Bringing in the shipment (all welcome)

[gazzi]

“Come Ivan, Desoto, Svet, Marcus,” Rick said as he passed them on the deck and was walking towards the door to the dock, “t time to do your duties.” He turned around, “Marcus, wake up!” he walked back to Marcus and pulled him up by the black belt he wore as a collar. He then proceeded to walk Marcus to the door, all other dogs fallowed. They were let to the entrance of the boat, where two dogs were placed on each side of the door. Desoto and his brother Ivan were on the right, and his siblings Svet and Marcus were on the left. This was the typical setup of the four siblings. Desoto looked over from his spot on the far right to look at his siblings. As usual, Ivan and Svetlana were taking their job very seriously, and Marcus was falling asleep. Desoto was just sitting, just doing his job. That was how it had been for 3 years of his life. All the same, nothing different, it was boring. Boring, boring, boring.

Maybe today would be different. He hoped that it would be. Every port that they had visited recently had not had much activity. This port seemed to be different. There were people and dogs everywhere. Desoto began to lose himself in the entertaining sights and sounds of the port. He laughed inwardly as a small dog tried to haul away a large box of what seemed to be a shipment of meat, with no success. The small dog must have been only 10 pounds, while the box would be about 40. When the small dog walked away disappointed, Desoto went on to find even more entertaining sights. There were people chasing dogs, people chasing people, dogs chasing people, and dogs chasing dogs. There was so much activity here! Desoto could only chuckle at all of the things he was. He liked this port.

As the crew of his ship began to unload their shipment, one of the crew members, Danny, stopped next to Ivan, “Ivan, lets go. It’s your turn to walk with the crew.” Ivan got up and left with them. This was a safety precaution that seemed to help the crew a lot, because they had never in Desoto’s life had one box stolen. He watched as his brother walked away, but was soon distracted by the activity of the port.

[yarrick]

(I'm new here, I hope you don't mind me using your post as my introduction as well )

With a yawn, the Husky awoke from his hiding place among the cargo hold of the ship. He had snuck aboard at a port across the Baltic Sea on this merchant ship which would lead him finally out of his Russian exile. That place had no purpose or meaning for him anymore, a certain part of him had been buried on the battlefield along with the rest of his comrades.

His ears swiveled forward and perked up as he heard activity aboard deck meaning the ship was docked and they were ready to start unloading the cargo, revealing his place of stowaway. He had been asleep most of the voyage, safely hidden behind two large crates of potatoes and carrots. He had snuck aboard at night when the crew was asleep, his stepping as orderly and silent as a wolf.

He had however made the oversight of sleeping in and now had no way of slipping out in full daylight, and there was no porthole in the cargo hold big enough for him to sneak out of. There was only one way out of the cargo hold, and that was up the main ramp. The crew would be in here soon to unload their cargo and there was no way to sneak past them unless.... he had a decoy? A distraction?

Quickly darting his eyes around the room he looked for something he could use. His eyes shifted over a crate stack of potatoes and mixed vegetables, 3 crates high that almost reached the ceiling of the hold, and something caught his eye. The top crate was teetering and unbalanced; it likely shifted on the voyage. There was space enough behind the stack to hide, and at the opportune moment all he would need to do is jump up and nudge the crate to cause it come crashing onto the floor. The crew would be too busy cleaning up the mess to notice a mutt dart past behind them. Humans have very poor peripheral vision, and once he was behind their backs he was safe and could blend in to the busy harbor.

He crawled behind the other crates to the stack and leaned in against the bottom crate, waiting in silent for the time to set his ambush....

[gazzi]

Indeed, the some of the crew was still on the ship. They had a large shipment for this port, and it took all the men to help carry the boxes. While some were out already, and walking to thier destination, others were on the ship making thier way to the cargo hold. They were picking up boxes, moving them and carrying them away. They were making thier way towards the crates of potatoes that an unknown visitor was hiding himself behind.

