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Post by johnny on Jul 19, 2008 10:34:52 GMT -5
Coda stared at the City from her vantage point just outside. She'd entered just to look around, sniffing for signs that her mother might've been there, but after coming up with nothing she'd simply gone to the outskirts and settled into a ritual of hunting small animals, like rats and the occasional unlucky rabbit. She supposed that, somewhere in the back of her mind, she expected her mother to arrive via this route, and they'd reunite with one another before ceremoniously going through the invisible gates of the city and starting their new, better lives together. It was a sadly hopeful thought, but it'd been at least three months since she'd seen her mother, and it was time that she let those hopeful thoughts go.
She would simply have to enter her new life on her own, step into the city and find a new home within its borders. It wouldn't be so bad, being alone - she could meet new dogs, socialize, become better for being on her own for so long. She could do this.
Coda stepped onto the first slab of concrete her paws had touched in months, and the sensation brought back flashes of memories - loud noise, horrible smells, fighting and snarling and humans kicking at them and banging loudly to scare them off. She involuntarily flinched at the recollection, expecting a loud cry from the mouth of a stout, smelly human male to come flying at her at any moment, but no cry came - it was almost entirely silent, and though the creations of man still existed around her in the forms of buildings and asphalt, there were no men.
The silence was uplifting, and Coda moved faster towards her new future.
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Post by [.¥.6.3.R on Jul 19, 2008 17:14:22 GMT -5
A small, stout little dog bent over a puddle of water. She lapped up the cool liquid. It was another warm day, and this was probably going to be the easiest water to get to. The corgi attempted to stretch, but stopped halfway through, wincing.
"Oh my, I am getting on in years. I don't ever remember waking up that stiff before." She gave her fur a shake, sending the necklaces she adorned herself with jostling.
Safira padded off, staring down at the concrete. What are you going to do today, Saffy? Granted it gets too hot now-a-days to do much of anything. Maybe I will head to the grotto and read the caves... The dog was so engrossed with her thoughts, she failed to notice the Australian Shepard she was walking straight into. She collided head on with the other dog in her dazed stupor. The corgi gave her head a light shake to regain her senses, her assorted bangles tinkling against each other.
"I'm terribly sorry." Saf smiled apologetically. "I beg you to excuse my old age - I tend to doz off and not realize what I'm doing."
She studied the pretty female's face closer. "I don't think I've seen you around here before, hun. I'm Safira, but you can call me Saf. It's nice to meet a new face."
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Post by johnny on Jul 19, 2008 17:31:10 GMT -5
Coda's apprehensions at entering a new area were momentarily paused as she was suddenly flung backwards onto her haunches by an unseen force. It took her a few moments to shake off her dizziness and focus her spinning vision on the small dog in front of her.
It was a curious sight. Coda had never seen a Corgi before - especially not one covered in what she normally figured to be human accessories - and she sat, staring, for a few extra heartbeats after the smaller canine had spoken before finally gathering her wits about her and speaking herself:
"Oh," Coda started dazedly, "I um... just arrived... Well, I suppose I arrived a while ago but... I just decided to... stay? I guess that's what you could say, and," realizing she was rambling, Coda shook her head and ended with a more confident, "I'm new here."
It was a lame first impression, the Aussie dog knew, but it was the best she could do under the circumstances. She wasn't really used to speaking with other dogs - the best she could hope for during her travels had been a vague tolerance, and everything else was marred by territorial, mistrusting violence... When a dog spent most of its days in near-starvation and fighting for the littlest big of claimable space, it tended not to be a friendly creature, so Coda's experience with others hadn't been encouraging.
This was a new place, though, and this dog didn't seem to have the slightest hint of malice about her, and Coda felt a blossoming hope that, just maybe, this place could become a home to her, rather than just a place to stay.
"My name is Coda," she said with renewed enthusiasm. "It's nice to meet you, Saf."
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Post by [.¥.6.3.R on Jul 19, 2008 17:42:05 GMT -5
"My name is Coda," she said in response to Safira. "It's nice to meet you, Saf."
The corgi's stumpy little tail thrashed happily. "So polite you are, young'un. You must've had good parents. So what brings you to our haphazardly dull little city? That is, if you don't mind an old dog prying." She laughed.
Safira had met other dogs new to the city. Most of them took one look at the scared and bleak concrete jungle and turned tail, but maybe this sweet female would be different. The short dog loved new friends - they broke the monotony of living one's life alone.
"You must have traveled a long way to get here, too! If you'll bear with my annoying self for few minutes, I can weave the story of our city here for you. It's more history than the current standings. But, it won't hurt my feelings none if you decline. This ol' heart's harder than that."
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Post by johnny on Jul 19, 2008 18:53:23 GMT -5
Ignoring the mention of parents (she didn't know where her sweet disposition came from, but her mother had been tough and her father had been carelessly absent her entire life - her manners definitely weren't a product of good upbringing), Coda settled herself into a more dignified position - she'd still been sitting a little off-center from her collision with Saf. Her ears perked up at the mention of a story.
