Dealing with Children and Small Animals...*Action Sequence - 18th November 1005

[not_a_clotpole]

This multiverse thing has resulted in any number of bizarre encounters.

This evening's encounter requires him to accompany a small girl to the Forest of Balor just outside Camelot.

The sun had almost set by now and Arthur debated the wisdom of this.

The kid, Stephanie, was about to be deterred and no self-respecting person would allow a small child to wander into the forest unaccompanied, so here he was.

He could only hope that only deer and badger would be wandering around in the woods tonight.

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[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur jumped and spun around, sword still at the ready.

"Who goes there?" He shouted, then suddenly shook his head.

"Stephanie, is that you?"

[need-no-help.livejournal.com]

*She had been busted and she froze.*

No?...*She stayed where she was.*

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur has to laugh, he rolls his eyes and comes over, looking down at her.

"It looks a lot like you...sounds a lot like you as well."

[need-no-help.livejournal.com]

*She doesn't have time to hide before he's standing looking down at her. She swallowed hard.*

Nope..not me at all...*She looks down, realizing she's slipped up.*..okay..it is me...

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur's laugh isn't exasperated right now, he's thoroughly amused.

"You know...you remind me of Merlin, my manservant, he never leaves when he should either."

[need-no-help.livejournal.com]

*When he laughs, she sighs relieved.*

You're not angry? *She giggled a little bit with him, before getting distracted by a couple of fawn that had appeared not far from them.*

[not_a_clotpole]

"No," Arthur shakes his head, how do you get mad at little kids anyway? (If he ever has children in the future, they're going to have it so easy.)

"Although I hope you see what I mean when I say the forest can be dangerous."

[need-no-help.livejournal.com]

But the wolf ran away...he was scared of you.*She said quietly.* Are they always afraid of you?

*She played with her hair a little as the fawns bounced away.*..it is dangerous though..if I had been out here by myself...

[not_a_clotpole]

"Well...the rabbits usually are, but I've never run up against a wolf before. We hunt during the day and they only come out at night."

He frowns. "Yes...it wouldn't have been...well...I wouldn't have been a very good host if I'd let you do that."

[need-no-help.livejournal.com]

*She looked down at her feet for a bit.*

Can wolves ever be friendly? I'd like to pat one..if they weren't so scary..

[not_a_clotpole]

"Wolves? I doubt it." She wants to pet it, obviously she missed the razor sharp teeth.

"There's dogs though...I could show you my dogs."

[need-no-help.livejournal.com]

Are they like wolves? *She turned and started dancing childishly towards Camelot again, putting him at rest a little.*

[not_a_clotpole]

"Well, they can growl like dogs and they look pretty fierce."

They're hunting dogs in fact.

Arthur breathes a sigh of relief when Stephanie heads back to Camelot and he follows on the alert in case their backs present a tempting treat.

The dogs sleep outdoors near the stables, a few of the older ones are napping, but the younger are still up and greet them with wagging tails.

[need-no-help.livejournal.com]

*She giggled and skipped over to the dogs, reaching out to pat them.*

These are much nicer than wolves...*She turns to Arthur giving him a smile.*

Do they have names?

[not_a_clotpole]

Or at least well-behaved because seriously? Those dogs hunting dogs.

"They do..." Arthur speaks slowly and tries to remember, usually he too focussed on the hunt to take much else in. "The one your patting is Fang."

Nothing wrong with sticking to the classics right?

[need-no-help.livejournal.com]

*She turned her attention back to the dog.*

Hi Fang..I''m Stephanie..*She gave him a good scratch behind the ears.*..you're a good boy..

*Fang licked her face and she giggled, pushing him away a little.*

[not_a_clotpole]

Fang jumps around quite happily at the giggling and petting - the hunter dogs don't usually get this kind of open affection.

A smaller dog, just a few months past puppyhood bounds over and jumps around Stephanie's legs.

Arthur chuckles, it is kind of cute.

[need-no-help.livejournal.com]

*Stephanie is loving the dogs and when the smaller one comes over to join, she giggles even more.*

Hello doggy...*She stumbles over onto her bum and continues giggling.*

[not_a_clotpole]

Yeah, Arthur doesn't know the name of that one...

"Better than wolves, I hope!"

If Arthur has ensured that the kid won't be wandering into deep dark forests and scaring adults....well, he's done a good service.

[need-no-help.livejournal.com]

*She giggles some more, before turning to him.*

Much better than wolves...*She hugged the little dog.*

..they really love to be patted...

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur grins and pets a few of the dogs that come over himself, much to their delight. They're totally going to be jumping all over him next hunt, the beaters are going to be confused as Hell.

[need-no-help.livejournal.com]

*She giggles as the dogs seek attention from Arthur now too.*

They like you a lot too...

[not_a_clotpole]

Everybody likes Arthur! At least in his (not so) humble opinion.

"Have you ever had a dog before? As a companion?" He asked she seemed very comfortable with the after all.

[need-no-help.livejournal.com]

Nope...never had an animal..wouldn't want to keep them that way. They are free to do as they like if I had one...nobody deserves to be a 'pet'.

*Since someone had tried capturing her twice now, she was very opposed to the idea.*

[not_a_clotpole]

"Oh..."

Well, that's a bit awkward seeing as these are hunting dogs and all...although they are left to their own devices a lot of the time, so maybe that makes it better.

"I suppose you wouldn't want one then." He'd been thinking about it, since Stephanie had mentioned been all alone in the world...but yeah...