Post by Ashley Wolfe on May 20, 2023 13:00:33 GMT -5
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[attr="class","kestrelflight-text"]"You've done so well, Kodak," Ashley soothed sympathetically, pushing open the front door of the groomer's shop and letting the small dog hop his eager way down the steps and onto the sidewalk. Typically, Ashley groomed his dogs at home, in his bathroom tub during the winter and fall months, or in the basin in his backyard when it was warmer. However, on this occasion, he'd decided the interaction with strangers — and a testing separation from his companion (and crutch), Darling — would do the terrier some good. [break][break]
Though he'd tentatively decided to keep both Darling and Kodak as his own pets rather than fosters to be adopted out, Ashley was still adamant about preparing both dogs for life anywhere. If someone perfect came along, was willing to adopt them both, and could handle the pair and their sensitivities, he wouldn't be opposed to letting them go. But he had to be certain they were adjusted and ready. Even the most attentive and patient of dog owners would have their hands full with Kodak, after all.[break][break]
He was high-energy and obstinate, a combination that made all of Ashley's attempted training endless (and sometimes frustratingly fruitless). He was wary and discomforted when away from Darling too long, keen to nip and snarl when he felt cornered or pressed, and the biggest obstacle Ashley had yet to surmount — besides the constant digging up of his landscaping beds — was the dog's hunting instinct. Once upon a time, Jack Russells had been bred to hunt foxes. Ashley was nearly convinced that no training in the world would be able to eliminate that tenacious drive from him. He bayed ferociously, without end, at every squirrel that ran along the top of the backyard fence. Called out challenges to anything that rustled a bush on their hikes, body squared and ready to make a stand. Unlike most of his dogs had eventually come to be, he wasn't trusted to make adventures leashless. He'd tried exactly once and had to basically dig him out of a badger hole.[break][break]
Even now, the dog tugged at his leash with uncaring abandon, sniffing at pieces of refuse in the gutters, skittering away from passerbys, and pricking his ears at the sound of trash blowing down the street. Ashley observed him, feeling equal parts amused and skeptical. He let his power seep from him, feeling for the dog's emotions, and was unsurprised at the sheer amount of overwhelmed he felt in answer. Ashley turned them down an alley, deciding it'd be best to give him a break. If he got too nervous, he'd pick him up and carry him the rest of the way to where his car was parked. But he wasn't yet pressed to that point.[break][break]
Ashley slowed as he became aware of another animal's presence. It edged into his periphery, unidentifiable but there. It felt... curious. He tried to focus and pinpoint its location but, before he could, it made itself known and stepped into the center of the alley. A black cat, tail lifted high in the air as it observed them with keen, appraising eyes.[break][break]
Immediately, there was a surge of unrepressed excitement from the terrier at Ashley's feet. It overcame and smothered the dog's previous uncertainty in a mind-emptying sweep; blocking everything except the very enthused, very canine desire to pursue. Kodak lunged forward, baying immediately, and tore the leash from Ashley's hands before his fingers could tighten more securely. The cat ripped off down the alley with the terrier on its heels. [break][break]
"Kodak!" Even as he shouted, Ashley knew it was hopeless. He took off in a sprint down the alley, inwardly wincing as the much faster animals tore out the other side and turned from view. He pushed himself harder, feeling a stab of panicked horror, at the brief sound of honking cars and hastily-hit brakes. They'd crossed the street. But there had been no concerning yelp and he could still hear Kodak's furious yipping (growing more distant) so he didn't think either animal had been stricken. [break][break]
As he broke onto the sidewalk from the alley, he smashed right into a small fruit cart that a street vendor pushed right into his path with unbelievably unfortunate timing. He tumbled to the concrete atop an array of ice and chopped melons, wincing at the feel of a (questionably unripe) pear lodged into his abdomen, intent it seemed, on kissing a kidney through his skin. [break][break]
