Kondog wrote:I feel like I came late to a party- another great update Daggy your ability to convey emotions is absolutely amazing! -excellent work truly.
I try my best! Still feels a bit off, but that's probably just the modest side of me talking.
Kondog wrote:in my opinion- 2.2K - 5.0K is the perfect size for fan fic update without getting too overwhelming for the reader, you do an excellent job at balance! and don't worry about worry being extremely wordy as you're in good company.
Totally on topic, I just realized how hard it is to write a chapter when you have literally no planning for what's going to happen.
This is so incredibly difficult, hahaha.
P.S. Definitely going with Monday/Friday 1 week, wednesday next week. (Last update was on a friday, today is wednesday...etc.) That'll be good!
P.P.S. Getting quotes to work properly with colors is amusing. Learning all sorts of silly things. ^.^
Alright, I finished the update. I'm not entirely happy with it, but a lot happier with it now than I was 30 minutes ago. Oh well.
I hope you enjoy it!
====Chapter 6: Attraction====
Dag’s room – 7:30 AM
Lola woke up gently the next morning. Dazed at first, she felt something on her side and freaked out, jumping out of the bed she was in and landing in a heap on the ground. She looked up at the bed to find Dag there, still sleeping. Upon closer inspection, via a glance around the room, she found that last night wasn’t just a good dream. She stood up and smiled at the sleeping dog.
I hope you always know exactly what to say, Dag. I could use that, she thought as she approached the bed again. She reached out to pet his head, when someone burst into the room, startling Lola again.
“Dag have you seen…Oh, hey Lola. I was looking around for you! Why are you in here,” Cali rapidly said, energy flowing through her. Lola sighed as she looked at her little sister.
“I was just…checking on him. That’s all. Now shoo,” Lola said, the hint of annoyance in her voice. She glanced over at the dog again, who was beginning to stir. He looked up, bleary eyed, at the two cats standing in his room.
“Oh, hey you two. What’s with all the racket this morning? Can’t a dog sleep in for once,” Dag asked, yawning.
“Nothing, nothing. We’re leaving, you go back to sleep. You deserve it,” Lola said.
Especially after what you said last night… “Come along Lola. Let’s go play or something.”
“Yaaaaayyyy, you never want to play with me! Let’s go,” Cali said, ever full of energy, as she practically dragged Lola out of the door. Lola snuck one last glance at the gray corgi before Cali slammed the door shut.
A few hours later…
Dag was still asleep while Lola played with Cali. Well, halfheartedly played with Cali. Cali couldn’t tell, but Lola was extremely distracted by the thoughts running through her mind.
Why can’t I get him out of my mind? Because of his speech last night? He only told me he was going to protect me, no matter what. Do I value that so much…what is going on… Cali eventually got her out of her mind by complaining about breakfast. Stopping their play, the two cats went to the kitchen to grab some food. Even during their breakfast, Lola’s mind would not stop. Right around that time, Dag came into the kitchen to get his own breakfast. Lola tensed up the moment he entered, but tried to stay relaxed so as to not draw his attention.
After he poured his own bowl of dog food, he sat at the table with his two sisters and began to eat. Cali and Dag talked but Lola couldn’t hear anything. She was still buried in her thoughts, slowly eating. Dag ate quickly, finishing before the two cats before cleaning up after himself. The sound of the door opening brought Lola out of her mind once again, if only briefly.
“Dag, are you leaving,” Lola called out, voice a bit shaky.
“Yeah, I was going to go to the park. Is something wrong, Lola,” he asked as he entered the kitchen again. Lola blushed and went back to eating.
“No, nothing. I was just wondering. Have fun,” she replied, somewhat quietly. Dag looked at her, worry on his face, before turning around.
“Alright. I’ll be back for lunch in a few hours. Have fun, little sisters!”
“Bye Dag! I’ll miss you,” Cali yelled to him before looking back at her sister.
Lola looked up at Cali, who had a serious look on her face for probably the first time in her life. “Lola, what’s wrong? Something is, I can tell. You’ve been acting weird all morning, especially around Dag.”
Lola frowned and glanced away from Cali. “Nothing’s wrong. Nothing at all. I’m going to go to my room for a bit. Watch TV or something,” Lola replied, walking swiftly out of the kitchen, leaving behind a very confused Cali.
Meanwhile, in the park…
Dag sat down at the tree he had met Fox and King at. Fox had told him to be here around the current time. As Dag sat there, wondering what was up with Lola this morning, he saw the light-gray husky in the distance. He started waving at him, and then went back to looking at the sky.
As Fox got closer, within hearing range, Dag said, “The sky is beautiful today. Really clear.”
Fox nodded, and then plopped down beside Dag. “That’s why I love this spot so much. A perfect view of the sky, from the safety of the shade. It’s quite nice.”
Fox looked at Dag again, and asked, “Is something wrong? You look a bit…off.”
Dag shook his head and replied, “No, not really. It’s just that…you know how I said I now live with two cats? Well, they’re both younger than me, and they’ve…well, before their current owner, they were essentially strays. One of them came to my room, crying from a nightmare. I told her I’d always be there to protect her, older brother instinct and such. This morning, she was acting very…strange towards me. I’m just confused is all. But that’s not why we’re here, is it?”
Fox smiled and said, “You really are a good guy. Well, I was going to bring along my squeaky bone so we could play, but I seem to have misplaced it. That or it’s a King’s place, I’m not entirely sure.” Fox paused, thinking for a moment.
