenever she has nightmares and if she wants to cling to his body, holding him tightly until it hurts, he lets her hold him and he nuzzles her gently, giving his steadfast affection. "Well, I know it's hard to sleep to get up for work tomorrow. But you can hold me for as long you like."

His age didn't bother her in the slightest. If anything, it made her cherish the time she has with him, just knowing that she is giving him the best life she can with what years he has left. Besides, Rip enjoys the fact that he seems to understand her better than most people she knows.

That night, she settles into bed with him just wanting to sleep. That is until her nightmares hit. The turmoil in her mind drives her to seek out comfort and latch on to the nearest source of heat she can which just so happens to be her faithful companion. Rip's unaware of just how tightly she's holding him or how much pain she might be causing with her strength until she starts to come out of the nightmare, trembling and breathless as she loosens her hold and buries her face against his chest.

His words of comfort and his nuzzling helps bring her out of it. He's right, it's hard to sleep and still function for work but, she manages each day. Though this was a particularly bad nightmare tonight. It left her feeling shaken as she closes her eyes and breathes in her pet's scent.

"Danke, but, I do not zhink I am getting back to sleep tonight. I might haf to call out of vork in zhe morning." Which is something she rarely does and reserves those call-outs for particularly bad nightmares.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The hunter and her hound

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject