[Explore] Danger in the City

As more and more hounds joined Ollie's household, the hours he could spend with each one lessened, and it was with no small amount of guilt that he returned home late after a shift one night to see Landfall laying flat against the floor with her snout pointed toward the door, waiting for him to arrive.

 

He knew she had smelled and heard him coming long before he walked in the door, but she had remained so patient and good, stretched across the floor, moving only her eyes to look at him when he emerged from the darkness. Her pointed tail thumped happily against the ground as Ollie leaned to run a hand across her head and shoulders.

 

"Hello, good girl," he said, scritching the top of her head where her fur was the softest. "Did you wait up for me?"

 

Landfall lifted her head, propping herself up as she pricked her ears in response to his words. They had come a long way since their early days, and he had found that she now quite liked to follow him about, so long as the other hounds weren't around. And when he spoke to her, she listened. 

 

"Have I told you you're my favorite one?" he said, chuckling and cupping his hand under her chin so he could land a kiss on the top of her muzzle. She seemed to enjoy those.

 

Ollie straightened up, moving toward the bedroom. Landfall rose from her spot, nails clicking lightly against the wood floor as she padded in after him. She didn't try to jump on the bed, preferring the firm support of the ground at all times. There was always a watchful air about her - she didn't generally relax as much as the other two hounds - and she stood quite straight as Ollie went into his clothes and fished out a set of fresh ones to change into. Hours on a fishing boat left a bit of a stink.

 

Having pulled on the clean clothes, Ollie turned to face Landfall, who looked up at him quite expectantly, tail wagging as if she knew exactly what was coming next. "You don't need to be cheeky," he said, grabbing for her ears and rubbing the tip of one between his fingers. They were so soft and velvety, such a joy to play with. "I know it's time for a walk."

 

Landfall's ears perked right up, and she scrambled back out into the front room, placing herself right in front of the door in a sit as Ollie followed with her lead. He clipped it onto her collar and opened the door, stepping out as she followed, and eased the door shut behind them. The amount of patience and self control she could exhibit had grown immensely since their first few trips outside, and walking with her had become quite a joy - a joint venture more so than an exercise in futility. She seemed to be able to read where he wanted to go, and seemed happy enough to follow his direction.

 

Today, Ollied headed left down the street, away from the pier. Having just come from there, he figured a change in scenery would do him some good. So he made his way in the general direction of the city center, turning once in a while when they reached a corner to keep thing interesting. Landfall trotted along on a loose leash, sniffing and exploring every bit of litter and every lamp post they came across. She seemed to find so much joy in this simple activity that there was a noticeable bounce in her step.

 

"We can't go to the park tonight, it's a bit late for that," he said as they walked, musing aloud. "But we can maybe get to the fountain and come back." That would still take them the better part of an hour, even at this time of night when the streets were all but deserted. 

 

Some others said that walking the city at night was a risk and a bit creepy - they didn't care for the stillness and the dark - but Ollie didn't find it all too ominous. Instead, there was a special peace in those early (or late) hours where it felt like the city was his. He enjoyed being the sole citizen of Ynnis, even if it was for just a moment.

 

He was lost in thought, enjoying feeling special, when something suddenly shifted. It all happened in an instant, and he wasn't sure which came first, but Landfall stiffened and a looming feeling of impending danger washed over Ollie. The deserted street didn't feel as friendly anymore. Ollie tightened his grip on the lead as Landfall planted her feet, hackles raised as she fixed her amber eyes on the next corner.

 

"Who's there!" Ollie said, taking her cue and stopping where he was, eyes shifting this way and that as he watched for the source of their tension. 

 

The next moment, a man emerged, dressed in tattered dark clothing. A hat covered his head and he wore ragged gloves that had seen their share of violence. Ollie's mind began to race as his heart rate rocketed, and everything seemed to become unnaturally sharp, each moment ticking by like time had been wound down. He forced himself to focus on the menacing figure before them - stocky, but wide, powerful. A nose that looked too crooked to have been born that way. Narrowed eyes. Missing tooth in the front.

 

"I don't want any trouble," Ollie said, surprised that his voice still worked. There was a little tremor to it that he couldn't quite control - that the man probably caught as well - and breathing didn't seem to fill his lungs with as much air as he would have expected. But all things considered, that wasn't so bad, all things considered. Landfall stood rigid as a statue, staring daggers at the intruder.

 

"And I just want your cogs," the man grumbled, mouth splitting into a terribly unappealing grin as he ambled forward, one leg leading the other, a slight unevenness in his step.

 

"I haven't got any cogs, mate," Ollie said, holding his spot. "Why don't we just go our separate ways and forget about this?"

 

"Hah! You'd like that, wouldn't you?" the man slurred. A bit intoxicated, perhaps?

 

Before him, Landfall issued forth a low growl, hackles raised all down her neck and back, tail puffed. Her powerful stance conveyed no fear, only a stern warning. As the man stumbled forward again, her growl opened up into a menacing rumble that was enough to make him pause.

 

He looked at her, for the first time a bit uncertain. "I know these things," the man spat out. "All bark and no bite."

 

He took another step, and Landfall exploded into a frenzy, her booming bark echoing savagely across the square. She lunged forward, ready to throw herself at him. The man took a shuffling step back.

 

"You can test her if you like, I guess," Ollie said, fixing the man with a steely stare, feeling braver than perhaps he felt deep in his heart. "I don't think you'd like to take that gamble."

 

The man spat out a curse, glaring at them both, before turning and shuffling away at last.

 

The pair of them watched him go, and it wasn't until long after he had disappeared and not returned that the hair on Landfall's back flattened and Ollie breathed a sigh of relief. "That was a little close, wasn't it," he said, crouching down next to her to ruffle the fur on her neck. "Thanks for the backup. Let's get us home."