Title: Wolf, In The Morning
Fandom: due South
Pairing: Um. Well, this is a Diefenbaker fic, but there's some F/K
Rating: G
Summary: See title. *g*
I am hungry.
I trot over to where my friend is sleeping in his bed. I nuzzle my nose against his cheek.
He says something about being tired, and berates me for my gluttony. I snort on his face. Ha, take that! I don’t even restrain my whuf of satisfaction as he wipes my wolf-snot from his face and glares at me. I turn my back on him and go into the kitchen. There are good-smelling things there.
I whine. Ray is sympathetic and gives me a donut. Score! At times, I like my friend’s mate more than my friend. This is one of those times. I butt my head against Ray’s leg to let him know.
-You’re welcome, Dief.
I’m appreciated. That’s nice. Not as nice as going out, though. I walk over to the door and then I give Ray a look.
-Out, huh? Okay, okay, hold those horses. I’ll take ya for a walk.
Ray grabs a jacket and we’re off.
Well, I am off, and behind me Ray is yelling. I don’t hear him, but I feel the vibrations of his voice. These vibrations are telling me he’s just irritated, and there’s no danger, so I keep running. There are smells everywhere, and I stop and sniff the more interesting ones. Here, there’s a rotting banana peel. There, some other canine has been urinating, trying to mark this particular territory. I piss all over his so-called marking. Take that, you lousy mutt! This is my turf.
I smell something baking. Muffins. Blueberry, I think. Yes, yes, blueberry. I look up in the general direction of where the scent is wafting from. Up, up, yes, there it is, coming from that apartment window.
I find the fire escape.
Ray is still making those irritated vibrations, but I ignore him some more. Humans have no nose for blueberry muffins, fresh from the oven.
I reach the window and whine.
-You again?
She’s older than my friend and his mate. I cock my head at her - always works on ladies like this - and she smiles.
-I guess you smelled my muffins.
I woof in response. She hands over not one, but two of the delicacies, places them on the window sill. Victory!
-They’re hot!
Her warning is too late, I’ve already burned my tongue. I give her a hurt look.
-I tried to warn you.
I cock my head again to let her know she is forgiven.
-Here, I’ll break them open so they cool faster.
She does this, and I’m grateful. Soon the muffins are gone. The lady ruffles my fur, which I allow, and I lick her hand in return.
-Come back tomorrow, I’m baking pies.
I file that away. Hopefully I won’t be working. I wouldn’t want to miss out on pie.
I bound down the fire escape and find Ray there waiting for me. I expect a lecture. He’s not as good at lecturing as my friend, but ...
Wait, he’s looking up, and then he’s catching a muffin. (I’m surprised he caught it at all, he’s almost as blind as I am deaf.) He grins up at the lady.
-Thanks, Mrs. Somethingorother!
My lip reading skills only go so far, especially when dealing with intricate tongue-twisting names of ethnic origin.
I am forgiven when Ray takes a bite of muffin and scratches behind my ear. I look around for fallen crumbs - Ray isn’t the cleanest of eaters. Yes, there, and there! Crumbs! I lick them from the pavement. While I have my nose to the ground, I catch the scent of something else. Something that makes my fur stand up on end and my heart pound in my lupine chest.
Cat!
There is a cat on the premises! Well, somewhere. This street? Down that alley? Cats are always prowling around in alleys.
I’m off! After the cat! (Cats are almost as fun as rabbits, but there aren’t any rabbits here in this strange place in which my friend and I now live.)
Cat, cat, cat, where’s the cat?
Ray is making those vibrations again, but there is a cat, and it doesn’t matter at all.
The scent is closer. I slow down. Pad softly down the alley, soft, soft, nose to the ground. I’m hunting. My prey is close.
Caught! The cat has sighted me! The chase is on.
I let loose a series of intimidating noises, letting the cat know I’m on its trail. Her. Yes, definitely a female cat. She thinks she can outrun me. Outsmart me. Ha! She does not know whom she is dealing with.
Over a fence she jumps. She thinks this will deter me. I leap over the fence as well and continue. HA! I want to laugh in my mania.
Cat, cat, cat! My blood is thrumming with the thrill of the hunt. I am a WOLF!
She scampers up an electric pole and I whimper. This is not fair. If she were a rabbit, this would not be happening. I sit at the base of the pole and settle down, determined to wait her out. I have patience. I am from the wild. She is just a city animal, not even really worthy of my attention.
She growls at me. I growl right back, saying, ‘Come on down and show me what you’ve got.’ She hisses back, but she looks quite smug.
I put my head on my paws. This is just great. Outsmarted by a cat.
Ray shows up eventually. I give him my most pitiful look and then stare at the cat. Ray is not very sympathetic.
-It’s nine o’clock in the morning, Dief, I don’t have time for this. I’ve got a half-naked Mountie in my bed and ....
I turn my head. I do not need to hear about this. Eww.
Ray’s walking away, back home, I suspect. I give the cat one last growl before I follow.
END