The Canine Caper
By: ChocolateEclar
Disclaimer: Some characters belong to the magnificent authoress, Diana Wynne Jones. I just borrowed them for a while. She also owns the entire world she created (i.e. Ingary, Zanzib, etc.)
Claimer: I only own Wyn, Aidan, Nate, Nesta, Stephen, Oliver, Kamania and Chris Aprilian, Mr. Calypso, Professor Weph, Life, Death, Apocalypse, Rhys, Mackenzie, Vihari and Mayuri Clavis, Damian and Damodar. I also own the 'dog' and the country of 'Filar.'
To ness: Finally you reviewed! *coughs and continues in a very 'Howlish' manner* I was dying of neglect over here! Hehe. ^_- Anyway, as for who the 'dog' is, good guesses. I'm not going to tell you if any of them are right though. Just remember the 'dog' is one of MY original characters. This chapter should give you some more clues… Before I forget, I bet I'll think of a better title once I figure out exactly who the 'bad guys' are and what precisely happened to my furry individual. Until then, 'The Canine Caper' will have to do. Thanks for reviewing!
Chapter 3: In Which the 'Dog' Continues to Remember His Past
My heart was drumming in my ears. I scrunched closer to the wall next to the bed and held my breath. I kept thinking, 'Don't look under the bed. Don't look under the bed, you stupid jerk!' I was silently shooting insults at him by the time he reached my hiding place. After ruffling through the blankets on the bed, he got down on his hands and knees and looked right at me.
I have to admit I yelped. His face reminded me of someone I loathed and yet feared. I shot out from under the bed and he made a grab for me. His fingers gripped my thick tail and yanked. I gave out another yelp and snarled. I snapped at him, and in surprise, he let me go. I bolted and ran straight threw the drapes and the screen covering the window. I ran down the street, praying Mayuri and Vihari would be okay and that I could escape.
I reached a rumbling river and my footing faltered in the mud. I slipped and fell into the rapids. I gave out a yowl and scrambled to get back to shore. My fur was sopping wet and it was holding me back. I felt a faint shiver run up my spine and I was suddenly back beside the canal. Maybe I really was a wizard. Whatever that is…
I dragged myself downstream a ways before collapsing by the riverbank. I stared at my reflection in the churning water. Now thoroughly soaked, my fur was a dark blue and black mop and it clung to me. As for my eyes, they really took me by surprise. They were as emerald as they come, with flecks of different shades of green in them. I wasn't terribly big for a dog, a little larger than a collie. I wasn't an expert on dogs or anything, but I had a feeling I was a kind called a Shetland Sheepdog, which I remember from a visit to Mari's house in Wales…Then I paused. Mari? Who was that? And for that matter where was this Wales? Oh well. I supposed I would find out eventually…
I sighed and rested my head on my paws. 'Wyn would know what to do…' I thought. I sat bolt upright. Wyn? Who was she? Somehow the painting of the young woman with the fiery reddish gold hair appeared in my head. Was that Wyn? I wasn't sure, but I had a feeling I might be right. All these 'half-memories' were making my head spin. I lay there for a while longer before standing up and shaking the water from my fur.
I was filthy from lying in the mud but I couldn't have cared less. It made my fur look darker so I supposed it would serve as a mock disguise. I sauntered back up the side of the river and towards Midio. I was more cautious this time and stayed as close to the clay buildings as possible. When I returned to Mayuri and Vihari's dwelling, I peeked through the window I had jumped from. I thought no one was there at first, and then I heard it. Crying. The sound of a small child crying… I could just make out Vihari's coffee colored head in the far corner of the room.
I jumped inside and in a few strides I had reached the boy's side. He looked up and me, with teary cerulean eyes and I felt my heart wrench. He gave out a clear sob and clutched me around my neck. I nudged his face tenderly. What was wrong? And that topic, where was Mayuri?
I gave my best pleading/searching look and Vihari brushed his tears away. He sighed and said, "Mayuri, was taken by tat mean guy! She was all angry and kicked him, but he wouldn't let her go!"