"Shit! Sorry!" Ashley scrambled to his feet, slipping a bit on the mess he'd made, and tossed an apologetic glance to the outraged vendor who yelled after him as he pushed into the street. He threw out his hand toward the incoming cars as he made an awkward bob-and-weave to the sidewalk on the other side, then paused to listen. The barking was distant now but he expanded his senses again to find the feelings he recognized as Kodak and the cat's shared indignation. Kodak's excitement. Pounding hearts and adrenaline. He moved toward it at a brisk jog, eventually turning down another alley. [break][break]
"Are you kidding me?" He breathed, looking apprehensively at the tall, chain-link fence that ran across the width of the alley, presumably built there to separate property or prevent people from cutting through. He could see where the animals had shoved through a wrenched-back hole in one corner and could also see Kodak scrabbling noisily at the bottom of a dumpster on the other side, trying to reach the cat that was presumably sheltering underneath. With an exaggerated sigh and a resigned shake of his head, Ashley clutched at the chain-link and levered himself up into the beginning of a climb. It was familiar, in a strange, uncomfortable way. He'd hopped plenty of fences before. Breaking into places. Chasing Gifted. Being chased by Gifted. Running from cops. [break][break]
Never chasing a dog, though. A shapeshifter, yes, but never an actual dog. [break][break]
As he pulled himself over the top and dropped down, he landed awkwardly and immediately tumbled back on his ass in a puddle of mucky water. He was certainly out of practice. He pulled himself up with a groan and made his way to the dumpster in a defeated half-jog, half-limp, flicking out the grit that stuck to his palms. [break][break]
"Gotcha," he breathed, triumphant despite being breathless, as he clutched Kodak's rump and drug the rest of him out from under the dumpster. He tucked him under an arm, trying to get a clamp on his fierce and indignant wriggling, and then tried to feel for the cat with his power — shoving down Kodak's whirlwind of indignation and frustration to see if the cat was hurt in any way.
[break]
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I'M FLOATING OUT IN SPACE
i'm not coming home; i hope i found a place no one's gonna know
[break]
[attr="class","kestrelflight-text"]"You've done so well, Kodak," Ashley soothed sympathetically, pushing open the front door of the groomer's shop and letting the small dog hop his eager way down the steps and onto the sidewalk. Typically, Ashley groomed his dogs at home, in his bathroom tub during the winter and fall months, or in the basin in his backyard when it was warmer. However, on this occasion, he'd decided the interaction with strangers — and a testing separation from his companion (and crutch), Darling — would do the terrier some good. [break][break]
Though he'd tentatively decided to keep both Darling and Kodak as his own pets rather than fosters to be adopted out, Ashley was still adamant about preparing both dogs for life anywhere. If someone perfect came along, was willing to adopt them both, and could handle the pair and their sensitivities, he wouldn't be opposed to letting them go. But he had to be certain they were adjusted and ready. Even the most attentive and patient of dog owners would have their hands full with Kodak, after all.[break][break]
He was high-energy and obstinate, a combination that made all of Ashley's attempted training endless (and sometimes frustratingly fruitless). He was wary and discomforted when away from Darling too long, keen to nip and snarl when he felt cornered or pressed, and the biggest obstacle Ashley had yet to surmount — besides the constant digging up of his landscaping beds — was the dog's hunting instinct. Once upon a time, Jack Russells had been bred to hunt foxes. Ashley was nearly convinced that no training in the world would be able to eliminate that tenacious drive from him. He bayed ferociously, without end, at every squirrel that ran along the top of the backyard fence. Called out challenges to anything that rustled a bush on their hikes, body squared and ready to make a stand. Unlike most of his dogs had eventually come to be, he wasn't trusted to make adventures leashless. He'd tried exactly once and had to basically dig him out of a badger hole.[break][break]