Desoto and his siblings were contently sitting at the ramp to the boat. On thier journey they had not noticed anyting different. Desoto had smelled a few things, but going over sees that is expected. He continued to amuse himself by watching things on the port.

A few minutes went by and Danny, Rick, and the rest of the crew came back with emply hands. They had dropped off the first part of thier shipment and were back for a second handfull as the crew on the boat left with thier boxes. Ivan sat back next to his siblings but was soon up again with the new flow of men.

The rest of the crew went to the cargo hold and made thier way to one of the corners. The boxes of potatoes would go next. Rick walked up to 3 boxes of potatoes stacked together. One was about to fall, but he didn't notice. Little did he know behind these boxes a stow away was hidden.

(sorry if it is a little scattered, I have no brain.)

[yarrick]

Yarrick waited till the crew was all in the cargo hold and he had a clear path behind the crew off the ramp and into the port after his ambush had been executed.

With a silent leap, Yarrick penned the weight of his body against the wobbly crate sending it crashing down with a loud thud, splintering wood and sending the vegetables flying everywhere. He darted out of the hold before the crew had a chance to see who had caused the commotion and up the ramp.

He was so fixated on setting his ambush that he failed to make out the scent of the other canines that would be awaiting his swift departure at the top of the loading ramp.

[gazzi]

There was a loud thud, followed by some yells, rolling nioses, and the padding of feet on wood. Desoto looked back to see a medium sized dog making his way swifty from the cargo hold. What? He looked to his siblings. Svet was ready to pounce, and Marcus was still sleeping. He shook his head at his sister, telling her not to attack the poor dog. He assumed that the dog was afraid, and so would be nice.

He stepped in front of the dog just before he could get off the ramp and into the port. Being so large Desoto could completely block him off. "Excuse me, but what's happened back there?" He asked the dog very calmly. He looked to the dog with a confused expression.

"Oiy, Desoto. He gets no explination. Can't I just beat 'im?" His sister Svetlana chimed in.

"No. He gets an explination." Desoto said firmly and looked down to the dog. "I'm sure he means no harm." He said, and watied for the dog to speak.

[yarrick]

Yarrick glanced to the large canine blocking his path, and the other two smaller dogs behind him. He considered his options. He was outnumbered and the larger dog in front of him had the size and possibly strength advantage.

The latter bit didn’t bother him as much as he had taken down opponents much bigger then himself at war and in the wild, and he had experience. He wouldn’t have to fight for long- just long enough to break free and get into town. Had this been at night- this solution would have worked.

Being in full daylight however, it was a lot harder to do exposed in the open, especially with the dock workers behind him. They were likely cleaning up the mess right now, but would be up here in a seconds notice with the sound of a dog fight. He would then be surrounded, and getting flanked was a hard situation to get out of.

Not being very good at talking his way out of situations, it seemed to be his only option right now, so he was forced to try.

He glanced up at the large canine before him and began with a deep, accented voice “Da. Privet. My name is Yarrick. My reason for seeking passage on your wessel are mvy own. I do not seek fight with you, merely to pass on my vay to dis port to start a new life, Da?”

Simple and honest- if the larger dog did not believe him at least it might cause a second for him considering this for him to dart past and disappear into the busy harbor.

[gazzi]

The dog explained himself. Like Desoto had thought, the dog had meant no harm. He had just stowed away, like his mother had dome so long ago. Well then, that was that.

"Right then. On your way. I advise that you don't make too much more of a ruckus or you will certainly get into trouble."

He left the path open for the dog to get through. He thought of what the dog had said, to start a new life. That sounded nice. It only took him a minute to decide, and before the dog could leave he spoke once more.

"Excuse me, Sir. I really wouldn't want to impose, but, well, would you mind if I came along? I'd like to start a new as well."

[yarrick]

Yarrick was starting to make his way past the larger canine when he heard the question implied to him. He was a little suprised that the larger dog did not question him further allready as it was, and he was just as content to leave behind his run in with one of the local canines who, by his scent he could tell that he had spent most of his life on the sea or in port and was in too good of shape to be a scavenger by nature. No, he likely earned his keep here on the docks by working.

