Wrong Dog (Jay)

[Kiba]

Rika

The cream and white dog sniffed the grass underneath her paws. The smell of dog was everywhere, as well as the smell of humans. She didn't mind either as long as they didn't mind her. After all, she was a stray and many humans looked down on that. Especially when she tried to play with their dogs or their children. She was often chased off, running with her tail between her leg.

Her fur was messy and filled with dust and dirt. Still, her eyes were filled with happiness and excitement. She had a good feeling today. As if she might meet someone new. Perhaps a new friend? Or a new enemy. She wasn't sure, but she would try and make them a friend, whoever they were.

At the thought, her tail began to wag quickly. She was extremely excited and happy. She wanted to jump and play.

[jayRIOT !]

Roz hated coming this far into the park.  Her senses were nearly overrun with the movement, the noise, smells; the emotions of everyone walking bye were thick in the air and swirled around her thick pelt, pulling her attention first one way then the next, and finally overwhelming her with so much second-hand thought that Roz felt she was going to explode.  She hated seeing all the dogs happy and loved with their owners, hated seeing what she'd lost.

But unfortunately, desperate times call for desperate measures.  Roz's stomach was screaming at her, the poor stray felt like she was going to keep over at any minute.  She was tired of going into town for scraps; after her last experience, she wanted to keep away from all that for a while and sulk.  It seemed every time she decided to go somewhere in town something went wrong, and she ended up humiliated or chased off and it was just about on her last nerve.  So, Roz had come here to the park, seeking to stay in the shadows and slink around near the trash bins.  Thankfully, it seemed that food left over here was more fresh than the food in the city, and often tasted much better and was more worth the scrounging around.

Slinking through the underbrush in the trees to avoid detection, Roz kept her mocha-colored eyes peeled for a good time to sneak out and search for some scraps when a familiar tan pelt caught her attention.  Looking on curiously, Roz watched the dog traipse about, trying to decide if it was who she thought it was.  From this distance it was hard to tell, and unluckily for her, the wind was not in her favor so she couldn't even go on scent information.  The body language and overall look of the dog seemed pretty obviously Claire to Roz, however, and she took a half step out of the underbrush and barked out to her friend.

"Claire!  Hey, that you?"

[Kiba]

The she-dog's ears perked as she heard a bark. Her head turned to stare at the dog, whom was clearly looking at her. She wasn't a Claire, but the name did sound familiar. Even so, she had a feeling it was from a long time ago when she was still a pup. She didn't remember, but she walked over towards the dog any ways.

"No, I'm not Claire. Sorry, ma'am. My name is Rika," she said. She wasn't used to getting confused with other dogs. Actually, it hasn't happened since her mother always got her confused with her sister. That was a long time ago, though. After all, there weren't many blonde border collies. At least, that's what she had heard.

[jayRIOT !]

As the dog approached, Roz was able to catch a whiff of her scent and realized with a sinking stomach that it wasn't actually Claire; she'd called out to the wrong dog!  Embarrassment rooted her to the spot, though the she-dog did think about fleeing and hoping the case of mistaken identity would just die out on its own and she could die of humiliation in peace.  She also hoped that maybe the dog would decide not to talk to this mixed breed that had called them the wrong name and would walk away, but it soon became apparent that they weren't going to.  Oh gosh; they seemed intent on introducing themselves to Roz so she didn't get their name wrong again.  Ugh!  Couldn't she just...not?

Lowering her eyes in embarrassment as the light colored dog spoke, Roz tried to offer a friendly smile that showed her realization at her own idiocy, but could barely manage a twitch of her maw.  Maybe this would just be quick and painless.  Maybe this she-dog wouldn't stick around long.

"Sorry, Rika," she mumbled, knowing that her skin beneath her fur was probably blood red by now.  "I...I thought you were someone else, you look...similar.  Sorry.  About that."  Knowing she sounded as awkward as she felt, the Collie mix's ears slumped forward in defeat, accepting her humiliation humbly.  She should have known better.  Even if it was Claire, what then?  Roz was looking for food, and wasn't really in the mood to play or talk much (but then, when was she?).  She would have called Claire over for a simple "hello how are you" and then been on her way.  What would the point have even been?  This was exactly why Roz shouldn't get close to others.  She always ended up doing something silly and looking like a fool.  What did a dog even need friends for, anyway?!  Roz wasn't a big hunter, so she didn't need assistance with that.  Nor was she much of a talker, so there wasn't much point there.  And she hated being in the spotlight at all, so companionship just seemed silly to her.  And now she had even more reason to re-enforce this mentality.


word count; 369
tagged; Kiba

notes; She's so dorky x)
speech; 1e8fb6

[Kiba]

"That's okay. Getting others confused with someone else happens. Nothing to be embarrassed for," she explain, watching as the other she-dog slumped down. She gave her a friendly smile and nudged her shoulder with her snout. "Whats your name?" she asked.

