considering how to make this work.

[purebred]

It's awfully kind of you to want to send me someplace to play...

But what will happen to the baby while I'm away?

Comments

[orestes]

[Yeah let's just ignore the talking dog question for the moment.]

Is there no one else who can look after your child?

[purebred]

I suppose Aunt Sarah will look after him. But I do hate the thought of him all alone.

[orestes]

Well, you're fortunate in that if your Aunt is there for him, he won't be alone.

[purebred]

[She looks so sad with those big puppy eyes. Enjolras, Aunt Sarah put her in a muzzle! A muzzle!]

Yes, that's true, I suppose. But I'm meant to protect him while Jim Dear and Darling are away.

[orestes]

[Okay the dog thing is getting really hard to ignore.]

... I suppose it's logical that they would expect a-- I beg your pardon, Mademoiselle, but my eyes are not playing tricks on me, are they?

[purebred]

[Blinking delicately.]

No. That is, I don't think that they are. Is something the matter? Have I done something... wrong?

[orestes]

It is just--

You're a dog, you realize. [Wait that's rude. Is it possible to be rude to a dog? It's probably possible to be rude to a talking dog.] Of course, you realize. I've simply never spoken to a dog before. [He pauses again.] Or rather, never one that spoke back to me.

[ofavalor]

A baby?

[purebred]

Yes. He's very small and he needs me to protect him.

[ofavalor]

You're his mother? And you mun wants to separate you??? That's awful!

[purebred]

Oh, no! I'm not his mother. Darling is his mother. But Darling has gone away...

[And who knows when she'll be back. A few days seems like such a long time.]

[ofavalor]

Oh, so a friend of yours...

Still, we can't let you mun take you away from the baby.

[purebred]

But what can we do? Aunt Sarah put me in a muzzle, and I don't even know where Tramp has gone!

[bellabellabella]

[Wait so in this place animals are... sentient too.....?


welp.

Now the question is whether or not she'll be scared of him. Most animals are, but most animals are smarter than a good many humans in that regard.]

The baby?

[purebred]

[How curious. This fellow doesn't smell like the other humans in her life. But he doesn't smell like a rat, so he is probably not going to attack her. Or the baby.]

Yes, that's right. I'm awfully worried for him.

[bellabellabella]

[Not like a rat, no. His scent is very cold.]

It's yours?

[Her thoughts don't seem to indicate as much, but admittedly he's never tried to read the mind of a dog thinking about her puppy. He's not sure if this distance would be normal.]

[purebred]

Not exactly. You see, he is Darling's baby. And Jim Dear's.

[And hers, too. Sort of. They all belong to her.]

[bellabellabella]

[This dog can't have much of a sense of self-preservation. It reminds him of Bella - and that thought makes him smile, a beautiful little crooked smile.]

I see.

And he was left to your care?

[purebred]

Yes. Aunt Sarah has come to visit and I'm to look after the house and the yard and the baby until Jim Dear and Darling come home.

[She's a very devoted creature, it's true.]

But there will be no one to look after them if I'm gone.

[ahounddog]

"Away"? Why, you don't look like you'd be so comfortable anywhere that's not your home. [Or inside of it!]

[purebred]

That's true, I guess. Is it really that obvious?

[ahounddog]

Well, I just can't see you in any wilderness, trackin' or huntin'.

[nocountpup]

Ah, go on, Pidge.

It could be fun!

[purebred]

But who'll look after the baby?

[!!!]

And what happened to you? You look... different.

[nocountpup]

Ma and pop will look after the baby.

[he's laying on his belly, chin on his arms and grinning that same old grin]

Only about half the time. Can't say I know why, just the way it is.