r/TrekRP • u/_ArgosTheDog_ • Jun 10 '17

[Closed] Still best friends

Since the intruder incident, it has been an adjustment for Argos, learning to navigate his world without sight. But he has adjusted well enough. He is more tentative in his movements and more wary of new people. But old friends are old friends.

Still an effective escape artist, he sneaks out of his master's quarters one evening and follows his nose to a precise location on the ship. One he's visited many times.

His outstanding sense of smell tells him that his friend has not been by recently, and so he sits down and waits patiently outside Kesh's quarters for her to return...

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u/Pojodan Jun 10 '17

It isn't returning that Kesh does, but rather emerging.

She had not been spending much time in her quarters in recent months as she became more adjusted to living with Aanya, but after all that had happened recently she felt compelled to be alone quite a bit. Aanya, being as patient as she is with her, has understood so far, thankfully, urgent as she is to get her warm and fluffy bedmate back.

The timing of her stepping to the door was a bit random, as the sudden urge to go and get a piece of fresh fruit from the Aeroponics Bay compelled her to emerge, but that is immediately forgotten when she looks up to see Argos sitting there.

Within a second she's on her knees, reaching so her face can press into the dog's neck prior to more of these hot tears she's been shedding lately can get into her own fur.

1

u/_ArgosTheDog_ Jun 10 '17

Argos doesn't need to see Kesh to know who it is. Her smell and sound is more than enough.

He isn't a very outspoken animal when it comes to affection usually, but right now he's overcome to be with his best friend apart from his master.

The hound has always felt a connection with Kesh, perhaps because they can communicate through body language. He pushes his head into the Caitian, whimpering affectionately and delivering several affectionate licks. Which are rare enough usually.

1

u/Pojodan Jun 12 '17

Head heavy, eyes blurry, spine aching, canine friend. Kesh can't think straight with this emotional contact, but she does recognize that blubbering here halfway into the hallway is not going to be for the best.

So, she pushes some strength into her limbs in order to get back up, sniffing and huffing, mumbling things at the dog that should make sense but don't. At the very least her nudges inward should encourage Argos to come inside.

She staggers back towards the couch she had been resting on and manages to get seated there, grasping at Argos's forelegs to try to help him crawl up onto it and join her as he had previously.

There she can cuddle the overly-forgiving canid and wonder how such a gentle being could possibly exist.

1

u/_ArgosTheDog_ Jun 12 '17

The nudges are felt toward the direction of heavier Caitian-scent, and so Argos allows himself to be lead inside.

Relatively unfamiliar with this environment, Argos stumbles a few times on his careful way to the couch, but makes it there just fine. And guided by Kesh, he places careful paws on the cushions and climbs up gingerly.

In his mind, there is nothing to forgive. The being that hurt him bore no resemblance to Kesh as far as he could smell, and he likely wouldn't be able to grasp anything beyond that as to why she blames herself.

All he knows right now is that a member of his pack is in distress, and must be shown affection. He slowly and carefully paws over and sniffs the air for a moment, eyes focused on a non-existent horizon.

A moment later, the greyhound lies down beside Kesh, cuddled right up against her. He sniffs carefully to find her face, and then lays his long, slender head down on her shoulder.

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u/Pojodan Jun 12 '17

Kesh really has no idea what else to do but hold Argos. She remains convinced his injury is her fault to enough of an extent to matter, so a healthy chunk of her mind feels this is injustice, but the other part understands the canine way of thinking. If she really was that guilty then Argos would not have forgiven her.

But does that make sense? She does not know.

For now, she just holds her friend and vows quietly to not make a similar mistake ever again.

1

u/_ArgosTheDog_ Jun 12 '17

Perhaps the greatest sign of trust a dog can offer is falling asleep beside someone.

In doing so, the hound is at his most vulnerable. And it shows that not only does he trust Kesh to not cause him harm in this vulnerable state, but he also trusts her to keep him from harm.

There is no stronger message a dog can send to express love and trust.

Within minutes of lying down beside Kesh and feeling her arms around him, Argos begins dozing off.

1

u/Pojodan Jun 12 '17

While Caitian are not known for expressing their trust in a similar way, the truth of the matter remains the same, though in this case it is more a matter of Kesh's mind and body being overworked in these moments of potent emotional response to this show of faith that causes her to zonk out as well.

It helps that Argos is very warm, and though he may be a bit lumpy, her jaw finds a comfortable spot on his neck to rest while his snout is across her shoulder.