Daywatch

[CUR]

fuck. damn! DAMN!

The sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon and already birds were filling the air with their songs. In all directions one could hear the calls of various feathered friends and together the noise was so loud you could scarcely hear your own thoughts. It was common for them to get into such a frenzy when searching for mates or building their nests and often Don had wondered what sort of dramas were playing out in the lives high in the trees.

He had been sent by his father to do the morning patrol. Normally that would have been the King's job but he had taken ill recently and things weren't looking good for his improvement. In times past he would've been trying to do more, getting off his feet and getting errands done a bit closer to home but this time he was just taking it easy and letting Don do most of the footwork. A nagging suspicion had led him to believe that perhaps Hunter wasn't going to get better this time and perhaps he wanted to conserve his energy to last a while longer and see that Don got the hang of his new duties.

Could it really be, though? All his life he'd had someone there to guide him. Even if he resented his father at times, he knew there would always be help or backup if it were required. Now he felt suddenly unmoored. Everything in the forest was a new cause for worry. What if a neighboring pack challenged them, or there were a drought? He couldn't even fathom taking care of things himself and felt crushed beneath the weight now placed on his unprepared shoulders.

He was twitching worse than normal, walking erratically every fourth step or so. His nerves weren't helping his condition any and he was ashamed to see himself this way. Stopping beneath a group of pine trees he sat and hung his head in shame, unsure of what to do or why he had wanted this opportunity so badly only until it was finally his.

why can't i stop?

[Deleted]

Glaw let out a low growl, thoroughly annoyed by the singing of the birds. He was trotting up a hill steeper than the others around, glad for the gentle breeze. As he came to the top a large... something.... came into view. It was far away and Glaw was baffled as to what it was. It was very definitely man-made, though most was crumbling. As he neared the castle-like building he smelled dogs, and many of them. He knew for sure that this was the territory of a pack, and decided to stay as far away as possible. He soon came to a patch of pine trees. Glaw headed towards the inviting shade, the stopped dead. There, beneath the trees, sat a dog. He growled as he approached, more to alert the dog to his presence than to appear a threat. The scent around this dog was much like the one around the chateau, and he was certain that the territory belonged to the canine before him.

[CUR]

fuck. damn! DAMN!

Thoughts raced through Don's head so quickly he could scarcely complete each one before his attention was dragged to the next issue at hand. He was really getting himself into a frenzy, panting nervously as he worried himself over a situation he couldn't control one way or another. So lost was he in his internal dialogue that he didn't realize he was being approached or watched until he heard the sound of a growl behind him.

Instinctively he raised his hackles, ears pulled back as he turned his head to see who was approaching him. His tail began to wag slowly, unsure of whether the intruder was friend or foe. The other male didn't seem to bear him any ill-will. His teeth weren't bared nor was he full on snarling so that was a good sign at least.

"Who ah' you then?" He asked tentatively, trying not to betray his nervousness in the shakiness of his voice. If only he had paid more attention to Dad.. perhaps he might've known what to do in a situation like this but for now he just sat there as though he'd just happened into the evergreens as well.

why can't i stop?

[Deleted]

"I'm Glaw. Your pack lives here, don't they?" Glaw's ears were pricked and hackles raised curiously. "I mean no harm, only passing through." The dog appeared wary despite the fact that the owner of a territory would normally be dominant, even aggressive, towards an intruder. Glaw acted not submissive as usual, but as if they were on neutral territory. He felt almost jealous of this dog, who he assumed lived happily with friends and family, though one could never be sure and Glaw tended to make assumptions easily. Still, though, he considered attempting to join this dog's pack. He had the chance, so why not take it? He knew he wouldn't, though, but would continue to fantasize about a better, easier life. Suddenly the dog realized that this was the first time he had ever conversed with another male dog, raised by his mother with his sisters and only having met a few unrelated dogs in his days wandering, all of which happened to be female. It was this reason he felt a bit strange, almost awkward yet more curious than he'd ever been.

[CUR]

fuck. damn! DAMN!

Don was trying hard to stop himself from twitching. He didn't want to appear weak in front of this other dog, didn't want to be judged. At the same time he wasn't putting on some sort of tough-guy front either, just trying to seem.. well.. normal. For once in his life he wanted to be just another dog, not some spaz who can't keep control of his own nerves.

