Not Your Average Doggo (Cillian)

[Cara Dunn]

After having some time to heal and coming back from a holiday at home, Cara had one thing on her mind that she had let sit on the back burner for far too long for her liking.  Namely, a giant qi beast that belonged to one of the residents at the Academy that she'd met a couple of times now.  The real problem was finding the critter in question, which was precisely why she'd brought with her a giant leg of bone-in meatas a treat for the wolf she'd seen on the field.

Humming to herself, she headed to the kennel area where she'd seen other beasts.  It was the most logical place to start.

[Cillian McWolfe]

Cillian didn't need to keep Fenrir in a kennel, but she would see him on the way to it. The large beast tugging on a thick rope with him as they played. The bus sized animal's playful growl filling the air.

[Cara Dunn]

Success! Cara made her way over to Cillian and Fenrir, grinning at the sight of the two playing like it was any other day. A boy and his dog.

"Now that's a happy boy," she said with a laugh.

[Cillian McWolfe]

Cillian would have waved if he wasn't holding onto the rope with both hands!

"Yeah, haha. He's still a pup so he has a lot of energy to burn. How are you doing?"

[Cara Dunn]

Doggo wrestling is important. Thankfully, Cara understands, though she looked at Cillian and back at Fenrir.

"I'm doing better."  It was the easiest way to put it.  The mission had been unsettling on a number of levels.  "How about you?"

Wait a second. 

"He's still a puppy?" She might need a bigger treat...

[Cillian McWolfe]

Fenrir continued to growl playfully as he tugged at the rope with enough strength to make Cillian need to dig in his heels.

"Yeah, he is just a couple of months old. Still has that puppy energy."

He'd say with a laugh.

"I'm glad you are doing better now. I'm pretty good myself. It's been a good day."

Very relaxing.

"Oh! I never got a chance to congratulate you. Congratulations on the medal. You did a good job keeping your cool out there and assessing the situation."

[Cara Dunn]

Cara enjoyed the show, the energetic pup the size of a bus making Cillian work for every inch.

"He certainly has that. I wonder how bit he'll end up being." But more importantly was the rest of the conversation.

"I'm glad things are good for you." Her grin lessened a little at the mention of the search party they'd been a part of and the events that came with it.

"Thanks." She didn't feel like she deserved it; she wasn't the one who had saved anyone, party members or survivors. "It doesn't feel real. I've had to deal with bandits before. They're good with ambushes." She clicked her tongue and shook her head, smile returning.

"Thanks for your help, by the way." She hoisted up the meat treat that was half her size. "I actually brought this for Fenrir for helping, too."

[Cillian McWolfe]

"Yeah, they are. Hopefully it's not something you need to get used to."

An unfortunate part of the state of the world. Often times roads were not once you got beyond sight of a big settlement. You never knew where danger could lurk.

"Of course, me and Fenrir are always willing to help someone in need. Aren't we boy?"

He asked, jumping a little at Fenrir who dropped the rope and hunched down like he was ready to pounce his massive tail wagging.

"Hear that boy. She got a treat for you. Awwww it's gonna be goooooooood."

He turned back to Cara.

"Would you rather hand it to him or toss it for him?"

[Cara Dunn]

"I already am." Her lips twisted ina grimace. It was unpleasant, to say the least, but it meant that she was good in an emergency, and for that, Cara was glad. Just like she was even more glad at the distraction of playing with the giant puppers! Her eyes sparkled at the offered, voice rising in pitch and speeding up a little with excitement.

"Oooh, I wanna throw it! Gotta make him run that energy off, right?" She waggled the treat, just to make sure Fenrir had it fully in focus.

[Cillian McWolfe]

Oh she had his attention. Fenrir's eyes were following it intently.

"I'm sorry. That's terrible."

He wished he could instantaneously change how the world was. He wished progress wasn't the slow march that it was. However, that wasn't how the world worked, it was the tragic truth that they all lived by. But part of his job was facing those truths and the world with a smile, and it was something he kept close to his heart.

"Alright boy. Sit!"

Fenrir popped to attention. Sitting, his back feet shuffling as he waited for the command to go. He knew what was coming.

"Stay. Staaaaaay."

He held out a hand, motioning for Cara with his head.

"As hard as you can. Go for it."

[Cara Dunn]

"It is." She grinned as the giant wolf eyed the treat, making sure he sat fully and stayed before hurling the treat with all her might, lunging for extra momentum as it went flying in the air.

"It's part of why I'm here," she admitted whenever Cillian decided to let Fenrir loose. "I live out on the border, so if it's not them, it's bigger territories arguing who gets how much land and the fighting that goes with it. So sometimes, I have to find someone with a qi or better weapons." Despite the struggle that was life farther out from Territory 259, she found reasons to smile and enjoy life. Like right now, clapping her hands together in front of her in delight as she also played with the puppers.

[Cillian McWolfe]

He made Fenrir sit a moment after she threw it before letting him go.

"Go get it!"

And Fenrir was off, his massive paws ripping into the ground, rumbling as he rushed for the treat, skidding past it and running for it again before chomping down happily on it, his tail wagging rapidly.

"I completely understand. I myself am from neutral territory, so we have enemies on all sides."

Though Prota was by far the worst.

"Well I have Qi, and I will tell you. I bleed just as red as someone without it. I think sometimes people forget that they get drunk on their own strength and power. But we are men and women, the same as you. No better or worse, just us."

[Cara Dunn]

Cara whooped and rose on her toes, laughing as Fenrir overshot the treat.

"Good job, boy!" she called is the wolf chowed down. Turning her attention to Cillian, she had to wonder where he came from. He was nice, and seemed pretty down to earth. Nothing about missing inner sparks, or shooting guns as he walked through the gate. Or acting like she had a disease any time she looked at him.

"That has to be rough. We have protection, even if it's pretty hard to come by. I'm glad you're able to stay strong." The way she spoke suggested she meant the entire territory and not Cillian alone.

"Oh, I'm aware. Y'all may have some weird powers creepin' out of your body, but you're still people. People bleed the same, just like they can feel the same." That had made the first time she'd seen one die pretty horrific. Coming home one time in their blood wasn't something she'd planned on.

"Though I don't normally hear someone say that if they have qi. A lot of strutting like a peacock, you know?" She shook her head.

"I still remember meeting Red in the training grounds with you and Kaia. It was nice to see someone else here without powers and be reminded we can do just as much. Just differently."

[Cillian McWolfe]

"We do what we can to protect our way of life. It's rough some days, but it's a good life and good people. I love them with everything I am."

And it was no exaggeration to say he would die for his home.

"Yeah, that can happen sometimes I've noticed."

He nodded, some people really did let it get to their heads.

"It doesn't matter what your power is though, an arrow to the throat is probably going to put you down and keep you there."

Not always, but the vast majority absolutely.

"That does make me wonder though, why exactly are you here if you don't have a Qi? No judgment, just curious. Most people come here to train with it and learn about it, from what I understand.'

[Cara Dunn]

"Same here. We don't have much, and some days are worse than others, but we're a family in spirit and we fight to protect family." Cara nodded in approval, understanding how Cillian felt. She could feel just how much he cherished his home and his people in the way he spoke about them.

"I want to learn," she admitted. "I figure if I understand it, i can learn how to work against it better. Buuuut I'm mostly here for qi beasts." She chuckled sheepishly. "I've always had a knack for animals. Turns out it's the same for some of them, but it's hard to find any real information on them. There are some who try to fight for qi beast rights, but I don't know anywhere else where I'd learn more about them. Never had one actually talk to me until I got here, though."