![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
froodle posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
eerieindianaWritten for the National Puppy Day challenge.
"What did you do?!" Simon cried as the hot, wet wind whipped around them, smelling of dog food and saliva.
Marshall stared down at the moulded-plastic bust of a stern-looking black Labrador, and felt his stomach sink.
"Simon!" he shouted, his voice muffled in air gone thick with floating dander. "Promise me, whatever comes out of that portal, you won't take it home with you?"
"What?" Simon screamed back, as reality split along the seams and something sleek and glossy shouldered it's way through the tangled undergrowth and discarded tyres that marked the edge of the Eerie Municipal Landfill, town dump and the training ground of Eerie's premier free-form dance troupe, the Dodgers.
Grabbing a fistful of his most trusted associate's hand-me-down padded jacket, Marshall hauled him bodily away from the tall metal fence that ringed the giant crater where Eerie's old refrigerators went to die and crash-landed beings from other planets went to salvage a way home.
"If you pet that thing, we are never going to get rid of it," he said, pointing to the dog-like beast now navigating a Gordian knot of abandoned shopping trolleys that lay between them and it. It looked up at the movement, and Marshall stared into dark eyes full of opprobrium that reminded him uncomfortably of a still-unpainted garage door.
He looked away, guilty heat prickling along his spine.
"I don't think he's a pet-me dog," said Simon, apparently unaware of the judgement being meted out by the dump's guardian spirit. "Look."
Abandoning the possibility of a peaceful resolution between beast and shopping cart, the rusted tangle of metal was now being slowly subsumed into the dog's black, black fur.
"Shit," said Marshall, as the last wheel vanished into the darkness and the other-worldly canine continued towards them. From here, he could see white patches around the long muzzle, but he couldn't tell if this was the grey fur of great age, or the space-rabies-riddled spittle of an enraged animal defending it's territory, or the viscous and bubbly blood of some previous unwary trespasser, horrible in it's own right but still no match for the thing now headed their way.
Then it was upon them, crossing the intervening ground in the stop-motion jitter of a Night Mare who smelled sugar lumps in a coat pocket. It stood on the other side of the fence, ignoring the barbed-wire wards that tinkled and glowed, and stared at the two boys. In the silence, the only thing Marshall heard was the roar of blood in his own ears.
"The totem," Simon whispered. "Give him his totem back and maybe he'll let us leave."
Marshall looked blankly at him for a long moment, his brain struggling to recognise the words over the shriek of his own fear. Simon muttered something under his breath and snatched the cheap plastic figurine from his friend's numbed fingers. Hesitantly he moved closer to the metal slats of the fence, one hand outstretched, the dog's likeness gripped lightly between thumb and forefinger.
"Hey," he said softly. "Hey, boy. You want the mystical link between our world and yours back? Here it is." He set it down on the cracked asphalt at the base of the barrier and darted back to stand beside Marshall, unconsciously rubbing his hand on his shirt front.
The dog gave the statue a sniff, reaching one paw between the bars in order to draw it to him. When it once again lay in the muddy and poisoned soil dump-side, he sniffed it twice, appearing satisfied with it's restoration, then nudged it towards the steep trash-strewn slope that led to the centre of the crater. It bounced away, out of sight, and the dog returned it's attention to them.
Pressing close against the bars, it growled a low, guttural warning that started in the listener's stomach. Instinctively they stepped back, out onto the dirt track where scavengers in heavily-armoured vehicles parked on weekends to raid the town's trash heaps and watch avant-garde dance routines being practised.
The dog turned, presenting it's flank to them, and trotted a little way off. When they didn't immediately follow, it whirled and snarled at them until they hurried alongside it. It paced steadily along the perimeter, pausing to glare at them if they moved too fast or too slow, until they reached the gated entrance where an elderly man in a plexiglass booth raised the security barrier to let them out.
"Good salvage, lads," he said, uttering the age-old greeting for people entering or leaving the town dump.
He didn't mention the dog, and neither did they, though he must have been able to see the thing that stood watching them from atop a burned-out Douglas DC-3 aircraft.
"Yes," said Simon hoarsely, good manners overcoming mortal terror. "Good salvage."
The old man nodded approvingly, lowering the red and white gate behind them.
Trusted Associates, Inc.