When he spoke, it was slowly. He wasn't going to be spurting out random words or letting his tics take over. This was his turn to make an impression. "Yeah.. we live here... Just, watching out since the King's ill.." Suddenly he froze, realizing he'd concentrated so hard on how he'd been talking that he hadn't paid heed to what he'd said. Shit! Now here this newcomer knew their Alpha was down.. not good.

Don was mad at himself but even more, he was disappointed. He didn't think this fellow dog was a threat. In fact, he seemed like a very respectable guy. It's just that the King-to-be shouldn't have so much trouble being normal that he can't focus on anything else at the same time. There was no way he could rule if he couldn't even hold a simple conversation. Attempting to change the subject, he stuttered out, "So, wha' you d-doin here? Arf?" Shutting his eyes tightly, he ignored his speech impediment and hoped his associate would do the same.

why can't i stop?

[Deleted]

"I'm sorry to hear about your king..." Glaw said politely, realizing that the other dog hadn't meant to tell him this information. He could tell how nervous this dog was now and silently excused him for asking a question that had been previously answered.
"I'm just wandering through. I have no pack, but I want to join one some day. What's your name?"
He guessed he was nervous by the fact that he had revealed something that weakened the pack, and no dog who is totally concentrating on the situation at hand would make his pack look weak to a stranger who could possibly use this information to his advantage.
Glaw also wondered about this dog's strange stutter, though he decided to assume that it was just a birth defect or something along those lines.

He himself became anxious, wishing he knew what was going on inside this dog's head and what he though of him.

[CUR]

fuck. damn! DAMN!

Don opened his eyes upon hearing the other dog's words. Glaw seemed a very kind fellow, he gave his respect for the King and left it at that. Not probing too far. Good, so he didn't have any alterior motives. Finally gathering the courage to look the other dog in the eye, the Catahoula cross blinked slowly and kept his gaze soft and polite.

"Thank you. Thanks f-for being kind. My father had a lot of friends and travel- travelled when he was younger." Don wondered whether perhaps the thickly-furred dog standing before him had known his father but figured it best not to ask. If he hadn't then it could come off strangely.. and if he had, well they could meet up soon enough if the reddish dog would like.

"I'm Don. If you'd like to join a pack, uh.. you could come meet my Dad and all." He wanted very much to invite Glaw in himself and accept him fully before returning to the castle but he had no wish to disrespect his father's authority in what might very well be his last days. He rose into a deep stretch, tail in the air, and stood abruptly, shaking himself off and looking at Glaw expectantly, wondering whether he was ready to go.

why can't i stop?

[Deleted]

Glaw's heart skipped. He thought for a second, but knew immediately that we would like to join the pack.
"Ok, lets go then!" He hid his excitement.
He liked being around other dogs very much, and, although it was always awkward, he loved random encounters with strangers.
He wondered how many dogs were in this pack; is it more of a close-knit family group or many unrelated dogs?
He hoped that food was easy to find around here, then realized that no smart dog would claim useless territory.
Wait, did Don just say that the king was his dad?
He remembered his sisters. He still didn't know why he had left them. If he had stayed they could have had a pack all their own, and maybe even find mom. Glaw knew he would never stop regretting it until he found out what happened to them, and that he probably wouldn't stay with this pack forever.
But at least he could have a home for now. His hackles lowered and he began to pant contentedly.
This could even be fun.

[CUR]

fuck. damn! DAMN!

The spindly-legged Catahoula cross looked eagerly at his new temporary-companion. Could this dog really want to stay here, maybe even to be his friend? This was such a wonderful surprise, he could barely contain his excitement as his paws skittered about on the ground, doing the 'happy feet' dance most dogs only do when they see their owner with a bag of treats or perhaps picking up a leash. Don himself had never experienced such confinement but he had heard much of it from his mother Wiki and his sister when they'd returned from their stay with people and thought himself quite knowledgeable about such things, at least as far as free dogs were concerned.

He was delighted that Glaw was coming with him and wondered whether he felt the same. No sense asking though, he didn't want to make a fool of himself if the answer was no. Better to just play it safe and let his actions speak for him. Less chance of stumbling over his own words that way too, and there's a lot that can be said for keeping your mouth shut if you can't talk properly.

