Completed When Dog's Imprint (Solo)

[Ricky Maze]

When Dogs Imprint Day 20 of Summer, 504 AV Today was the twentieth day the vessel was lost at sea, meaning the disappearence of his dad was over two weeks now. Ricky hadn't the slightest idea as to what brought him out, for the air was not enough to clear out the gloom that hung in his head. The looming depression wrapped around being the soaked cover it was, drenching him and heavily weighing on his spirit. He was alone now, not exactly orphaned seeing as how he was old enough to take care of himself, but still alone in this city. Sure he still had a few friends he could see, but he'd much rather deal with this on his own. His internal struggle to cope with this has not been the best one, for who could hope to live in a world without their hero. Ricky's pa was that hero of course, but there was more to it then that. He was a father who would only be away for a brief time, until the storms that rolled in soon after the ship's depature. A missing father and a mysterious mother, which Ricky grew up without, was all he had now. Somewhere out there in the world she probably did what she does best, and the glass pendant Ricky wore was absolute proof of this. It was all just things in his mind though, as Ricky only sought to walk his troubles away....well preferably drown them in the sea, but that wouldn't suit his father's memory well. As he walked he smelled in the fresh air of sea salt, the wind blowing the fresh sea mist that would occasionally loom over Zeltiva. He didn't know where he was going, just that where ever it was it would pass the time. He came upon the harbor now, several children running over and around its corner with childish laughs. Ricky remembered when he was that age, only he was more learning less playing when it came to it. It made him miss his dad more, the thoughts of being a kid again, enough to have him hurry and continue on...until a noise that wasn't so fun was heard. A dog made a hurting cry as a plea for help, then three childish laughs to follow. Those boy's were torturing a dog! Upset with how they were acting, he wasted no time in coming to the dog's aid. "What the blubbering sea monkey are ya'll doin to this mutt!" He swore furiously as he came around the corner, surprising the little brats out of their skins. One of them had a stick, no doubt the leader of the troublesome three. The boy's took no time in retreating as they saw him, fleeing with fear that they would be punished. Not that it was his right but Ricky would've gladly punished them, they deserve it for torturing an innocent animal. He came around the crates that had been piled against the building, searching for the pup they rudely treated. There it was cornered like against the crate and wall, the bastard's were now even crueler in Ricky's book. It was whining as it looked to Ricky, who now was kneeling and calling over the dog. "Come here," He looked real quick to see it's "parts" before continuing, "come on boy, it's safe now. Them bastard's won't touch ya anymore." The dog showed great hesitation, his eyes full of sorrow and pain. The poor pup had no idea why the brat's did what they did, but Ricky knew even despite his anger that they were being boy's. Terrorizing lesser creature's for fun was occasionally in their nature, even if they knew or not that it was wrong. "Come on boy, it's alright now. I ain't gonna hurt ya." Hestitation showed but the dog yearned to see Ricky up close, finally he gave if as he came to Ricky. Tail between his legs and ear's dropped in nervousness, Ricky allowed the pup to sniff his hand before going to pet the dog. He seemed to be Ok so far, despite the mental scar applied to their physical abuse, he seemed to be all right. The dog's tail wagged and ear's perked up after Ricky began to pet him, panting with relief as the stranger showed him better kidness then those three earlier.

[Ricky Maze]