"I'd love to hear about this place," she said, "It'd probably be good for me to learn a little backstory before wandering around in a strange place... Plus, I really like a good story... It is a good story, right? I mean, a city with no humans? I didn't think I'd ever see a thing like that... Even the forest has humans in some places! And this is human lands, they're not on. It's so weird, so not like them, isn't it? I mean, usually they're all over the place, taking everything and controlling everything and my mother always said they'd likely claim a dog's hide for their own, man was so greedy, and -"
Coda stopped abruptly, realizing she'd been talking in circles again. She had a tendency to do that when she was nervous or excited, and the embarrassing habit made her skin flare up with a blush that was hidden beneath brown and white-tan fur. She didn't think she'd ever been more glad to have a full, concealing coat than she was at that moment.
"I uh, I mean... It'd be great... To hear about this city."
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Post by [.¥.6.3.R on Jul 20, 2008 13:35:16 GMT -5
"I'd love to hear about this place," Coda said, "It'd probably be good for me to learn a little back story before wandering around in a strange place... Plus, I really like a good story... It is a good story, right? I mean, a city with no humans? I didn't think I'd ever see a thing like that... Even the forest has humans in some places! And this is human lands, they're not on. It's so weird, so not like them, isn't it? I mean, usually they're all over the place, taking everything and controlling everything and my mother always said they'd likely claim a dog's hide for their own, man was so greedy, and -"
She stopped suddenly and lowered her head a little, embarrassed, perhaps. Safira gave an amused snort. At least she isn't shy.
"I, uh, I mean... It'd be great... To hear about this city."
"Make yourself comfy then, honey, it's a long tale to weave." The corgi turned her sapphire gaze to the sky and pondered for a minute where to start. "I'll start back roughly four years ago, when strange things first started happening..."
She poured out the story of the city. Everything from the first earthquakes that started the evacuation of the humans, to the military bomb testing that nearly ended it for the dogs, to the rise of the strays as they are today. It was not a pleasant tale to tell, and the corgi often rose up on her hind legs or crouched down to emphasize certain details. She ended with:
"And that is where we stand today. Dogs have become the kings of an abandoned land. As far as I have heard from the gossip that gets around, only one dog has set up a territory and pack. In the Cracked, I think she is. The rest of the land is still widely available for the taking, provided you can keep it defended."
"Sorry again for boring you with such a long story, honey." Saf appologized. "Hopefully it was... helpful in some way."
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Post by johnny on Jul 20, 2008 14:16:20 GMT -5
Coda was absolutely enthralled with the story of the city's history. Her heart started up faster as the really frightening bits, calmed down during the lull between them, and her eyes were wide with excitement by the end of the tale. Though she hadn't much experience with stories, she could see that this Corgi was a master storyteller, emphasizing places with gestures and posturing to make the emotion come out clearly where emotion was needed. When she finished, informing Coda of the free lands up for grabs around the city, the young Aussie's curiosity was piqued.
"No, no," she assured the smaller dog, "I loved the story. It was really informative, and exciting, and... Could I make a good leader of one of these packs? What do you think, huh?" she tilted her half-spotted brown head to the side and seemed to be talking to both herself and the Corgi simultaneously. "I've always wondered what it'd be like to be a leader of a really good pack, you know... I saw them in some of the cities my mother and I went to, and they were all so intimidating and all the single strays really looked up to them... I wondered what that'd be like all the time..."
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Post by [.¥.6.3.R on Jul 20, 2008 14:55:16 GMT -5
"No, no," the Aussie said, "I loved the story. It was really informative, and exciting, and... Could I make a good leader of one of these packs? What do you think, huh?" She tilted her brown-spotted head to the side. She seemed to be addressing herself more than Safira. "I've always wondered what it'd be like to be a leader of a really good pack, you know... I saw them in some of the cities my mother and I went to, and they were all so intimidating and all the single strays really looked up to them... I wondered what that'd be like all the time..."
The corgi smiled fondly at the female. She was so new to the town, yet she had an air of self-confidence that put many dogs to shame. Had it not been for her short height, Saf would have touched noses with the Shepard. "The city needs more than one leader. This dog that rules the Cracked is as hard as her land. Maybe we need a dog who is just and kind to come to power."
Safira shook again, rattling her bangles and assorted trinkets. "I will offer my prayers to the gods for your well-being, what ever path you may choose in life, my new friend."
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Post by johnny on Jul 20, 2008 22:16:52 GMT -5
The young dog sat up a little straighter, filled with a mixture of pride and pleasant awkwardness at the Corgi's kind words. It wasn't often that Coda was praised - especially not since she's spent the last few months entirely on her own - and the experience was emboldening. It made her want to run out and start searching for good territory to start her pack off with, and in her excitement Coda stood and nearly bounded off without saying goodbye to the small dog that had made her feel so welcome in the strange lands.
"Thank you," Coda said sincerely, turning to look Safira in the eye. She smiled the way that dogs do - tongue lolling out, head tilted at a funny, odd angle, but her eyes glittered with serious gratitude. "When I'm a big, formidable name around here, I promise I'll let you onto my territory whenever you want... Consider it an open invitation, Saf."
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Post by [.¥.6.3.R on Jul 20, 2008 22:49:51 GMT -5
Safira's words brought confidence to the female: her posture straightened and she gazed at the world with a new eagerness in here eyes. She stood and made a motion to leave, but stopped and turned her mixed color gaze upon the Corgi.
"Thank you," Coda's tone was sincere. "When I'm a big, formidable name around here, I promise I'll let you onto my territory whenever you want... Consider it an open invitation, Saf."
"I humbly accept such an offer, Coda... or should I say, Alphess Coda? Best of luck to you."
Safira smiled at the female, and turned to make her leave. She could say today was worth something.
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