When Melody first told Siri about her new friend, "mister dog", she figured it was probably just an imaginary friend that would help her with the Brahmin. She knew Melody didn't get to be around other people as much, only ever came out of the Brahmin corral to either eat or tell legionaries about a problem and it made since she would make up a friend to keep her company. She just hoped Melody didn't think a legion mongrel was suddenly her friend.
Melody continued to tell Siri about Mr. Dog over the next few nights in the little time they had together at meals. Most other slaves wouldn't come near Melody because the smell she carried with her from the brahmin. Siri stayed with her as much as she could and tried to comfort the girl the best she knew how. Lord knew the girl deserved to be cared for.
At first it was very vague things. 'He helped me', 'He's very kind', etc. When Siri asked what he actually did for Melody and the girl told her, she started to get scared.
She told Siri he'd butchered a Brahmin and carried it away. Siri knew growing up around the legion probably would gave her a bit of a... Vivid imagination but this seemed far too real. When Siri asked what day this happened and Melody told her, Siri froze in fear. She remembered the exact day.
Many of the slaves had been excited because they had received a Brahmin's heads to add to their gruel. At first she all she could think about how sad it was they were all getting excited over two decapitated heads butt after eating her ration that night she guiltily had to admit it was fantastic compared to usually. Small bits of meat and bone marrow being used to thicken it up and add flavor.
That meant that "Mr. Dog" was real. Siri got a bad feeling in her gut. She hoped that who ever it was was a another slave. She hid her fear from Melody the best she could. She didn't want the poor girl to worry.
"What all has he done for you?", Siri asked wanting to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible.
"He helps when I ask him with the Brahmin", she said.
"You've told me that, but what else?"
Melody didn't miss a beat, "he gave me a blanket so I'm not cold at night".
"Really?", Siri's heart beat quickened. Slaves didn't have a way to get knew things themselves, they just had to hope they got what they needed from the legion. Either another slave had stolen a blanket or Mr. Dog was a legionary. There was a small chance it may be a trader but that was unlikely; this had obviously been happening over a few weeks and merchants got in, traded, and got out of the fort as quickly as possible.
Neither of the two was very good.
A. A merchant or a legionary was looking for a stolen blank which Melody currently had.
B. A legionary was helping a slave for some reason. Legionaries always wanted something in return.
Siri desided to stop beating around the bush, "So who exactly is Mr. Dog, Melody?"
"A legionary", Melody said like it was obvious.
Siri's heart stopped. "Is his name really Mr. Dog?", She asked trying to hide the utter terror in her voice.
"He's name is Starved dog. He doesn't like it when I call him mister. Isn't that goody?"
"H-has he ever hurt you in anyway?"
Melody looked shocked at that, "What? No, of course not! We're friends." Melody face seemed to light up with a smile suddenly, "I forgot to tell you. He let me walk out side the main fort. He told Antony and Centurion Vorenus it was so I could help him fix a panel but he told me later he didn't think it was good for me to be in a corral all day".
Well if that was true the legionary and Siri agreed on one thing at least.
A legionary began telling them their dinner was over. As others began to get up and head to their different sleeping arrangements Siri stood up and walked across to Melody.
"Just be careful, sweety", she hugged her.
"Okay Siri", Melody hugged her back before they separated.
Melody headed back to the corral while Siri head to the medical tent where she slept. As she opened the flap she moved silently through the maze of beds. Each had a wounded legionary sleeping in it. For all she hated them for, Siri had to admit they were some of the toughest people she had ever met.
She passed one that had a wound in his hand from where a bullet had grazed it down to the bone. She had packed the wound with healing powder and wrapped his hand in a bandage. No pain killers of course, so he hadn't been able to sleep through the pain for three days but now it looked like he'd given into sheer exhaustion.
She passed another was an explorer who was now missing an eye and had several broken fingers. Some raider had apparently gotten the jump on him when he had been stalking a caravan in NCR territory. The raider was armed only with a switch blade but the explorer couldn't use his gun without the caravan hearing. The raider had managed to bum rush him to where his machete was next to useless. They had grappled until the raider stabbed him in the eye with his blade. The legionary had resorted to just punching the raider till he was knocked out. After he'd died the explorer slit his throat with his own blade.
When he returned Siri had dug out what remained of his eye while six recruits held him down. After that she filled the socket with healing powder and bandaged it up so it would pour out than she put his broken fingers in wooden splints.
Finally just before her bed she passed a veteran decanus with a missing leg. He'd lost it when his squad was ambushed by a night in armed with a bumper sword. The beast cut through two other veterans along with his leg before dying from the storm of ammunition the legionaries poured into the thing. He'd refused to have them carry him back; they had an important mission to ambush a squad of rangers that couldn't be forgotten to save just one legionary. So after they had put a tourniquet and a bandage on the wound they had left on his orders while he tried to crawl back to cottonwood cove.
When his squad had returned before him many thought he had died but almost a week after the fight he was spotted by a lookout at cottonwood cove. It was touch and go when they brought him to her. Now after nearly a month and several bottles of Hydra it looked like he would make it. Apparently from what Siri had over heard he was to help teach small unit tactics to new decani when he made a full recovery.
Finally Siri made it to her own well used old mattress and collapsed in it. She went to bed knowing she'd be up at the crack of dawn and back to work again. Just before sleep took her she thought of Melody and hoped she'd be okay.