The dog licked Ricky's hands and face as Ricky tried to keep his mouth away from the slobbery tongue, the two of them loving on each other like pal's from old times. Only thing was Ricky didn't see it like that, but as a simple good deed for a lonely soul. The dog was a cute one indeed, but Ricky had little time to raise or take care of him. Yet alone the training it would take for him to be considered house broken, for Ricky it was all too much to think about right now. He stood back up with the dog watching him, a smile on his muzzle as if they were both going somewhere. Ricky grinned and patted the dog before he decided to leave the dog, he should be safe from those wicked boy's for a while now. He made a mental note to check up on the dog often though, kids tend to try things again when they feel the coast is clear. "Ya take care of yourself dog, as I'll try to find a usual time to check on ye'." He started to walk off as he got back to his original train of thought, thinking at how cute the pup was once again to the solemn silence he slipped into at home. How he was getting by was slow mentally, as his fund's were pretty fair for him when he needed, and rather depressing for him. He hadn't botjered talk- "Bark Bark!" The dog ran past Ricky and back to where he was, starring with a wagging tail as he waited to follow. Ricky frowned a bit as he should've expected this, he's a dog so of course he was going to randomly follow Ricky. Why it didn't come to mind to begin with well, to be honest Ricky was occupied with not becoming attached. How was he going to afford the expenses to the mutt anyway, Ricky only made certain wages being just a fisherman, he had to stretch every coin thin to live. "No. No you ain't gonna do this to me." He denied as the dog waited, he watched with his head tilted sideways. Curious about what Ricky was referring to, that or wondering about Ricky himself. "Over there!" He pointed back to the spot where the dog was originally, the dogs tail wagging again as he grew excited about nothing really. He must've thought Ricky was playing with him, it was cute how oblivious he was actually. 'Damn it! Quit thinkin' like this!' Ricky thought to himself, changing his weak smile back into a frown. He pointed again with an orderly tone this time. "Over there." He felt is was a little harsh to command the dog, but usually they would sometimes listen to those who gave orders. This one looked confused for a moment, switching glances between Ricky and his spot. After a few bells the dog went over to the spot Ricky pointed, looking to Ricky for another order. Ricky watched the dog closely, backing away a few steps before the dog began to move to. "No! Stay!" He ordered once more, the dog licking his muzzle as he sat on the ground. Scratching his neck and waiting for the next order, "Stay!" Ricky ordered for the final time. He walked backwards slowly for a bit, until the dog was in reasonable distance for him not to follow. The pup actually managed to stay where Ricky wanted him too, and now that Ricky was gone back in the heart of the town; he felt eager to get home. He picked up his pace to return there sooner, eager to withdraw from this bustling city once more.

[Ricky Maze]

He passed through the fish market and made his way to the docks, the shack nearing closer as his mind kept his sight focused on it. Not a walk could be long enough to clear his head, as his heart was just set on dwelling in his thoughts. He briefly opened the creaky wooden door to sit on the old couch, the house welcoming him home with silence. Such silence was what he had put up with, since the rage of the storms boomed and crashed over Zeltiva. It was a wicked thunderstorm that night, one that was wide and far. Stretching its way over into the unknown vast of the sea, yet Ricky had doubts that such a storm would take down an entire vessel full of hearty Zeltivan sailor's. Still it could not be helped now, for the reports and rumors of the missing ship were bound to be true. He laid with his arm resting over his eyes, slowly slipping into a cozy nap that had become a part of his daily routine. He would hardly go out unless it was to buy a meal or supplies for his meal, take a nap, then get to making supper. After supper was ate then he'd just go to bed and wait until late in the night before he could sleep, repeating his schedule with only a bare change for the time he had to fish for work. He laid there getting comfortable and cozy, his nap- scrape. 'What the petch was that?' He thought to himself, lifting his arm up as he looked to the ceiling in an odd manner. scrape, scrape. Something was at the door scratching it, what ever it was it was cutting into Ricky's nap time. Scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape. It became continouous now as Ricky rolled his eyes and got up in a lazy manner, until he finally opened the door from earlier sitting on his hind leg's while scratching at the door with his front. Ricky's face dropped at the sight of the mutt, his tongue wagging with a gleefull grin. "Bark bark!" He stood on all fours with a wagging tail, head tilted to the side at Ricky's expression. "What in the world are ya doin' here! Did ye follow me all the way home?!" He exclaimed in shock, the dog jumped in excitement. "Bark. Bark Bark!" He playfully looked to Ricky, but dangling in the wind as his tail was now frantically. Ricky was officially stooped now, completely at a loss on what to say or do.