This more then anything seemed to puzzle him. This question in his mind was enough to make Yarrick pause, and glance behind him just as he passed the other canines, with a slightly suprised if not confused look.

"I do not quite understand the question, vhy vould you vant to follow me? I am nvt local here I know not where I go..." he paused for a moment considering this "only that I have no vhere to return to..."

Yarrick then considered the pros and cons of what the larger canine was suggesting. Through his military carrer he knew that strength in numbers was a very important thing for survival. He also was understandably suspicious. Not a moment ago he was fairly certain he would be in a conferntation with all three of the dogs before him, and now the larger one is just going to let him pass?

The curiousity was enough to make him turn around and await an answer, in spite of knowing that the crew would soon clean up the distraction he made to make his escape, and see this strange stray dog sitting on the dock.

[gazzi]

Desoto nodded, he understood the dogs concern.

"I am not needed here. I have spent four years of my life sitting outside a ship, and frightening people with my size. My crew has 3 other dogs just as large as I am to do this job." He paused, "I feel like I am missing out. There is so much in life that I have never done. I have spent all my years on a boat. I don't know what grass feels like, I've never seen any bird besides a seagull. I've not tasted the meat of anything but fish."

His siblings looked to him silently, but did not say a word. They knew that he meant what he said, and loved him enough to let him go if it was what he really wanted.

"Though, I don't want to slow you down. If you are not in search of a companion, please, go. I wouldn't want to make you feel uncomfortable." He looked to the ground. Surely this dog didn't want to bring him along. He just didn't know what to do if he didn't have somebody to go with, though. He had spent his life with three other dogs, and solitude was not the life for him.

[yarrick]

Yarrick nodded once to the large canine seeming to understand. His life had allways been full of action, and even though he was no longer fighting men or infiltrating camps scratching out a life on your own was a great adventure of itself. Spending a few weeks on that boat was enough for him, he couldn't imagine spending his entire life there.

"Da, I understand. Do vhat you vish, I vould not dare try stop you" He half chuckled almost as he said this.

He was still having difficulties with relating to others, but espically in this new land he knew he had to adapt, he also knew from a tactical point of view that two were better then one on their own for protection, and his companion looked like he could more then hold his own on in a fight.

"Wery vell. Yov can come vith if you vish but I make no guarntee. I know not where I go nor what this new land holds for me, but you may tag along if you vish" With that he trotted off down the dock, glancing back at his larger "commrade" and waited.

[gazzi]

Desoto looked up from the ground as he heard the dog's words. He had said yes! This was wonderful! He smiled at the dog as he got up from his sitting position. Standing, he wagged his tail, and looked to his siblings. He said nothing, but bowed his head to them. They did the same. Without saying a word to eachother, they knew that this was goodbye.

"Maybe you'll be back to port here soon." He said in a hopeful tone. He then looked to the smaller dog, "Yarrick was it?" He took a few steps towards him. "I know my way around a port fairly well, I think I can get us around here." He grinned. He was so happy.

His tail wagged as he looked down at his new friend of sorts. Hopefully they would get along well. He hadn't really thought of how they would act together. He paused for a moment to think. Was this the right thing to do? Just get up and leave? He looked back towards the two remaining dogs sitting next to the ramp. They smiled at him, and their eyes told him to move on.

[yarrick]

Yarrick nodded "Da, dats me" almost breaking a half grin. It had been awhile since he had a companion. He really wasn't a mean dog and didn't try to be anti-social, but he was stubborn and it took him a long time to trust anyone.

Perhaps this is something that could change- he had no longer been welcome by the wolves, dogs, or men of Russia. Things were changing there. Perhaps this place was different...

"Wery vell then. Lets go find something to eat, da?"

(at this point your welcome to join in and make your introduction into the other thread I started- thats more or less the continuation of my intro at this point- and we got a few others posting on it ^.^)

[gazzi]

(I'll do that!)