Andarin: The Mountains: maybe... --

lone wanderer & dogmeat - fallout 3 - courtesy of bethesda softworks

Maybe you'll think of me...
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Hey. Wake up. Wake up!

When the colt named Loki opened his eyes at last and the world slammed into focus, the shadow sitting before him and against the sunlight seemed to wiggle in triumph, though he couldn’t be sure. He could not see what it was and, at that moment, he didn’t care. Instead he just shook his head, the remnants of dreams with it, and stared at the thing.

“What d’ye want? Go ‘way,” he said. His voice was thick with sleep; the creature barked. It sounded like a laugh.

Good. You’re awake.

Well yeah, thought Loki unnecessarily.

But now he could see a bit further as his eyes adapted to the light. It wasn’t a horse before him – it was too small – and when the creature barked again, a thin sound, he understood.

A dog or wolf, no more than a puppy. But then, he was no more than a colt.

I am Dogmeat, said the pup in the language of familiars (that just resembled a highly improbable, impeccable English). You’re Loki. Your parents are Wyvern and Astarte, which makes you a seer by birthright and thus, in need of a familiar, ergo, yours truly. Trust me, I’m no happier about it than you are, but then, so it is. Orders from above – or below or within, whatever – and all that.

Dogmeat?

Oh come on.

He had to smile at the pup’s what-have-I-done-to-deserve-this sigh, though.

I heard that. The colt snorted. Listen, Horseflesh, we’re stuck in this together. I’m your familiar, you’re my master, the way he spoke-thought it, you’d think ‘master’ a synonym for ‘terminally stupid’, and that’s that. Now get your fat butt up and show me around. It’s rather tiring to travel through time and space, you know.

I am not fat, he thought inanely. Then something else occurred to him. Time and space, you say?

But, thinking about it, Loki could believe it. The puppy seemed frazzled around the edges as if he’d been a long time gone. He was a dark red-black, but his fur was shaggy and unruly as if it’d just started growing, which was probably the case. One eye was blue, the other brown, and he didn’t look like an ordinary wolf, either, nor like Oceantree’s familiar. His legs were short but he felt larger than even the grey wolves he’d had the misfortune to encounter in the mountains (and never had Loki been gladder for his elemental bond with the wildlife), even this young. He’d be big, big enough to easily fell a horse, provided he was lucky and sneaked upon the victim unawares.

I’m a dire wolf, said the pup – Dogmeat. Which means I’m extinct. Well, not extinct, since I’m obviously here, but I am the only of my species left. Ridiculous, really. I mean, I’m not even a dog. I predate dogs by what, ten thousand years?

Loki smiled at that.

What’s it like to travel through time and space?

But the pup barked – a laugh – bumping lightly against his knee.

Well. It goes like this…

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... when you are all alone.