“Who are you? What is that?”
Samantha spun around, but couldn’t find the speaker. She glanced at Charlie who was staring at a nearby tree. Samantha fixed her eyes on the same location.
“A dog?” A small face peeked out from between the leaves. The skin matched the bark almost perfectly. “Really, truly, a dog?”
A lithe form in green clothes skinned out of the trunk of the tree and dropped to the ground. “I am the Treeling known as Fritter. I am honored by your visit.” Fritter bowed low to the ground in front of Charlie.
Charlie barked, then assumed his usual position – sitting down, tail wagging, panting with his tongue lolling. [Charlie being a dog, his usual position in these circumstances would be with his nose at Fritter's butt for several minutes.]
Samantha squinted at Fritter. “Treeling? Charlie’s glad you’re honored and all that.”
Fritter straightened with a snap. His eyes, level with Samantha’s, flickered red. “And do you, lowly creature, assume you can speak for Charlie?”
Samantha took a step backwards.
Charlie stood up and growled. His tongue slid behind the even rows of teeth he bared at [Samantha as he declared, "The creature's right. I've had it with you assuming you know what I think."
Charlie dined well that night: Samantha tartare and fritters.] Fritter.
“Ah yes.” Fritter backed a few steps. “I suppose you do. My abject apologies.” Fritter bowed to her. A very shallow bow.
--Sarah
Notes
If I saw a creature with skin like tree bark, wearing clothes and talking, I wouldn't assume it was a dog. I'd assume it was a weredingo.
11 comments:
I had to backtrack once before I realized that it was the Treeling, not Samantha, speaking in the third paragraph. Unless it's more obvious when in context, I think it might be clearer if the fourth paragraph was connected to the end of the third.
I liked how uppity Fritter came across in such a short span.
I really, really like this!
Is this book finished? It sounds like a lot of fun!
Charming!
Is nobody else disconcerted by the name 'Fritter'? I expected his companions, Rissole and Hash Brown, to appear next.
Thanks. And thank you, EE. I wasn't expecting the individual attention to these submissions.
The book is 'finished' but I need to rewrite it before submitting it anywhere. Have to add a bit more of the story here and there.
If you think Fritter is a bad name, wait until you hear about the other tree creatures.
Hah! I like the reversal.
I hate to ask this, but isn't it possible the dog just lifted it's leg and watered the tree and the treeling?
Does "weredingo" have a special connotation on this blog, different from that of your average therianthrope?
She seems very unsurprised, but there may be a reason for that that we don't see here. I was also confused by that third para. Loved the 'shallow bow'! It says so much!
Weredingo is one of many running jokes, along with Amelia Pettipants (who hasn't appeared in a while). Check the archives :).
Sarah,
I really, really enjoyed this, and wanted there to be more.
Post a Comment