(Untitled)

[notjustnarrator]

[ooc: Here on and off all day! Boo for homework, but yay for Christmas tree putting-up... ness! :D]

Outside, there is a figure standing near the edge of the lake with arms folded.

It's December, now, and it's cold.

There's some snow on the ground and the sky is grey, threatening to lay a fresh coat of white on the ground below at any moment.

Nick's

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[get_help_boy]

Not too far away, there's a kid who's glad that he came to Milliways with his coat and gloves on.

It's too early for snow yet at home, but there's snow here and he's playing with it quietly, though he does seem to be talking to himself.

...his mother said he shouldn't, since it makes him look lonely, but she's not here and he is lonely, so he figures it should be okay. It's not as if any of the neighbors were here, after all.

[notjustnarrator]

Nero is first to catch sight of the boy and he trots over slowly, sniffing at the air.

He's a very friendly wolf, so he sits nearby, looking curious.

[get_help_boy]

Timmy turns to see who's walked over... and startles himself right onto his backside.

Then he smiles and reaches out a hand.

"Hi, boy. What're you doing out here? Are you from out in the woods?"

[notjustnarrator]

Nero sniffs at the hand, then paws at it.

He smells friendly!

In response to the boy's question, he glances back at Nick, who hasn't moved from his spot.

[get_help_boy]

"Is he your master, boy?" he asks the wolf... rather unhelpfully. Then he turns to Nick.

"Hey mister, do you mind me playing with your dog, sir?"

[notjustnarrator]

Nick turns suddenly at the sound of the voice, a bit startled, then smiles softly at the boy.

"Of course not," he grins. "His name is Nero."

[get_help_boy]

Timmy gives a beaming grin before turning to Nero.

"Nero, boy? That's your name? That's a pretty good name, I think. Do you like to be petted, boy?"

[notjustnarrator]

Nero makes a quiet, wolfish huffing noise.

That's a yes!

Nick, in the background, watches them with a small smile.

[get_help_boy]

Timmy grins and leans closer to start petting Nero's head, the other hand very gently scritching his ears.

"There you go, boy. Do you like that? My name's Timmy. Timmy Robinson."

[notjustnarrator]

Nero doesn't bark, but he does make other dog-like noises, including little huffygrunts that translate into "Yes! Hi!"

"He's a wolf, you know," Nick says, looking amused.

[get_help_boy]

Timmy's eyes get big and he looks at Nero again.

"A wolf, boy? Wow. I've never seen a wolf. Are they all so friendly, sir?"

[notjustnarrator]

"I don't think so," Nick says, smiling fondly at Nero. "He's a special wolf, not like the kind you'd find in the woods."

[get_help_boy]

"I've never been in the woods," he admits. "There are fences around the woods at home, of course. To keep out the ravening hordes of the undead."

Then he turns to the wolf with another bright smile.

"You're special, huh boy? Seem pretty special to me, Nero. Yeah, there's a good boy."

Scritchy scritchy petty petty.

[notjustnarrator]

The ravening whatnow of the what?

Nick's expression changes quickly, and even Nero looks a little confused, at that statement. His ears fall back and he tilts his head, whining softly.

"Ravening hordes of the undead?" he repeats, brows furrowed. "Zombies?"

[get_help_boy]

He nods rather cheerfully.

"Uh-huh."

Then his face falls a little.

"Though I guess they're just trying to be with people just like anyone else, you know? They can't help it that they like to eat flesh, after all."

Yes, he feels sorry for the zombies.

[notjustnarrator]

"I... don't know much of anything about zombies, I'm afraid," he confesses. "Except for the fact that they're undead and eat flesh."