Halloween by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
froodle, in which Mars and Simon celebrate a Von Orloff-free All Hallows Eve
Surprise byfroodle, in which Mars tries to make sure Simon's birthday goes a little better this year
The Glade byfroodle, in which Simon and Mars visit a place that only exists on February 29th
Egg Hunt byfroodle, in which Simon and Mars partake of some traditional Easter activities
Boardwalk byfroodle, in which Simon and Mars are swayed by radio advertising
Lady in Red byfroodle, in which Simon experiments on the old-fashioned radio in the Secret Spot, and horror ensues
Waiting In byfroodle, in which there is an ice-storm and a handyman does not arrive
Seafoam byfroodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the seaside
A Night at the Circus byfroodle, in which a carnivale comes to town, and Marshall and Simon do not enjoy themselves
Taking a Break byfroodle, in which Simon and Marshall enjoy some much-needed R&R
Model Railway byfroodle, in which a new business prepares to open in Eerie
Shoreline byfroodle, in which Simon and Marshall investigate strange happenings on the shores of Lake Eerie
Parade byfroodle, in which Mars takes issue with the Eerie Beekeepers Association's choice of mascot
Homestead byfroodle, in which Marshall finally gets something useful out of shop class
Hound byfroodle, in which Simon makes a friend
Errands byfroodle, in which Simon has a to-do list
Slyboots byfroodle, in which a certain corporal of the infernal regions comes to Eerie. Crossover with Johannes Cabal the Necromancer.
Waterlogged byfroodle, in which Eerie experiences heavy rainfall
Festival byfroodle, in which Eerie's local businesses celebrate the summer
Strawberry byfroodle, in which there is unauthorised hubbub in Eerie
Wildlife byfroodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the beach
Facilities byfroodle, in which the Eerie Bus Station and Supper Club has a problem with the men's toilet
Anticipation byfroodle, in which Simon and Harley look forward to the Equinox
Castle byfroodle, in which there is unexpected architecture in Eerie
Visitor in which Marshall's grandma comes to stay
Euclid byfroodle, in which Marshall and Simon investigate strange events at the Eerie Cemetery
The Hut byfroodle, in which Simon takes on the forces of Eerie solo
"What did you do?!" Simon cried as the hot, wet wind whipped around them, smelling of dog food and saliva.
Marshall stared down at the moulded-plastic bust of a stern-looking black Labrador, and felt his stomach sink.
"Simon!" he shouted, his voice muffled in air gone thick with floating dander. "Promise me, whatever comes out of that portal, you won't take it home with you?"
"What?" Simon screamed back, as reality split along the seams and something sleek and glossy shouldered it's way through the tangled undergrowth and discarded tyres that marked the edge of the Eerie Municipal Landfill, town dump and the training ground of Eerie's premier free-form dance troupe, the Dodgers.
Grabbing a fistful of his most trusted associate's hand-me-down padded jacket, Marshall hauled him bodily away from the tall metal fence that ringed the giant crater where Eerie's old refrigerators went to die and crash-landed beings from other planets went to salvage a way home.
"If you pet that thing, we are never going to get rid of it," he said, pointing to the dog-like beast now navigating a Gordian knot of abandoned shopping trolleys that lay between them and it. It looked up at the movement, and Marshall stared into dark eyes full of opprobrium that reminded him uncomfortably of a still-unpainted garage door.
He looked away, guilty heat prickling along his spine.
"I don't think he's a pet-me dog," said Simon, apparently unaware of the judgement being meted out by the dump's guardian spirit. "Look."
Abandoning the possibility of a peaceful resolution between beast and shopping cart, the rusted tangle of metal was now being slowly subsumed into the dog's black, black fur.
"Shit," said Marshall, as the last wheel vanished into the darkness and the other-worldly canine continued towards them. From here, he could see white patches around the long muzzle, but he couldn't tell if this was the grey fur of great age, or the space-rabies-riddled spittle of an enraged animal defending it's territory, or the viscous and bubbly blood of some previous unwary trespasser, horrible in it's own right but still no match for the thing now headed their way.
Then it was upon them, crossing the intervening ground in the stop-motion jitter of a Night Mare who smelled sugar lumps in a coat pocket. It stood on the other side of the fence, ignoring the barbed-wire wards that tinkled and glowed, and stared at the two boys. In the silence, the only thing Marshall heard was the roar of blood in his own ears.