[Ricky Maze]

"Bark bark!" He still jumped around being playful, but Ricky wasn't it a playing mood. "Sh, go away dog! Ye' ain't mine ya hear!" He ordered again slightly furious, the dog still eying Ricky with a smirk. His tongue waggling around with each pant as Ricky tried to shoo him away. "Go on now pup! Go on back to yer home, yer little place that ya sleep at." He ordered again but the dog wouldn't bulge, he just stood- sat down now. The pup just sat down with a blank expression, starring dead on to Ricky. "Yes I know I said wait, but ye were suppose to wait back there!" He pointed back in the direction of the harbor, the dog's stare followed Ricky at a moments glance but shortly returned to Ricky. "Damn dog." He cursed under his breath as he looked closer to the mutt, the cute dog's eye were somewhat brown and slightly yellow. He witnessed the dog's puppy face appear and shook his head in denial. "Nuh uh. No dog, ya can't do this to me. Not now!" He cried to the dog, but it was too late. From the moment Ricky looked within the dog's eyes he was already charmed, beaten by the dog's own game now. "Ye can't be doin this now..." He trailed off as the guilt built up inside, how could he turn down such a lonely animal. Surely the dog didn't have to be his, the least he could do was take him in for the night. "Damn ya mutt...." He couldn't take it anymore, but couldn't fight it. The urge to slam the door was long gone now. "Uuh, come on in." He said as he moved aside while holding the door, the dog grinned with his continous pants and tongue wagging as he entered the house. It was then Ricky slammed the door, beating it a couple times as he felt his anger flush out all at one. "Hmmmmh?" He turned to the dog, now sitting directly in the middle of his living room with a stare. Ricky chuckled at the irony of all this, flustered with what he now had to deal with. "Great. Yer here and I'm here. Everybodies here!" He joked sarcastically after walking to the couch once more, collasping back into its creaky cushioned frame once more.

[Ricky Maze]

He laid in the same position as before when the dog showed, relaxed and cozy to a level that made him sleepy. Not sure as to what he was going to do, he let his mind wonder about the dog, who did he know that could takr care of the mutt? Elem? Nira? Who? He was sick of worrying about it, the more he did the further away his nap stayed. He couldn't help it though, he was now officially responsible for the dog. Guitly as charged should anything happen to him, yet if he could find someone else to take him in that would be even better. Ricky felt the warmth moist breath of the dog hit his hand, as he began to lick it with in hopes to get attention. It worked. "Blaaah dog! Really? Yer already in a safe place for now, what more do ya want?!" He looked in disgust as he wiped his hand, the dog grinned with a wagging tail. "Ruff!" The pup looked to Ricky in earnest, begging for attention. "Terrific..." He groaned as he stretched, the nap clearly missing its appointment today. He leaned up looking at the dog, unconvinced as to why he should give the mutt attention. He then decided to examine and test the dog, to see just how smart he really was. "Okay...so your a boy..." That much being the obvious. He checked the dogs teeth, the pup attempting to lick him in the process. "Hey, hey! Cut it." He ordered as he wiped his hands, his teeth and gums were healthy from what Ricky knew...which wasn't much to say the least. Next he checked the dogs paw, sturdy and worn like a stray dog at least. Next were some tests, ones that would test this pup for his smarts. "Ok...sit down boy." He pointed down in front of the dog, and the pup obeyed his command. After a moment of looking at Ricky he sat down, tail wagging impatiently for the next order. "Huh, well at least you understand that." Ricky glumfully cheered as he wondered what to try next.

[Ricky Maze]

"Lay down boy..." Ricky ordered as he sat on the couch with interest, the dog obeyed him within a moment after the message came clear. "Huh." He was actually astonished at how easy the dog followed Ricky's command, yet the mutt was only a stray so how did he know what Ricky wanted? Most dog's would generally look confused when being taught how to do things, this one actually seemed trained to do them already. "Guess I should count my blessin's then." He jested to himself. "Ruff!" The dog barked at him as if he understood that too, that or the dog was just agreeing with nothing. He tested that theory, actually seeing if the dog was speaking "dog" to Ricky. He held out his hand without saying a word, to see if the dog knew how to shake. He only sniffed it for a minute, then looked back to Ricky. "Shake." He took his paw and placed it in Ricky's hand, licking his thumb as Ricky's face dropped. "Ok you dog, if your really one to listen..." He unlaced his shoe and slipped it off with haste, standing in the middle of the living room to see down the hall. He held out the shoe in front of the dog, now excited as it sniffed its worn leather with fascination. Ricky arched his arm as if he was about to toss it at the end of the hall, the dog now excited as he probably now thought they were playing. "Stay. Stay pup!" He ordered as he pointed for the dog to remain in his spot, the pup sat down with tail still wagging. Ricky tossed the shoe at the end of the hall, looking to see the dog waiting eagerly to just give the word. "...Fetch?" The dog pranced off gleefully down the hall, picking up the shoe with his mouth and bringing it back to Ricky. He fell back onto the cushions in awe as the dog placed the shoe before him, tailing wagging once again as he watched Ricky. "Son of a sea bisuit-eatin' bi-" The dog cut him off with a growl before finishing, a common slang sailors and fisherman sometimes threw around. Yet the dog knew what he was about to say, as in literally stopped him from saying the term "female dog".

