Redhawk Caldera Master and Commander

@Shenanigans 

Chapter 8

Day 106 of Established existance

System is fully autonomous. AI is operating independently. Full-scale idea generation in progress. 

Situation: absolutely amazing
Mood: never better

In a matter of two weeks Dwin had gone from speechless, but still vocal, growl, barky and bitey puppy, to a person, who shut up only, when she fell asleep. First words had not come easy to her and then all of a sudden a figurative floodgate had opened inside her brain and she soaked up all the nuances of spoken language like a sponge. 

Not only that - when there was no one around to talk, she spoke to herself, making up games and sceneries within her mind with ease. So often she was seen playing and narrating her actions. This she was doing now too - playing with a piece of an old, dried up deer-hide. She pounced at it, she attacked it, she chewed on it and shook at it. Inbetween these actions there was a story unfolding about conquering the Evil Puppy-eater. 

Dwen! Hey, Dwen! Shenanigans cried, bouncing onto the scene with shining eyes and a waving tail. ‘Cha doin’?

Her glittering eyes flitted to the piece of worn hide in the girl’s mouth, then to her sparkling eyes, wondering what game she was playing and whether she might let Shenanigans join in with her?

But the littler of the two found she couldn’t wait for an answer. Having just emptied her bladder and bowels moments prior, she felt an irresistible urge to move and found herself galloping in rapid circles around Ceridwen and her piece of jerky.

Shenanigans was a new addition to the family. Dwin had not paid her much mind initially, because the puppy was younger and smaller than the rest of the crew and therefore more fragile. Not suitable for the rough play she enjoyed. In other words - boring and useless. This assessment did not mean that Dwin was in any way antagonistic towards her. She simply did not pay her much mind and went around with her own business. 

Today, however, was Shin's (let's be honest - the full name was wa-a-a-a-a-a-ay too long for Dwin to use it in conversations) lucky day. "Sure - let's rip that nasty Puppyeater to shreds," she told her and pushed the piece of pelt towards the other kid and picked up one end in her jaws.

When Ceridwen addressed her, Shenanigans dug her little heels into the earth. She came to a stop, pink tongue lolling from her panting mouth, heart thudding soundly in her chest. Her eyes danced when the older pup invited her to a game of tug-o’-war.

She sprang forward to latch her teeth into her end of the strip of rawhide, even as questions danced in her baby blue eyes. Who was this “nasty puppy eater”? Was it their skin the girls were about to rip to shreds? Ceridwen’s words implied as much.

Growling, Shenanigans began to tug.