"The totem," Simon whispered. "Give him his totem back and maybe he'll let us leave."
Marshall looked blankly at him for a long moment, his brain struggling to recognise the words over the shriek of his own fear. Simon muttered something under his breath and snatched the cheap plastic figurine from his friend's numbed fingers. Hesitantly he moved closer to the metal slats of the fence, one hand outstretched, the dog's likeness gripped lightly between thumb and forefinger.
"Hey," he said softly. "Hey, boy. You want the mystical link between our world and yours back? Here it is." He set it down on the cracked asphalt at the base of the barrier and darted back to stand beside Marshall, unconsciously rubbing his hand on his shirt front.
The dog gave the statue a sniff, reaching one paw between the bars in order to draw it to him. When it once again lay in the muddy and poisoned soil dump-side, he sniffed it twice, appearing satisfied with it's restoration, then nudged it towards the steep trash-strewn slope that led to the centre of the crater. It bounced away, out of sight, and the dog returned it's attention to them.
Pressing close against the bars, it growled a low, guttural warning that started in the listener's stomach. Instinctively they stepped back, out onto the dirt track where scavengers in heavily-armoured vehicles parked on weekends to raid the town's trash heaps and watch avant-garde dance routines being practised.
The dog turned, presenting it's flank to them, and trotted a little way off. When they didn't immediately follow, it whirled and snarled at them until they hurried alongside it. It paced steadily along the perimeter, pausing to glare at them if they moved too fast or too slow, until they reached the gated entrance where an elderly man in a plexiglass booth raised the security barrier to let them out.
"Good salvage, lads," he said, uttering the age-old greeting for people entering or leaving the town dump.
He didn't mention the dog, and neither did they, though he must have been able to see the thing that stood watching them from atop a burned-out Douglas DC-3 aircraft.
"Yes," said Simon hoarsely, good manners overcoming mortal terror. "Good salvage."
The old man nodded approvingly, lowering the red and white gate behind them.
Trusted Associates, Inc.
Halloween by
froodle, in which Mars and Simon celebrate a Von Orloff-free All Hallows EveSurprise by
froodle, in which Mars tries to make sure Simon's birthday goes a little better this yearThe Glade by
froodle, in which Simon and Mars visit a place that only exists on February 29thEgg Hunt by
froodle, in which Simon and Mars partake of some traditional Easter activities Boardwalk by
froodle, in which Simon and Mars are swayed by radio advertisingLady in Red by
froodle, in which Simon experiments on the old-fashioned radio in the Secret Spot, and horror ensuesWaiting In by
froodle, in which there is an ice-storm and a handyman does not arriveSeafoam by
froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the seasideA Night at the Circus by
froodle, in which a carnivale comes to town, and Marshall and Simon do not enjoy themselvesTaking a Break by
froodle, in which Simon and Marshall enjoy some much-needed R&RModel Railway by
froodle, in which a new business prepares to open in EerieShoreline by
froodle, in which Simon and Marshall investigate strange happenings on the shores of Lake EerieParade by
froodle, in which Mars takes issue with the Eerie Beekeepers Association's choice of mascot Homestead by
froodle, in which Marshall finally gets something useful out of shop classHound by
froodle, in which Simon makes a friendErrands by
froodle, in which Simon has a to-do listSlyboots by
froodle, in which a certain corporal of the infernal regions comes to Eerie. Crossover with Johannes Cabal the Necromancer.Waterlogged by
froodle, in which Eerie experiences heavy rainfallFestival by
froodle, in which Eerie's local businesses celebrate the summerStrawberry by
froodle, in which there is unauthorised hubbub in EerieWildlife by
froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the beachFacilities by
froodle, in which the Eerie Bus Station and Supper Club has a problem with the men's toiletAnticipation by
froodle, in which Simon and Harley look forward to the EquinoxCastle by
froodle, in which there is unexpected architecture in EerieVisitor in which Marshall's grandma comes to stay
Euclid by
froodle, in which Marshall and Simon investigate strange events at the Eerie Cemetery The Hut by
froodle, in which Simon takes on the forces of Eerie solo
no subject
Date: 2018-03-30 02:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-03-30 08:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-03-31 01:07 am (UTC)I love it
no subject
Date: 2018-03-31 03:22 pm (UTC)