[Ricky Maze]

"Okay boy...." He began sorting out his thoughts as the dog wagged his tail excitedly, the boy interested in Ricky's reaction. He was a genuine mutt is what he was, being a stray wouldn't make him likely to follow Ricky's orders; but who would be mad to dump a dog out on the streets if he were this tamed. The only thing Ricky would have worry about is if this dog were not house trained for the bathroom, and Ricky wasn't going to keep a constant eye to see when the mutt would need to do it's business. Except if the dog really was trained this well, then wouldn't he know to go outside already? It was something Ricky would have to invest hope into, as they were both now stuck together. If the dog followed him all the way home, then that must mean it thought of Ricky as his "master" now. He didn't find the idea appealing still, but how are you do get a dog to not follow you around. Taking it far away was obviously out of the question, and he doubted Nira and Elem would have time to take care of a dog.... He hasn't even seen them in a few weeks come to think of it. Seeing the options that were out of the question, only two solutions were present: Find the dog a different owner or take him in as Ricky's own. The dog came up and rested his head on Ricky's knee, looking up to Ricky with pleading eyes. Ricky looked deep in those eyes with wonder, and patted the dog with some slight of affection. When he looked into the dogs eye's he felt a change of heart, knowing now and seeing it in the dog; he chose to follow Ricky. It was in his nature to find an alpha, because he was raised by an alpha. After Ricky realized this he couldn't take the other option, it was cruel to just simply throw him into some one else's life when the dog already made his choice. He grinned loosely at the dog, still unsure about the decision he was about to follow through with. "All right pup, ya can stay." "Ruff ruff!" The dog barked with excitement, joy filled his eyes as his tongue again hang loosely. "I thought so," Ricky said as he watched, thinking on what the name of this mutt would be. He remembered a story his father told him of a time when he was out at sea, a shipmate of his named Odis was his friend who saved him. If those two were good friends and Ricky and his new dog were going to be good friends, he couldn't think of a name more fitting to honor their memory. "Right then, yer name will be Odis!" He told the mutt as he rubbed the dogs forehead, the pup looking to his master with joy. "Ruff ruff!" He barked with excitement as he licked Ricky's hands, Ricky would need a bit to get use to that. "Odis it is then." He confirmed as he smiled, only this one wasn't so loose. He was actually quite happy that this change was happening, because now he wouldn't be alone. From here on out it would be Ricky and Odis, and they both would no longer need to be alone; because now they have each other. Man and dog, best friends until the end.

[Balderdash]

Delicious rewards! Happy days and jubilation!

Skill	XP Awarded
Observation	2
Intimidation	2
Animal Husbandry	1
Leadership	1

Lores: Daddy’s Not Home, Real Men (And Boys) Don’t Torture Animals, Being A Canine Superhero, Examining A Doggy’s Ding Dong, Dog Love, Being Followed, Getting Gutted By Puppy Dog Eyes, Getting Reprimanded By A Canine, Naming Odis

Items and Consequences: +1 Lifetime Canine Companion, complete with evil detecting nose and unconditional love. Batteries sold separately.

An adorable little thread. Do I sense me some foreshadowing? Hmmmmm?



If you have any questions or concerns about this grade, please PM me. A happy you is a happy Balderdash!