Timestamp: 5 Summer, 511 AV
Just before entering the General Store, a nondescript man pointed a finger at a black dog, commanding him to Guard. At just over four seasons old, Blitz hadn't yet reached his full growth, but his 90 lbs was sufficient to work. To an average passerby, it looked to be nothing more than a young woman spending an afternoon with her dog.
The dog turned to face the short woman and walked forward, directly into her while staring at her eyes. She backed away slowly until she was against the side of the store building. In a swift, playful looking gesture, Blitz jumped up on the young woman, his huge paws sinking onto her timid shoulders. She slid quickly down to the ground with a squeak of fright at all those teeth so close to her face. Her backside hit the dirt and raised a puff of dust around the dog and herself.
Blitz snapped in warning near her face at her unnecessary noise and stared at her with hard eyes. Although he was silent but for the closing of sharp teeth, his meaning was clear. Stay. Shut up.
After a full chime of staring down the girl into to total submission, Blitz spread his muscled furry self over the girl's crossed legs, effectively immobilizing her. With his butt against the building and his front paws splayed out over the property he laid down.
People moved in and out of the store, not many bothering to waste time looking at what was just a person and her dog. But if they looked closer, she was clearly filthy. Her wrists bore fresh rope burns and she sported a few bruises on one arm. The huge black dog looked to be protecting her from anyone who might hurt her at first glance. Anyone that had an inkling of what dogs were about would instantly recognize that this girl wanted to get as far from the black beast as possible.
Blitz watched the people, his large ears swiveling back and forth like radar, sorting and filtering the noisy jetsam of talk. He watched their postures, noting how tired some were and all the different sizes. The huge ebony dog licked his nose to catch scent better in the mingling crowd. Someone smelled of blood, human blood, and the older man walked swiftly, constantly looking over his shoulder.
The reek of cheap alcohol filled his nostrils and immediately put Blitz on full alert. That scent made most two-leggers stupid and more aggressive. Almost as if on cue, a drunkard stumbled toward the young woman with a leer on his bleary face. His blood shot eyes were small, beady and too close together.
"Hey pretty lady. Come 'ave a drink wit' me." He slurred, not noticing the black dog half in shadow against the building.
As if pulled up on strings, the large black dog rose slowly and deliberately, staring at the drunk who dared to step closer. Blitz was always fair and gave warning first before attacking in social situations. He was very polite for a dog. All the fur raised in a huge line over neck, down his back and to the tip of his brushy tail. He braced his legs stiffly forward, raised his tail very high and still and raised his massive head. Blitz bared his two inch incisors with a hefty share of gums and growled a polite warning for the intruder to back off. Now. Or else.
The very drunk man obviously didn't understand manners in dog language. Blitz took the next step. He gave one enormous, ear shattering bark, and flashed his teeth brazenly, flattening his ears to his head.
The drunk stumbled backwards at the posturing that was practically a game to Blitz. He turned away abruptly, tripping over his own feet in his haste to get away from the dog.
Blitz yawned and continued to stand over the girl's legs, their faces eye to eye. His dog breath stank of decayed meat and other strong, foul scents as he stared down the young woman. Her blue eyes were huge in her peaked white face and she didn't dare even move enough to breathe with a set of huge fangs that close. She squeezed her eyes shut in fear and Blitz approved her submissive display. He yawned hugely and stretched out full length along her legs again. Consistent, dominant posturing regardless of circumstance wasn't easy but Blitz managed it. Although a dog person would recognize the stress yawns immediately. |
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