So Mayuri had been most likely arrested because of me? I groaned. Somehow it felt like everything was my fault. I wanted to tell Vihari everything was going to be all right, but he didn't have the telepathic abilities his sister had, so it was a lost cause. I tried non-verbal communication instead. I made a comforting bark and nudged him one more time. I stood up, brushing Vihari off me, and he tried to do the same. I gave him a slightly scolding look and he sat back down. I gave a dog-like grin and hopped back out the window.
"Bye-bye, doggy," I could hear behind me as I made my way back to the palace.
************************************************************************
By the time I had reached the castle, I had recalled what a wizard was. All I could remember though was they used magic, which I understood without question, and were male beings with these abilities. I knew witches were females with magic as well somehow and I had a feeling I was definitely a wizard. I was sure the incident by the river and me being turned into a dog hadn't been coincidence.
I crept near the wall surrounding the palace, hiding in the growing shadows. My dirtied fur blended in and soon I had made it to the iron gate. I warily gazed into the courtyard, but this time no one was there. All seemed still outside the fortress, but I could hear faint voices inside. I studied the building one last time before scrunching between the bars on the entrance. I just barely fit and was soon rushing across the square to one of the clear-paned windows. I peeked within and saw a beautifully furnished room with two leather broad-backed chairs and a crackling fireplace. Sitting in the chairs, were the crimson guard and Mayuri. Behind him were several other guards looking menacing. Mayuri was glaring fiercely at the main guard and shouting something indignantly, while he himself was acting perfectly calm and righteous.
I could just make out his most recent reply to Mayuri's insults threw the window, "Clavis, you know perfectly well that Maoki's aren't allowed in Filar alive. This particular one is especially dangerous-"
"YOUR WRONG!" Mayuri cut him off, "He wouldn't hurt anyone!"
The guard's lips twitched but his only counter was, "And of course, you 'oh-great-novice-quack' know these things?"
Mayuri didn't look fazed herself. "Yes."
"I see. Well then, men take this witch away. She's proven she's a bloody traitor and obviously a Maoki herself," said the guard in an offhand sort of way.
One of the other men stepped forward and took out a golden cylinder from a case in his hands. Mayuri's eyes went wide and she tried to make a run from the Maoki Capturing Jar. Meanwhile, my whole body was shaking. I just couldn't stand the sight of that tube. It made my insides churn and my knees feel weak. Mayuri was in trouble though, so I half-consciously began to recite a spell. It was a natural reflex and soon the window had blown in, causing glass to fly, and I had leaped inside.
I growled and knocked the Maoki Capturing Jar out of the man's hand. I grasped the cold gold in my jaws and backing away from them and to Mayuri's side. She gave my head a quick pat and said mentally to me in her usual cocking way, "So you've joined Damodar's kid brother's little gathering too? I hear Damian doesn't throw very good parties though."
'Damian? Is that who that red jerk is?' I inquired.
"Yep…' So that meant we were going to have a hard time if Damian was anything like his brother. Damodar was one of the easiest things I had ever remembered so far. And I didn't like what I had found in my memories of him…
************************************************************************
A/N: ^_- What do you think dog boy remembered about this Damodar guy? I'm not going to tell you anything tell the next chapter though!
A/N 2: Remember reviews make me update more often. You'd better review!
Vihari: *just standing behind me looking cute*
A/N 3: It seems today's interrupter is Vihari!
Vihari: Hi, Choccy!
Me: Howdy do, Vi? (Instead of 'How are you' I like using 'Howdy do' =P )
Vihari: k.
A/N 4: At least he doesn't interrupt in the annoying way some other people do! (hint, hint!)
Mayuri: Hey…
Me: *acting innocent* What'd I do? ^_^
Mayuri: -_-
Vihari: ?_? Huh?
Me: Nuthin'
Vihari: ^_^ Ok then. Bye everybody! ^_^