As they began walking slowly downhill toward the clearing Don noticed that the northern dog's long hackles were now laying flat against his back, signaling his contentment or at least indifference to the current situation. That was good news for sure. "Almost thERE," Don said, wincing at the way he'd accidentally gotten louder. Ears pinned back, he lowered his head ever so slightly as they approached the castle. The day was already nearly started and the inside of the building was well-illuminated through the windows.

Claws clicking against the floor, Don entered at a trot, looking back over his shoulder to be sure that Glaw still followed. He couldn't be sure whether the other dog had ever entered a building before and it was certainly an uncomfortable feeling the first few times for most dogs but at least the inside of the castle was made primarily of large open rooms very sparsely furnished.

"Upstairs," Don whispered, walking quickly up the stone steps that were more like the steps normally seen outside cathedrals than the type found in present day homes. There were no openings or slats through which a paw might get stuck- just stone upon stone leading to the upper floor. When he got to the top he turned and looked down, tail wagging encouragingly for his pal to follow.

why can't i stop?

[Deleted]

Glaw looked around the castle in wonder; he had never been in a house before, much less a castle.
The hard floors were cool, and both that and the clicking sound their claws made had surprised him a bit at first.
The stairs, too, confused him, but once he saw Don start up them he just copied the other dog.
So far he had seen no other dogs, but this place was even bigger inside then it had appeared outside, and he assumed that they were upstairs, the way they were now headed.
He was a bit anxious again, but only because of the strange surroundings. Glaw felt a bit trapped by the walls around him and ceiling above him, but he kept calm only because he was in the presence of a fairly unknown dog.
If he were alone he most likely not have come inside, and if his curiosity had taken over, he would be more likely to turn and leave at this point than keep going up the stairs. He just trotted after Don now, though.

[CUR]

fuck. damn! DAMN!

Don was pleased that Glaw had scaled the stairs so quickly, something he seemed to have done before at some point. Most dogs coming upon stairs for the first time will balk, hanging back and tucking their tails before proceeding slowly up. Those who ran headfirst without knowing what they were doing often slipped and tripped, finding that they weren't lifting their feet to the proper height or else their front and back legs weren't coordinating on such odd terrain. Glaw had none of these issues and it impressed Don.

The reddish dog approached Don, standing by his side and looking around the large room with its high cielings, bare but for a few spider's webs where they had taken up residence in the corners. The scrawny white dog turned and looked over his shoulder, signaling that the King was behind them. He lowered his head as he turned, keeping his tail level with his back and pinning his ears slightly out of respect for his ailing father.

He wanted to make this go as smoothly as possible and hoped that the two would get on well enough, knowing that there was not much time left in his father's life but that he had always enjoyed meeting new dogs and loved to imagine how varied the lives they lived were. Hopefully this meeting would be just as pleasant as the others despite how morose the atmosphere had been getting during Hunter's illness.

As they approached the far side of the room, a gentle breeze could be felt through the open window and it was fluttering the tattered remains of the curtains still keeping the room shaded. A shaft of light fell across the center of the room, illuminating a massive brindled dog with golden light. It could easily be seen that he was getting on in age- streakes of pepper-colored fur marked his face and feet, his fur had begun to get thinner and brittle and he had lost much of his formerly impressive weight.

Don came to his side and touched his nose to his father's cheek. "D-Dad, I've met a traveller during patrol. Glaw." He waited for a reply and saw Hunter's eyes come to rest on the other dog. His body may have been slowly wasting but his eyes were as bright and clear as ever without a trace of the cataracts often seen on elderly dogs. It's the Catahoula in us, Don thought, feeling the pride for his ancestry and also in his father, maintaining his dignity as much as ever despite current circumstances.

The big striped hound raised his head, looking into the other dog's eyes with a soft and friendly gaze, just a hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth. "Hello then Glaw, it's wonderful to have a guest here in the castle today." His voice was quieter, no longer the deep boom it had been in his younger years. His tail wagged slowly, sending up dust motes into the air.

why can't i stop?

[Deleted]

"Hello... sir." Glaw said politely, unsure of what to call the king. "May I ask your name? He wondered if the pack members called him "King", or simply by his name, or by another title. Whatever it was, he hoped he did not seem rude by asking.
The old king's declining health was clear, and Glaw wondered if Don was to be the next king. He contemplated weather or not the nervous dog would make a good leader based on his observations so far. He appeared intelligent enough, but he didn't seem to be the kind of dog to be respected, a bit meek if you will.
His father, though, Glaw could tell was strong and respected in his prime, and retained some of that elegance even in such poor health. This was truly an interesting pack so far, and the malamute mix couldn't wait to meet the rest of the family.

