038 (Voice/Video) And, all the while, coyote keeps on singing....

[painhumbles]

[There's some scratching sounds on the microphone and what to human ears will sound like a frustrated dog's growling is actually Gabriel swearing and trying to urge HIS NEWFOUND PAWS to operate the controls on his journal. After a moment of cojoling, the video clicks on and there's an EXTREME CLOSE-UP OF A PAIR OF AMBER EYES AND A SNOUT... And then

Comments

VOICE - ANIMAL SPEAKYNESS

[whateverthemess]

[Growling, scritching, and then a Murphyvoice.] At least we can talk.

SPAAAM.

[chicagoshope]

*Harry watches her a moment, that calm stillness wolves have when they're waiting for the other person to decide which way this encounter is going to go, before he remembers he was here for a reason and oh hay, that's Murphy, remember?

He huffs and moves all the way into the room, flopping down and putting his head in his paws* Why didn't you tell me this job came with fur?

SPAAAM.

[whateverthemess]

...Harry? [Murphy takes a tentative step toward him, then another, slowly forcing herself toward the big creature despite her misgivings.

She snuffles at his fur, detecting the faintest traces of leather, woodsmoke and dust that she unconsciously associates with Harry underneath all the animalish smells. She relaxes and sits down next to him, leaning against his neck.] If I knew it did, I might have reconsidered.

SPAAAM.

[chicagoshope]

*he sniffs back at her before licking her in a reassurng manner* I doubt it. We both probably would have taken it anyway.

SPAAAM.

[painhumbles]

[Gabriel decides, meanwhile, that it's a lot harder to be master of your emotions when you're an animal and have actual hackles to get up, so Sam gets to be sitting beside a slightly controlled coyote threat display- bristly fur, hackles up, slight growl, etc.]

Flood hit you a little late, huh, bucko?

Re: SPAAAM.

[bythe_books]

[Sam's first instinct is to let out a low growl at the sight of a wolf, but he relaxes as the newcomer's identified as Harry. He glances over at Gabriel, not missing the coyote's agitation.]

Anyone else feel like a run?

SPAAAM.

[chicagoshope]

*Harry growls back at Gabriel and lifts his head*

Maybe it just couldn't let you be the big one for once. *This flood really isn't going to be good for his practice of calm rational reactions*

SPAAAM.

[painhumbles]

[Gabriel looks down at Sam and then stands, moving over to Harry, all aggression replaced with casual indifference.]

Only if I can run circles around the big guy. [He gives Harry a good hard whack in the chest with his tail as he passes that can only have been intentional.

He pauses briefly and then grabs Murphy in his mouth- GENTLY, DAMMIT, HE'S NOT AN ANIMAL- and carries her back over to the other side of the room at a steady trot. Look. Harry's a giant. He is keeping her from being stepped on. It's totally not rooted in petty jealousy.]

SPAAAM.

[whateverthemess]

[Murphy goes very, very still after the initial yelp and flail, dangling from between Gabriel's jaws with the most scandalized look her doggy face can manage.]

What. Do you think. You are doing.

SPAAAM.

[painhumbles]

[Gabriel at first attempts to tell her, "What does it look like I'm doing," but it comes out as a series of muffled growls, because it's really hard to talk with your mouth full of Murphy. He lowers her head and places her back on the floor and looks pointedly innocent.]

Carrying you over the threshold. Except Harry's blocking the door, so I had to settle for carrying you four feet back over this way.

SPAAAM.

[chicagoshope]

*hi Gabriel, have an agitated wolf pouncing you the second Murphy is clear.

What? He can't help it. It's a dominance display.*

SPAAAM.

[painhumbles]

[OH YOU DID NOT JUST CHALLENGE HIS ALPHA MALE STATUS, HARRY. NOT COOL.

A normal coyote would stay pinned and slink away when it was sure it wasn't going to get EATEN BY THE GIANT WOLF. Gabriel, unfortunately, had a reputation to protect and the benefit of being stronger than the average coyote. He went down under Harry's weight and immediately snapped his jaws up to get a tight grip on his throat, snarling.]

SPAAAM.

[chicagoshope]

*YOU CHALLENGED FIRST PIPSQUEAK.

Here's hoping Harry's experience with fighting as a wolf gives him a sliiiight advantage. Not likely, but he can hope. He hunches his shoulders to protect his throat and tries to bite Gabriel's head.*

SPAAAM.

[whateverthemess]

[Murphy lets out a snarl that sounds like a broken wind-up toy and dives between the two of them, her paws on Gabriel (one of them in his eye) and her teeth turned Harry's direction. The snarl is clear in her voice--and entirely intimidating.]

That's enough, both of you! What's the matter with you two?

SPAAAM.

[whateverthemess]

[Murphy lets out a snarl that sounds like a broken wind-up toy and dives between the two of them, her paws on Gabriel (one of them in his eye) and her teeth turned Harry's direction. The snarl is clear in her voice--and entirely intimidating.]

That's enough, both of you! What's the matter with you two?

SPAAAM.

[painhumbles]

[Gabriel flails at both HEAD IN HARRY'S MOUTH AND PAW IN HIS EYE and tries to shoulder Harry onto his back. He lets go of Harry's neck and jerks away from Murphy... And it's really hard to headbutt someone when you're practically trying to headbutt their throat.... From the inside.]

He drew first blood!