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p_r_i_s_c_aTitle: The dog in the woods
Characters: Daryl Dixon / Beth Greene
Prompt: Dog / Animal
Word Count: 522
Rating: PG13
Finished: February 2017
:::
They found the big, black and white dog in the middle of the forest, alone, half starved, his fur matted. He stared at them for a while with dark eyes, growling slightly. Daryl had already lifted his crossbow when Beth touched his arm to stop him.
Only a gentle touch, but it made his heart beat faster. He was unsure if he liked this; no one besides her had ever made him feel like this.
„Don't,“ she whispered. „He's not a danger; he's just afraid of us.“
And before Daryl could stop her, she hunkered down and reached out with her hand. „Hey, come here.“
The dog's snout trembled visibly, but he didn't make any try to snap shut. Beth smiled while she gently touched him. He snuggled closer, wagging his tail. „Oh, that's such a good boy.“ Then she turned back to Daryl, who was still watching the scene warily. „See, no danger. No need to be afraid of him.“
„Hm!“ Daryl smirked and lowered the crossbow. „I never was afraid of dogs. When I was about ten years old I owned one.“
„Oh, yeah?“
„For some days only. I did hide him under the porch. Shared my meals with him.“
The smile on her face vanished, and he almost regretted that he had told her about this. „What's happened,“ she asked.
„One day, he was gone.“ For sure, he wouldn't tell her the whole truth. It would have been much too cruel.
She seemed to know anyway. „I'm sorry,“ she said. Though she didn't know anything about his past. Which was a good thing. She grew up on a farm with a caring family around, not with a father who was always drunk and hit his wife and his two children until the loss of consciousness. Despite everything that was happening around her, she still found some good in the world. She must be an angel.
Suddenly, he couldn't bear his overwhelming feelings any longer. „Maybe we should better go back to the prison. Before the others start to worry.“
One last stroke over the back of the animal, then she nodded. „Guess you are right.“ When she stood up, the dog looked at her hopefully. „No, you can't come with us,“ she told him, apologetic. „As much as I like you, the prison is not a good place for a dog. Better enjoy your freedom.“
„Seems as if he's of another opinion,“ Daryl said. „Can't blame him. Apparently, he's lost his heart to you."
Beth hesitated. „Rick won't appreciate it when we bring home a dog but only some rabbits and vegetables for our lunch.“
Daryl put on one of his rare smiles. „Don't worry. I will tell him that the yield will be much better next time with a well-trained gun dog. C'mon boy, let's go home.“
The dog barked once while Beth beamed at him. It was long ago that Daryl had felt that good.
Characters: Daryl Dixon / Beth Greene
Prompt: Dog / Animal
Word Count: 522
Rating: PG13
Finished: February 2017
:::
They found the big, black and white dog in the middle of the forest, alone, half starved, his fur matted. He stared at them for a while with dark eyes, growling slightly. Daryl had already lifted his crossbow when Beth touched his arm to stop him.
Only a gentle touch, but it made his heart beat faster. He was unsure if he liked this; no one besides her had ever made him feel like this.
„Don't,“ she whispered. „He's not a danger; he's just afraid of us.“
And before Daryl could stop her, she hunkered down and reached out with her hand. „Hey, come here.“
The dog's snout trembled visibly, but he didn't make any try to snap shut. Beth smiled while she gently touched him. He snuggled closer, wagging his tail. „Oh, that's such a good boy.“ Then she turned back to Daryl, who was still watching the scene warily. „See, no danger. No need to be afraid of him.“
„Hm!“ Daryl smirked and lowered the crossbow. „I never was afraid of dogs. When I was about ten years old I owned one.“
„Oh, yeah?“
„For some days only. I did hide him under the porch. Shared my meals with him.“
The smile on her face vanished, and he almost regretted that he had told her about this. „What's happened,“ she asked.
„One day, he was gone.“ For sure, he wouldn't tell her the whole truth. It would have been much too cruel.
She seemed to know anyway. „I'm sorry,“ she said. Though she didn't know anything about his past. Which was a good thing. She grew up on a farm with a caring family around, not with a father who was always drunk and hit his wife and his two children until the loss of consciousness. Despite everything that was happening around her, she still found some good in the world. She must be an angel.
Suddenly, he couldn't bear his overwhelming feelings any longer. „Maybe we should better go back to the prison. Before the others start to worry.“
One last stroke over the back of the animal, then she nodded. „Guess you are right.“ When she stood up, the dog looked at her hopefully. „No, you can't come with us,“ she told him, apologetic. „As much as I like you, the prison is not a good place for a dog. Better enjoy your freedom.“
„Seems as if he's of another opinion,“ Daryl said. „Can't blame him. Apparently, he's lost his heart to you."
Beth hesitated. „Rick won't appreciate it when we bring home a dog but only some rabbits and vegetables for our lunch.“
Daryl put on one of his rare smiles. „Don't worry. I will tell him that the yield will be much better next time with a well-trained gun dog. C'mon boy, let's go home.“
The dog barked once while Beth beamed at him. It was long ago that Daryl had felt that good.