Even now, the dog tugged at his leash with uncaring abandon, sniffing at pieces of refuse in the gutters, skittering away from passerbys, and pricking his ears at the sound of trash blowing down the street. Ashley observed him, feeling equal parts amused and skeptical. He let his power seep from him, feeling for the dog's emotions, and was unsurprised at the sheer amount of overwhelmed he felt in answer. Ashley turned them down an alley, deciding it'd be best to give him a break. If he got too nervous, he'd pick him up and carry him the rest of the way to where his car was parked. But he wasn't yet pressed to that point.[break][break]
Ashley slowed as he became aware of another animal's presence. It edged into his periphery, unidentifiable but there. It felt... curious. He tried to focus and pinpoint its location but, before he could, it made itself known and stepped into the center of the alley. A black cat, tail lifted high in the air as it observed them with keen, appraising eyes.[break][break]
Immediately, there was a surge of unrepressed excitement from the terrier at Ashley's feet. It overcame and smothered the dog's previous uncertainty in a mind-emptying sweep; blocking everything except the very enthused, very canine desire to pursue. Kodak lunged forward, baying immediately, and tore the leash from Ashley's hands before his fingers could tighten more securely. The cat ripped off down the alley with the terrier on its heels. [break][break]
"Kodak!" Even as he shouted, Ashley knew it was hopeless. He took off in a sprint down the alley, inwardly wincing as the much faster animals tore out the other side and turned from view. He pushed himself harder, feeling a stab of panicked horror, at the brief sound of honking cars and hastily-hit brakes. They'd crossed the street. But there had been no concerning yelp and he could still hear Kodak's furious yipping (growing more distant) so he didn't think either animal had been stricken. [break][break]
As he broke onto the sidewalk from the alley, he smashed right into a small fruit cart that a street vendor pushed right into his path with unbelievably unfortunate timing. He tumbled to the concrete atop an array of ice and chopped melons, wincing at the feel of a (questionably unripe) pear lodged into his abdomen, intent it seemed, on kissing a kidney through his skin. [break][break]
"Shit! Sorry!" Ashley scrambled to his feet, slipping a bit on the mess he'd made, and tossed an apologetic glance to the outraged vendor who yelled after him as he pushed into the street. He threw out his hand toward the incoming cars as he made an awkward bob-and-weave to the sidewalk on the other side, then paused to listen. The barking was distant now but he expanded his senses again to find the feelings he recognized as Kodak and the cat's shared indignation. Kodak's excitement. Pounding hearts and adrenaline. He moved toward it at a brisk jog, eventually turning down another alley. [break][break]
"Are you kidding me?" He breathed, looking apprehensively at the tall, chain-link fence that ran across the width of the alley, presumably built there to separate property or prevent people from cutting through. He could see where the animals had shoved through a wrenched-back hole in one corner and could also see Kodak scrabbling noisily at the bottom of a dumpster on the other side, trying to reach the cat that was presumably sheltering underneath. With an exaggerated sigh and a resigned shake of his head, Ashley clutched at the chain-link and levered himself up into the beginning of a climb. It was familiar, in a strange, uncomfortable way. He'd hopped plenty of fences before. Breaking into places. Chasing Gifted. Being chased by Gifted. Running from cops. [break][break]
Never chasing a dog, though. A shapeshifter, yes, but never an actual dog. [break][break]
As he pulled himself over the top and dropped down, he landed awkwardly and immediately tumbled back on his ass in a puddle of mucky water. He was certainly out of practice. He pulled himself up with a groan and made his way to the dumpster in a defeated half-jog, half-limp, flicking out the grit that stuck to his palms. [break][break]
"Gotcha," he breathed, triumphant despite being breathless, as he clutched Kodak's rump and drug the rest of him out from under the dumpster. He tucked him under an arm, trying to get a clamp on his fierce and indignant wriggling, and then tried to feel for the cat with his power — shoving down Kodak's whirlwind of indignation and frustration to see if the cat was hurt in any way.
[break]
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