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 Reskin. I also own the 'dog' and the country of 'Filar.'

Chapter 4: In Which the 'Dog' Recalls Who He Is

Damodar Reskin… That name rang threw my head and sprouted a rage so intense it was on fire. I snarled and my ears flattened tightly to my head. So that was why this jerk's face looked so familiar. Except for the age and eye color he appeared almost identical to his older brother.

I could remember the last time I had come face to face with Damian's sibling. It had been a dry day in Kingsbury in which practically everyone was promptly staying inside and fanning themselves. As usual, Princess Talitha and one of my best friends and I were hanging out in the square. We were one of the few people outside and we leaned against the fountain joking around. I didn't want Talitha to be there, but she refused to leave my side from daybreak till twilight on most days.

Damodar was that best friend who always made my conversations with 'Princess Can't-Take-A-Hint' easier. But he betrayed me… On Princess Talitha's birthday, the day I was dragged to her palace by my sister, he came with me. When we arrived and had entered he gave a slow secret smile and turned to Princess Talitha. With a cool innocent voice he said, "My dear princess, I'm afraid I must inform you of Rhys's unfaithfulness to you! He's been courting Katherine Willow for a month."

My mouth was visibly gaping. It was true what Damodar had said, but he knew I had never dated Talitha and that if she ever found out I freely courted someone else, she would have had my head on a platter.

Talitha's mouth twitched and she turned to me. "Rhys dear," she said in a sort of pinched way, "Is this true?"

"I've never dated you, princess," I defended myself.

Talitha frowned. "You didn't answer my question."

I squirmed. I could see Wyn gulp out of the corner of my eye. I ignored her though, and replied, "Yes, Princess Talitha, its true, but I-"

She cut me off, "WHY YOU?! HOW DARE YOU STRING ME ALONG ALL THIS TIME!!!"

I winced. "But I never-"

Talitha screeched, "YOU JERK!" Then she literally tackled me! Before I knew what had happened, I was flat on my back with Talitha whacking and scratching my face. (A/N: Talitha needs serious help, no? ^_-) I could tell other people were trying to get the princess to stop and hear Queen Valeria yelling at her daughter.

I would have used magic, but I didn't want to hurt her. I struggled to get her off me, but when you're a scrawny eighteen year old who weighs about one hundred and twenty-eight pounds, you don't stand much of a chance against a peeved princess that weighs a good twenty pounds more than you!

Then I saw it; a glint of gold. I turned my head in its direction only to see Damodar, my soon-to-be former best friend, holding a golden cylinder in his hand.

'What is that?' I had thought. I never realized what it was till it was too late. He popped the top off the tube and a strange purple gas rolled out in waves. I made a final attempt to get Talitha off me peacefully, but it didn't work. So instead, I made a small glowing orb in the palm of my hand and threw it at her face. It exploded on impact and she was thrown off me. It really didn't hurt, it just stunned her.

Unfortunately, I was too late. The violet gas reached my back and I jumped. It was cold and amazingly tiny tendrils poked out of it and gripped me. The vines were strong and before I knew it, my body was being turned into gas and pulled along by them. I heard a few cries and some shouts of 'Rhys!' before I was inside the container with the gas.

Damodar bustled out of the front door with his men, the crimson guards, and threatened to injure me. No one could do anything without me getting hurt so my family was forced to hold back. I meanwhile, banged on the sides of the cylinder and tried every magic I could think of.

Out of nowhere I felt an icy chill run down my spine and I cautiously turned around. A nightmarish looking beast stood behind me. It was a jet-black color with a humanoid body and glowing ruby eyes. It was a great contrast in color to the golden walls of my prison. I backed away from it and prepared a spell. But when I fired it, nothing happened. I gasped and turned to run, but it was quick. It gasped me around my waist and I felt numbness take over me. Soon I had passed out.

I didn't awake till much later. When I did I was no longer in my jail, but lying on a cold stone table. "Finally awake, little pal?" sneered someone. I turned to see Damodar sitting in an armchair smirking at me.

"What have you done, Damodar?!" I roared.

"Oh nothing at all, my friend. I've just brought this shaman to cleanse the great Dragon Enchanter of his wickedness by reverting him to a more harmless form," answered Damodar. And with that said, an old woman stepped into the room. Her white hair was braided and she wore an azure smock and several beaded necklaces.

"What the heck are you talking about, Dar? Is this some kind of joke?" I had asked then.

"No. This is your last day as a human and your first dog day," replied Damodar coolly.

I frowned. I had no idea what he thought he was doing and I wasn't going to let some old hag touch me. I snapped, "I need to get home, Damodar."

"Sorry, but that's not going to happen," said Damodar. Then the 'ancient' spiritualist stepped towards me and held out her hands. Her eyes were two different colors; one was blue while the other was as green as my eyes. She started to chant something so I mentally recited a transport spell, but once again I was too late.

"You let your guard down today when the conceited princess attacked you. Now I will stop you from helping them!!!" yelled Damodar.

"What do you mean 'them?' " I questioned him.

"Why, the other wizards and witches of course. I'm going to cleanse the world of all you filth! I would have captured your sister, but she's far to strong and besides you were so much easier to fool," answered Damodar, an insane glint in his eyes.

Before I could make a retort, the woman had grasped my throat and I felt my mind slipping like water cupped in someone's hand. The part of me I knew had once only been Heulo bellowed and fought. The last thing I did before my memories were locked away was cry out in pain and grief.

"Goodbye, Rhys," was the last thing that damn traitor said to me. Now I was going to kick his baby brother's butt!

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A/N: ^_^ So you now know who the 'dog' is! His best friend betrayed the poor guy…

A/N 2: You'd better review-

Rhys: Or else!

Me: I was going to say that!

Rhys: O:)

Damodar: You're no angel, Rhys! You're sinful!

Rhys & Me: Oh buzz off, Dar! -_-

Me: Bye! ^_-