The Sharing Sort

Writers: Cali, Eimi
Date Posted: 22nd June 2008

Characters: B'vin, D'cal, Foria
Description: B'vin tries to get rid of the unwanted canine.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 21 of Turn 4
Notes: This is the long overdue sequel to "Isn't He Cute".

B'vin had started to get worried. He'd asked around most of the afternoon, but no one had been interested in a canine. He'd talked to a beastmaster, but they'd just had a litter as well. The Stablemaster had been interested in another feline to hunt vermin, but had no use for canines who would startle the runners. The Kitchen said they'd take him when he was older and could work the spits, but that hadn't helped him since he had no intention of keeping him till then. He'd finally gotten a suggestion to put a notice up in the Dining Hall, and was rewarded with a response the next morning. "D'cal?" he slid off of Serenth's neck and gave Aosorath a pat as he walked past him into the weyr. "I've come for the canine, I found somebody to take it."

"Ah, so you didn't abandon the critter in my home, eh?" D'cal said as he stood with his fists on his hips and a little flash of fur darting in and out between his legs excitedly.

"Well, it crossed my mind, but thankfully it didn't come to that." B'vin joked. Getting rid of this pup was a great load off his shoulders and it put him in a good mood. "Yes, I agree. He's cute enough, but this experience has just reaffirmed that I am truly a feline person." Especially that now one of his favorite boots smelled like urine and his new riding straps had been chewed straight through.

B'vin was trying to grab the little furball to put him in the sack he came in, but every time he'd get his hands on him he wiggled out. "Come here you little mutt!" he cried as the pup crawled under the couch. D'cal resisted the urge to roll his eyes. What had that silly holder been thinking giving B'vin of all people a puppy. He got down on his knees and gave them a slap, talking in his sweetest babying voice, "It's ok, puppy. Come on. Come on. Come to daddy. Come on..."

The greenrider didn't know whether to be disgusted or relieved at the ease in which D'cal got the thing to crawl out and jump into his arms. He held the bag out as the slobbering thing was placed into it. "Thanks. You sure you want to keep it? You seem to have it trained well enough." "Oh, I'm sure," D'cal said with a sickeningly sweet smile. "Take him with all my wishes for a happy future with his new master."

*~*~*~*

"Here ya go." B'vin said happily as he held up the bag to the woman waiting at the designated meeting place. The pup's head stuck out and he gave a happy yip at all the attention being paid to him. "Oh look, Precious, a new friend," Foria grinned, bouncing a small dress-clad canine with a pink floral collar in her arms. "Isn't he cute?!" she exclaimed, bringing Precious in for a closer look. "Oh, he's just the right size for the new jacket I knitted him!"

B'vin felt a moment of pity for the pup as he watched _Precious_
scratch at the collar. "You are the woman I exchanged messages with right? You already have a Canine..." "Oh yes, but Precious asked mama to find her a friend, didn't you my little Precious," she said in a most annoying baby-talk tone. "And he's going to be such a handsome little fellow. I got it! Why don't we name him Handsome? Would you like that Precious? Would you like mama to name your friend Handsome?"

He didn't think the mutt looked very handsome himself, but if odd woman thought so, maybe the canine would find her a good home after all. "I should warn you, he slobbers alot." he added as he sat the bag down. The pup wiggled through the slack opening and raced out. "Oh that's all right, isn't it, Precious? You don't mind, do you. Do you want to meet your new friend? Let's meet your new friend." The woman crouched down and reached out to the little puppy. "Come here, Handsome. Come here. Come meet Precious!"

The puppy waged his tail and bounded over to the friendly lady. As soon as he came close enough to lick her outstretched fingers, Precious began to emit a less than welcoming growl. "Oh now, Precious," he 'mama' gently scolded, "that's no way to say hello to Handsome."

"He doesn't bite does he?" B'vin wondered. Foria looked up at the greenrider as if it were the most ridiculous question she had ever heard. "Precious is a _lady_, in every sense of the word. Aren't you Precious. You just want to protect Mama, don't you. It's ok, Handsome is a friend. Now stop that noise, it's not very nice."

The little pup's tail tucked itself between its legs and he took a couple wary steps back as Mama's little Precious barred her teeth at the intruder.

B'vin was unfamiliar with most animal behavior, but he knew enough to know that a puppy was no match for a full grown canine. Just as it looked like Precious was about to pounce on the young thing, B'vin sweeped it up into his arms. "You know, maybe you should keep them in different rooms or something until it's big enough to defend itself."

"Oh, no, that wouldn't do. Now Precious, stop that. Don't growl like that at Handsome. He's our little friend..." But her little Precious would have none of it. With a lunge she escaped from her 'mama's' arms and made a jump for the little intruder, her teeth bared as she yipped frustratingly, as if to say 'Get down here, you little runt, and I'll tear you to pieces!' "Precious! Precious! Be nice! There's no need to be nasty. _Precious_! Listen to Mama!"

The pup started to shake in B'vin's arms, and tried to scramble up to his shoulders. "You know, as much as I hate to say this, I don't know if this is a good match. Precious doesn't seem to be the sharing sort." "She's just a little protective, that's all," the woman insisted as she grabbed at Precious' floral collar. "Precious! Stop that!"

Precious lunged at the pup again, it's teeth bared and ready to bite down. Instinctually, B'vin gave it a strong kick with his foot and sent it flying a few feet away. "Lady, keep ahold of that thing or it's going to get a stronger one next time." It was one thing to have that thing trying to bite the mutt, but he wasn't going to let himself get bit just because he was between the two. "_PRECIOUS_!" she screamed, racing over to lift the snarling creature into her arms. "Oh my Precious, my Precious, did he hurt you?! Did that mean man hurt you, my darling?" Foria whirled around to face the greenrider. "How _dare_ you! You could have killed her! Take that runt out of my sight this instant! I have to take Precious to the beasthealer and be sure you didn't cause permanent damage!"

"And get it a muzzle while you're there, that thing is dangerous!" B'vin said, her behavior charging him up. The woman cried indignantly. "She heard that! Now you've gone and made her even more upset. You're a bad bad man, and I hope I never see you or that little mutt of yours ever again. Now go!"

She didn't have to tell B'vin again, he was out the door and up two flights of stairs before he even bothered to stuff the canine back in the bag. "That woman was insane." he said to the pup kept trying to poke his head out between the laces. "Just stay in there for a bit will ya! You're going back to D'cal's until I can find you someone _normal_." As he took the next flight of stairs, he wondered if such a person existed.

Last updated on the June 28th 2008

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The Sharing Sort