[CUR]

fuck. damn! DAMN!

Don watched as his father and Glaw talked with one another. He was happy that his dad had been feeling well enough to properly greet the newcomer and hadn't seemed to mind having company one bit- in fact, it seemed to brighten his day and do his heart good to meet another dog again. He had always been a true socialite, loving to talk to anyone and everyone, and Don wanted his last days to be as rich and fulfilling as they possibly could. For a long time he had been in denial about what was coming, not believing that this King's reign would ever have an end. Retirement maybe, but surely not passing on... yet there was no more lying to himself. It would do his father a great injustice to be robbed of the honor he deserved at this time and rather than sparing his own feelings the spotted dog was working toward acceptance of the inevitable.

The darker dog looked up at Glaw, saying to him "My name is Hunter, although when my pups were younger they couldn't quite pronounce it and used to call me Hut Sir." There was a gleam in his eyes as he laughed, recalling the finer years and birth of his lovely litter. He noticed that Don seemed relaxed and at ease, not bristling due to a comment about his pup-hood, and realized that his son was finally grown enough to appreciate the pleasures memory can bring.

"I can only imagine you must've gotten to know my son Don a bit then? He's a fine boy, I'm glad he's made a friend around here. It seems that Wiki and our daughter are spending more and more time away these days..." His voice trailed off. It wasn't all that long ago that the two had disappeared only to have Hunter and Don find them once more after suffering through constant patrolls in the dead of winter. Now they had wandered off for so long that it was almost as though they hadn't been back at all. Why would they leave, knowing that they had everything they could've ever wanted right here? Neither dog knew the answer but it pained both of them equally to have their long-lost loved ones disappear again.

why can't i stop?

[Deleted]

Glaw chuckled. He was still unsure of how he should address the old dog, he said his name was Hunter but he had not directly said that Glaw should call him that, but in spite of his uncertainty decided that he would call the dog by his name.
Wiki... who is that? He guessed by what Hunter said it was his mate, but despite that asked, mostly just for conversation.
"And who is Wiki?"
He tiled his head curiously. Glaw appeared interested, and wished he was, but he was bursting with excitement, and anxious to learn more about the pack. Were there any other members? So far the castle seemed empty, but it was so huge he knew there were at least a hundred places other dogs could be hiding.

[CUR]

fuck. damn! DAMN!

When the Glaw asked who Wiki was, Don realized that his father was slipping yet again. Dad shouldn't expect a total newcomer to know Mom's name.. he doesn't realize... It was sad to see that the King no longer dutifully filed away information such as who was related to whom and which dogs wouldn't know of one another. A worse thought entered his mind, Perhaps Dad doesn't realize he hasn't explained Wiki's relation to us. He felt a tightness in his chest and wanted so badly to come to his father's side, lick and nuzzle him, but knew that such actions would either be misinterpreted as a random show of affection or perhaps some psychological breakdown Don might be going through.

It's better this way. If he's not quite as sharp... well, then he can just enjoy each day instead of ruminating on his weakening abilities. This felt like the truth to Don and he decided not to show that he was worried about his pa. After all, if Hunter might not be noticing his more difficult walks and slightly feeble speech then there was no way in hell this pup was bringing it to his attention. No way, just let him be and focus on what matters.

The spotted yearling was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't even notice what his father was saying as Hunter replied to Glaw. "Wiki was, I mean is, my mate. She birthed Don and his sister. The litter was larger than just them but you know how these things are- not all pups live and of those who do many decide to head off their first breeding season. Yearlings these days all seem to think they're ready for their own mates and litters. Suppose I thought the same at that age but it always seems crazy when you're the oldster looking back on young'uns."

Hunter looked out the window, breathing a resigned sigh. "Wiki always was such a beautiful, independant girl. That's what made me fall in love with her- she had this spark that couldn't be outshone by anyone around here, but she needed her freedom too. Sometimes her and the girl go out for a few days just reminiscing and talking about their private-lives. Stuff shared only by girls or by dogs who've lived with people. Maybe both. I just hope she comes back again sometime soon. We had a fabulous fellow stay with us one time, Belgian Malinois, but I haven't seen him around either. These past few days it's been just me and Don."

why can't i stop?