A/N: Feel free to skip this chapter if you're more interested in the story. I used this as a writing exercise to narrate a chapter as a dog, about a dog. Don't think I was successful, but I enjoyed doing it! =)
The rhythmic rumble under the floorboards of the cab massaged the paw pads of wee Toad as he sat comfortably at the back of the small engine. His friend Mr. Oliver was messing about with big levers and cranks while new friend Mr. Douglas was looking a tad upset.
The pup felt the cool air running off the engine on his tongue as he panted gently. His head was cocked specifically toward the back of the train being pulled as he watched the cars sway in line. Toad enjoyed watching the landscape slide away from him as he kept relaxed but alert to the goings on of their consist.
Mr. Oliver had switched places with new friend Mr. Douglas gave wee Toad a smile. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bit of biscuit which Toad happily accepted. He cronched it merrily as he resumed his observation of the back of the train.
Wee pup Toad widened his squat as he felt the train lurch. He felt a change in speed as he prepared for the cavalcade to slow down. It was then there was a sharp hiss. Faint as it was, Toad's ears perked and he swiveled his head to full tilt as he identified where it was coming from.
Attached to their train was one big, boxy van that was etching a terrible 'shhhhh' sound. Toad let out a low moan.
Mr. Oliver looked down at the pup and talked words to him. Toad didn't break focus on the van. He continued to listen at full attention and howl low and loud.
Mr. Douglas now said words louder than Mr. Oliver. Toad, with effort, stood up in the decreasing pace of the engine to let out an intentional bark. Mr. Oliver knelt down by his friend Toad and put a hand of assurance upon his back.
Toad broke eye contact with the van and looked back at Mr. Oliver with a hard stare. His friend in turn looked toward the back of the train and tried to figure out what was causing the alarming change in behavior.
The train was now at a crawl as it approached the loading bay of the station. Toad was still as a statue, growling occasionally until the train 'squeaked' to a stop. Once they were no longer moving, the wee pup dove off the footplate and waddled hurriedly over to the leaky van. Sniffing intently along the wheels and mechanisms, Toad stopped and stared harshly at a cracked brake pipe running beneath the buffers.
Mr. Oliver approached his friend saying kind sounding words as he crouched by Toad and followed where his nose was pointed. He then pat the pup encouragingly on the back many times as he called words over to Mr. Douglas. He, in turn, came over and saw what the commotion was. He then made a very big sigh and turned out his pockets. Toad was given a very big biscuit and with a happy dance of his tail, followed his two friends back to the engine and up to the platform.
As Mr. Oliver explained to a man, Toad sat heftily back down and panted gently. He had been the best and did a good job.
Short because of course it is lol. I felt this would be an okay place in the story to put some filler fluff as we ramp into our next arc. There's a few plot details from the first few chapters that I need to rework into my new stuff so once that's tweaked, expect a dump of new additions to the story!
As always thank you for reading! -REN