NJD-NW-GG-E-HP: Glad you like her. I may do a drawing of her at some point, depending on whether or not I can get it to come out properly.
One-shot: Walking the Dog
Prompt: 005 Outsides
Timing: Just after Charlie starts teaching at CalSci.
Summary: Charlie, Larry and Zillah take a hike.
-WTD-
"Zillah, please give me back my shoe," Charlie pleaded with his dog. Zillah just glared at him, then ran downstairs. Charlie swore under his breath and followed. He was meant to be meeting up with Larry to go on a hike around the CalSci campus, and Zillah had decided to steal one of his walking boots.
"Mum, have you seen Zillah?" He called out as he searched for the hound.
"I think she went outside," Margaret laughed. "Probably went to hide under the porch."
"Damnit," Charlie muttered. There was no way he could get her out from there unless she wanted to come out.
"Sweetheart, why don't you just take her with you?" Margaret suggested. "You know how much she loves walks, and you haven't been at home much lately. She probably just misses you."
Charlie paused and thought about that. He'd started teaching at CalSci three weeks ago, and as a result had spent a great many of his days for the last month at the college. Which meant that Zillah had been left at home with just his parents, probably lonely and bored without him.
"Yeah," he nodded slowly, "that's probably it." Then he smiled. "It's about time Larry met her anyway."
-WTD-
It took about ten minutes to coax Zillah out from under the house. Once she was convinced that Charlie was taking her with him, though, she emerged and dropped the shoe at his feet, earning an ear-scratch.
Upon reaching the campus, Charlie pulled out a Frisbee from his backpack and entertained himself by throwing it for Zillah while they waited for Larry. After a particularly impressive catch, he was startled by the sound of applause. Turning, he saw his friend clapping enthusiastically.
"Bravo, Charles. A magnificent performance."
"Thanks, Larry," Charlie grinned. "She likes to catch things." He was interrupted by Zillah trying to get his attention, by tapping his hand with the Frisbee clenched in her teeth. She looked expectantly up at him, as though to ask 'why aren't you throwing this already?'.
"And this is Zillah, I take it?" Larry laughed.
"Yeah," Charlie nodded. "She was sulking because I kept leaving her at home, so I figured I'd bring her along. Is that okay?"
"Of course," Larry waved one hand in dismissal and held out the other for the dog to sniff. "I've never been much of a one for keeping pets, but I can see that she's good for you."
At that, Zillah liked his fingers and wagged her tail. Both men laughed – it seemed that Larry had her approval.
"Shall we, then?" Larry asked, and the three set off for an afternoon of wandering in the semi-wilderness around CalSci.
-WTD-
Larry enjoyed watching Charlie and Zillah interact. Several times during their excursion, the dog would bound off into the undergrowth chasing something, only to reappear at her master's side in a minute or so. For his part, Charlie didn't seem too fussed about the disappearances as long as she didn't actually catch anything.
After a good hour of walking, they found the stream they'd been looking for, and took a break for lunch. Zillah immediately started drinking form the stream, while Charlie and Larry found a decent rock to sit on.
As soon as Charlie unwrapped his sandwich, however, he found a large dog sitting right in front of him, looking expectant.
"And what makes you think I'm sharing this with you?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
Zillah cocked her head to one side, eyes never leaving the food.
Charlie made a valiant attempt at ignoring her by looking at Larry while they ate and talked. Eventually there was only a tiny piece of sandwich left, and Charlie sighed as he gave in and held it out.
In thanks, Zillah gently took it and swallowed it quickly, then proceeded to lick Charlie's hands.
"Hey, quit that!" Charlie laughed as she rested her front paws on his knees in an effort to lick his face as well.
"Maybe you taste like sandwich now," Larry suggested.
Zillah wagged her tail as she finally relented and went back to take another drink.
-WTD-
Nearly two hours later, Charlie stumbled back into his house and collapsed on the couch in the living room. Zillah followed right behind him, going so far as to climb up onto the couch and curl up on top of Charlie.
Margaret poked her head in and laughed at the sight.
"So, the re-bonding went well I take it?"
The only answer was a muffled groan from Charlie, and the thump of Zillah's tail against the back of the couch.