[Open Post: Tristan] She always loved to swim away / Maybe she'll find an island

[tricky_bowman]

One crisp morning, Tristan comes barging into the common room. The furs are still on his back, as are the heavy boots he strapped around his feet and calves, and as he comes to the hearth, he scatters snow everywhere

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[death_dawg]

Along might come a smallish black dog, trotting in from the porch, snow on his coat, and he's clearly in a hurry to get warm. "Brrrrr," the critter mutters, pausing and shaking to get the snow off, then trots over to the fire, turning around three times before flopping down on the hearth rug with an audible "Whew...."

And I've heard that there was actual measurable *snow* in Egypt earlier this month!

[tricky_bowman]

Tristan is huddled with Husdent on the couch, the great Dane's head resting on the knight's lap. The dog is snoring, the knight is meditating, and for a moment, he thinks he's heard something.

Husdent's ears twitch in his sleep, his nostrils flare.

"Oh, hello," says the knight, "a little terrier mutt, have we here, aye?"

[death_dawg]

The black dog lifts its head, wagging its tail slowly, but friendly. And then it replies in a surprisingly deep and even more surprisingly human-sounding voice, "You got the mutt part right: I'm mostly Egyptian sight hound, or what some call a Basenji, with some jackal in the mix."

[tricky_bowman]

OMGWTFBBQHEARTATTACKTIEMZ!!!!!! If Tristan wasn't already sitting, with Husdent on his lap, he would have sprung from his seat. As it is, though, his desire to keep his dog safe is enough to force him to control his impulse.

"... what sorcery is this, a talking dog?"

He's going to be fine in a minute. He used to talk to a dragon, after all.

[death_dawg]

"No sorcery, just something I'm able to do," the black dog replies, turning the bottoms of his paws upward slightly, almost like someone holding up their open palms. "I'm Jacquel."

[tricky_bowman]

"So you are," the knight replies. "I'd heard of your kind before," from Palomides, of course, "but the Saracen never told me you could talk."

He's bemused, and Husdent is staring hard at the talking dog, though not growling or moving in anyway.

[death_dawg]

We wonder what Husdent can see about this odd critter (and typist is welcome to improvise).

"I'm different that way. Most of 'em haven't the gift," the dog replies, lifting one hind foot to dislodge some melting snow from behind one ear.

[tricky_bowman]

"Aye," the knight replies, "for if my boy here could talk, doubtless he would have many a moon ago."

He pauses, looking down at Husdent, pets his head gently.

"Or would you, old friend?"

His tone is very tender.

Husdent pauses from his staring at Jacquel to look up at Tristan and whines quietly. It's likely he's bemused and confused by the whole thing, and can see a much larger dog than his master can.

[death_dawg]

"Sure he'd have a lot to say, be straightforward, too: don't think there's a more honest or open critter than a dog, but I'm likely biased," he says, dryly. Turning thoughtful, he adds, "They can see what humans can't see or don't see."

[tricky_bowman]

"Aye, I know," Tristan replies. "And what would he say, an he could talk, Master Canis?"

As it were, Husdent would tell Tristan he loves him and it's silly to moop after Isolde, and that he should look differently upon Iphigenia.

Ah, if a dog could talk....