A voice, further away, called out to them. “Oy, new dog, you’re in my spot. You better move before I’m forced to take action.” Dag looked around for a bit before finding the source of the voice. A tan and white corgi that was walking directly toward them, sour look planted on his face, holding a squeaky bone. Fox laughed at the sight.
“Ey, King, no need to be that way! He’s a friend, you silly dog,” Fox said when King got to them, rubbing his head. King tore himself away from Fox’s grip, and stared at Dag.
“I totally wasn’t joking. Move,” King said to Dag in a flat voice. Dag quickly scooted to his right, allowing King to take his spot. King collapsed on the spot, panting heavily.
“You two *pant* don’t know how fast *pant* I ran *pant* to get here. *pant* Not to mention, keeping *pant* a straight face while saying that,” King said, starting to laugh. Dag just stared at him, not sure of how to react.
King noticed that. “Oh, come on Dag. Just kidding,” he said, punching Dag’s arm lightly. Dag laughed nervously back at him.
“You know he hasn’t been around pets for long King. I’m sure you confused him quite nicely there,” Fox said.
Dag nodded, and then said, shakily, “I uh, didn’t want to make you mad like I did to Bino. But, I guess I’ve just got to learn how to handle situations like that.”
King stared at the dog, thinking
He’s really not comfortable in social situations yet. I guess…we’ll have to help him. He then beamed and said, “It’s alright. I shouldn’t have done that to you. You told me of how you haven’t had many interactions…so your reaction was acceptable. My fault on that.” He then leaned against the tree.
“Oh, Fox, I brought your squeaky bone,” handing it to Fox. “I had forgotten about it until you reminded me. How did that even end up in my house,” King asked.
“I’m sure we were playing and you had to go and just accidentally took it. It’s no problem. So, you two wanna play,” Fox asked, excited. It’d been a while.
“Sure,” the two corgis responded. And off they went, King and Fox helping Dag learn how to be a dog with other dogs.
All the while, a black cat sat in a nearby tree, watching the scene closely.
Two hours and many wrestling matches later…
King, Fox, and Dag all collapsed in a pile on the squeaky bone, laughing. No one won, but then, no one lost.
“Oh my goodness, what have I been missing all of my life,” Dag said when he managed to stop laughing. “That was so much fun.”
“You sound like King did when he first got here. I played with him with this same squeaky bone when he seemed like a lonely little puppy,” Fox said, beaming at King.
King blushed and punched Fox’s shoulder. “I am no lonely puppy. I was just…upset. But, squeaky bones are quite fun. Never thought I could have so much fun with…such little effort,” King said, laughing.
Dag smiled at the two dogs. “Thanks for that. I really needed that. I haven’t had that much fun with someone since…forever.” Dag’s stomach grumbled after that, making him look away in embarrassment and the other two dogs to start laughing again.
“Looks like someone needs some food,” Fox said, trying to pat Dag’s belly but missing. King howled with laughter, causing something in a nearby tree to dash away. The three dogs stared at the dashing figure, before turning back to each other and shrugging.
“Well, I guess I should go back home. My mom should have my lunch ready. Will you guys be here for a while,” Dag asked.
“Eh, I’ll probably go get something to eat soon myself. I don’t know about Fox. He might come bum some food off of me,” King replied, grinning at Fox, who whistled and looked away innocently.
Dag chuckled. “Alrighty. Well, do you guys want to come back here perhaps in a few hours? I’d like to play some more.”
Fox and King looked at each other, and then nodded. “I’m sure we could make it out here. Meet up under the tree again,” Fox asked.
All three nodded. “Then it’s settled. Meet up here after lunch,” King said. “See you later, Dag. Enjoy your lunch.”
“You two, as well,” Dag replied as he turned and headed towards his house.
When he reached the sidewalk, he ran into a familiar figure. Literally. After dragging himself off the ground, he reached down to help up the cat he had knocked over, only to gasp. “Lola? What’re you doing out here,” he asked, concerned. He helped her to her feet.
“Oh, I was just…wandering around the neighborhood. I figured I should meet new pets, since you’re out here meeting…new people…” she trailed off, staring at the ground.
Dag was confused. “What? You mean you never went out to meet the pets of the neighborhood? Why wouldn’t you want to,” he asked.
Lola glared at him. “I explained it last night, but you seem to have forgotten. I didn’t want to get close to anyone…” she lightened up her tone a bit. “I just didn’t want to be abandoned again. If I became close friends with someone and then their family moved out…I know it’s not really abandoning but that’s how it would feel. After the talk last night, and thinking about it most of the morning, I decided that I might as well give it a shot.”
Dag smiled at her. “Oh, Lola, you’re so silly. I’m heading home right now to eat lunch. Would you care to join me,” he asked her.
Lola practically exploded. “Of course! I mean, yeah, I guess I could go. I am a bit hungry…” she paused.
Dag didn’t notice the ghastly look on her face. “Then let’s go! I’m really hungry, especially after all that playing in the park,” Dag exclaimed, then dashed off, leaving Lola behind.
“I bet you are...the three of you played for hours straight,” Lola said to herself quietly, before running to try and catch the small dog running ahead of her.
(
Author's Note: The only part of this I had planned out was up until the cats left the bedroom. The rest was my brain trying to get a workable plot going, lol
It came out decently I suppose. Not as good as what I wanted, by far. =(
Tried something different with transitions. Let me know if that seems a bit better than just lines. ^.^ Next update coming Monday! Stay tuned.)