Post by irisberry on Oct 26, 2006 0:55:27 GMT -5
The wolfhound’s name was Llewes, and if there was one thing that defined his world it was food. A lack of it had precipitated his departure from the village he’d once called home. He’d clung on for long after the humans had reached the thrown-object stage, though. While it was hard and risky to hang on in a place where you were easily recognised as a vandalising scavenger, the prospect of venturing into the unknown was far more frightening. Eventually, though, he had to concede defeat. Ever since the incident with the open back door at the butchery, he’d been given the cold shoulder by every human who’d once been sympathetic (well, he’d already taken the cold shoulder for himself along with the cold haunch and the cold ribs and the cold steak - and the pies and the sausages - but they were certainly not slipping him scraps any more). His stores of food had run out along with his welcome, and reluctantly he took to the road.
The trick to following a road was to stay on the edge. Walking off the side left you vulnerable to losing your way, and walking on the road itself meant you were conspicuous and could run into traffic. But two paws on the edge and keen attention paid to your surroundings, and you’d be okay. Just as long as you could ignore the hunger and the thirst.
Early the following day, he was still heavily placing one paw in front of the other when he heard the reedy cry of a human baby. His head lifted and his ears perked. With a fresh burst of energy he hurried forward, stumbling in his haste. Now there was human conversation ahead of him, the clanks and clatters of activity, the squeal of a pig and the slam of a door. His mouth opened and his tongue flapped as he grinned.
The edge of the road smoothed out into the main street of the village. The big dog wandered sideways until his shoulder hit a wall, and then made his way further in at very slow walk. Before each paw was placed he made a shallow little wave with it ahead of him, and with each step there was a little hesitation before his weight was put down. And so he went on.
Until a familier scent hit his nostrils, that is. His head shot up and he stopped with one paw hovering in the air. That was PIE! Pie... fresh, warm pie. Fresh warm pie open to the air. Fresh warm pie potentially within reach. His pinched stomach growled like a small engine turning over, and his mouth moistened with what saliva his parched body could spare. Slowly, he rotated on the spot till his head was facing where the scent came from. There! Now, were there humans nearby? It didn't seem so... though of course he could never be sure. He decided to risk it.
A short, ungainly trip plunging through some plants and down a few shallow steps later, his head was through a window and his nose in the pie. Left to cool on the windowsill, it was the perfect prey. He could only just get his mouth into it, but that was enough. He was just wolfing down his second hurried gulp when he was loudly interrupted.
"HEY!!! GET OUTTOFIT!!"
A series of loud clatters followed the shouts. Leaping with shock, Llewes violently smacked his head on the edge of the open window and bit his tongue. His claws scrabbled frantically on the side of the house as he tried to launch himself out of reach and take the pie with him at the same time.
The trick to following a road was to stay on the edge. Walking off the side left you vulnerable to losing your way, and walking on the road itself meant you were conspicuous and could run into traffic. But two paws on the edge and keen attention paid to your surroundings, and you’d be okay. Just as long as you could ignore the hunger and the thirst.
Early the following day, he was still heavily placing one paw in front of the other when he heard the reedy cry of a human baby. His head lifted and his ears perked. With a fresh burst of energy he hurried forward, stumbling in his haste. Now there was human conversation ahead of him, the clanks and clatters of activity, the squeal of a pig and the slam of a door. His mouth opened and his tongue flapped as he grinned.
The edge of the road smoothed out into the main street of the village. The big dog wandered sideways until his shoulder hit a wall, and then made his way further in at very slow walk. Before each paw was placed he made a shallow little wave with it ahead of him, and with each step there was a little hesitation before his weight was put down. And so he went on.
Until a familier scent hit his nostrils, that is. His head shot up and he stopped with one paw hovering in the air. That was PIE! Pie... fresh, warm pie. Fresh warm pie open to the air. Fresh warm pie potentially within reach. His pinched stomach growled like a small engine turning over, and his mouth moistened with what saliva his parched body could spare. Slowly, he rotated on the spot till his head was facing where the scent came from. There! Now, were there humans nearby? It didn't seem so... though of course he could never be sure. He decided to risk it.
A short, ungainly trip plunging through some plants and down a few shallow steps later, his head was through a window and his nose in the pie. Left to cool on the windowsill, it was the perfect prey. He could only just get his mouth into it, but that was enough. He was just wolfing down his second hurried gulp when he was loudly interrupted.
"HEY!!! GET OUTTOFIT!!"
A series of loud clatters followed the shouts. Leaping with shock, Llewes violently smacked his head on the edge of the open window and bit his tongue. His claws scrabbled frantically on the side of the house as he tried to launch himself out of reach and take the pie with him at the same time.