She wagged her tail as she sat down. She began to wonder who she had been confused for. How many blonde border collies were around this area? She would definitely like to meet the other one. It would be interesting to see what they would do.

"What are you doing out here anyways?" she asked, changing the topic so she didn't look as if she was ignoring the other dog.

[jayRIOT !]

Instead of just correcting the mistake and moving on, it seemed as though this Rika dog was going to stick around and have a conversation.  Roz tried to send her mental urge to go away, but it didn't seem she was getting them.  It wasn't bad enough that Roz had embarrassed herself yet again, but now she was going to have to suffer through a conversation as well!  She just wanted to slink away and find some food, then find a place to hide out and not ever be noticed again.  Why was it she put herself into situations like this?  Urg!

In response to the other she-dog's questions, Roz, still completely deflated from her moment of humiliation, woofed softly, "I, uh...Roz.  I'm Roz.  I'm just looking for food."  As if to accentuate her claim, Roz's stomach gave a few light rumbles and her mouth watered at the drifting scents of nearby food.  It was certainly one of the things she missed most about her home - she knew she'd get fed, and she knew when.  She'd lost so much weight since her home abandoned her.  Her humans had taken more than just her home when they kicked her out; didn't they know how rough it was for strays?  She wasn't sure what she'd done wrong, but surely it couldn't warrant scavenging to survive.

She found herself wondering if Rika was a stray, too.  She figured she probably was, as she didn't see a human nearby her and they typically kept their eyes pretty closely on their dogs out here at the park.  She wondered if Rika was looking for some food too, or if she'd already found some.  If the latter case were true, Roz would have to ask her where she found her food, and if there was any left.  The parks were usually kept pretty litter-free after the people left, so abandoned food was difficult to come by here.  But it was about the only option Roz was left with at the moment, so she took it.  It was better than starving, anyway.


word count; 346
tagged; Kiba
notes; <3
speech; 1e8fb6

[Kiba]

She tilted her head at the name. She stared at the she-dog for a moment, repeating the name in he head so that she wouldn't forget. Of course she wouldn't forget, though. It wasn't as if she knew many dogs as it was. It was mainly just her. And occasionally that really hick dog that came around named Country. Other than that, there was no one.

"Oh, you're hungry? You want some of my extra food? I have scraps from earlier, begging some humans as they had their picnic. I can just get more tomorrow," she said. She looked up at the sky, wondering if it would rain tomorrow. If not, there would surely be some more picnic-ers out here. If so, then she would just tip over trash cans in the neighborhood. It wasn't too hard.

[jayRIOT !]

Stunned at the offer the blond Collie extended, Roz stared for a moment before realizing she should take the befuddled expression off her face.  This other dog was offering to share her food with her?  Food that she'd begged for?  That was one of the more dangerous ways to acquire scraps, Roz had always thought.  What if the humans reported the begging dog?  They could go back to that horrible, scary, cold, smelly, noisy shelter and be locked away behind those awful bars.  This Rika must be very brave.  That or very charismatic.  Some dogs were just charming enough that people didn't mind them or their begging; Roz obviously wasn't one of those dogs.  How could she be?  Her owners left her, and then their pups gave her away to that awful place where all those dogs were barking and those faces pressed in on her and she wasn't allowed to have any alone time, any freedom from the craziness.  It was why she was so inverted now.

Skeptical that this dog would really just offer up her food to a stranger like that, Roz cautiously gave a shrug and barked, "I don't have anything to give you in return for the food.  Nowhere I call home, so no shelter.  Nothing to offer you.  I'll just...keep looking around," she finished, her nose probing the air for the scent of anything that could be snatched up by her when the humans weren't looking.  Strays didn't just give away their spoils to those less fortunate than them without wanting something in return unless they were genuinely kind dogs.  And Roz hadn't met many of those that were strays; typically the kinder dogs had homes.  Roz, apparently, hadn't been kind enough to her owners and that was why she was homeless now.


word count; 300
tagged; Kiba

notes; sorry it's so short and poopy!
speech; 1e8fb6