[After a pause, perhaps the creature debating whether the food is worth the risk of getting closer?, it begins to move, black nose sniffing curiously over the new pieces of jerky. Curiously, it licks one before actually going to eat it, as if sampling before committing... but whatever flavor test or poison check it intended, Link's food passes...
And sharp teeth get to work, gnawing on the first piece near the opening to its temporary den. Slowly, it approaches the next piece... devours it... and then the next...
It is still shivering slightly, even though its body language is looking less wary of Link's presence, small ears no longer flattened back to the skull and not turning its face constantly towards Link to ascertain he has not moved. His patience, it seems, will be rewarded...
Because after it devours the piece of jerky closest to him, it does not skitter back to to the safety of the rubble of Yima's manor. Instead... it turns its muzzle Link's way, beginning to sniff towards his knee and leg and pack as if inquiring if there is not more food to come.]
[ It's when the beast's little black snout touches the side of his knee that Link finally glances downwards towards it. In close quarters, he can see it clearly now — its wise, soulful black eyes, the diamond-shaped face topped by two dainty rounded ears, the thin legs and paws that emerge from its thick coat to softly step closer to him.
Whatever this thing is, it's adorable. If Link had less self-control, he might be tempted to reach out and run his hand down its downy neck and back... but he knows not to test the tolerance of a creature with sharp teeth.
So he takes another piece from the pile of jerky sitting atop his pants leg and holds it out to the beast, in his open palm. Will it eat straight from his hand? Or will it bite? It won't be the first time a canine has sunk its teeth into him, but this one isn't acting anything like the packs of wolves that inhabit Hyrule. ]
[Link is a smart man (in this way). Because the creature was adorable, surely. The legs seem so slim compared to the fluffy main body, the tail curly fluffy behind its rump, the little ears twitch... and the dark, dark eyes that don't even to reflect anything around it watch, with a wisdom that might almost seem beyond what a mere beast should be capable of...
Until, you know, the next piece of meat comes out.
This time, it does not hesitate as much. There is still a cursory sniff, a brief look for a trap... but it stands up partly to put two paws on Link's leg and begins to eat the jerky from his hand. And when the jerky is gone, well...
The scent remains, as do a few crumbs. And so the tongue goes to work, licking along the lines of his palm to get every last bit.]
[ The flash of a tiny pink tongue and the sensation of it against his skin finally breaks Link's mask of calm neutrality. He breaks into a wide smile, eyebrows raised, and starts to huff a chuckle before silencing himself. He doesn't want to startle the creature with any sudden noises, but watching it lick his hand clean is just so...
.....So wonderful. This is something he's missed, he realizes. Being alone, but not really alone. Being alone with the natural wilds. Yes, they're in the city, but the area around the Manor has largely been left to exist as a space for plants and small animals to thrive. A halfway point between civilization and the harsh Beyond. Not unlike the Ruins that populated the Hyrule he came from.
He doesn't have much jerky left. Using his other hand, he awkwardly reaches around to his opposite hip where his pack sits and takes out the last of the meat. But instead of giving it directly to the beast, he holds it in his opposite hand, offering. In order to reach it, the beast will have to climb into his lap. ]
[The creature's ears twitch, turning toward the sound of laughter, no matter how slight. But whether because it is slight or because Link has gained a bit of trust, it does not disturb the animal's focus on getting everything out of its meal. And there is one... more... piece...
Deep black eyes examine the situation, assess what needs to be done... and then hops on to the Hyrulian's lap, at first just bracing back legs and fore on opposite thighs to bridge the gap and reach his other hand, but once the meat has been seized... it "retreats" into the cradle of his lap, turning around and fussing for a comfortable spot until it seems satisfied, laying down in a curled up ball to gnaw on the jerky, its tail thumping slightly against a knee.
And this time... it stays, even after the meat has gone. A black nose curiously sniffs along trousers, little claws prick along leg... and then it curls in even tighter with a shiver, trying to bury itself deeper between Link's legs as if having found its new hiding place.]
[ Link remains quiet as he watches the creature jump into his lap to fetch the last piece of jerky. He can feel its pointed nails digging against the fabric of his pants as it takes the food from his hand — in this position, he can tip his head to the side to glance at its rear. Ah... it's a female, whatever it is. She. Whatever she is.
She's so friendly that Link is starting to believe she must be some kind of dog. What kind, he has no idea... but it has been 114 years. Maybe this is some sort of new breed to Highstorm? ]
...good girl.
[ Unlike other animals, dogs enjoy being spoken to. Link's voice is soft and quiet, barely above a whisper. He watches the dog curl into the space between his folded legs and laughs, for real this time, unrestrained. ]
Are you cold? With a coat like that, I'd expect you to be more comfortable in snow.
[ Carefully, he pulls his shawl off and lays it across his lap, leaving a small gap over the dog's head, so she can still look out at the world if she wants. ]
[The ears twitch the second Link speaks, the creature’s head lifts… and it looks at him. For the first time, seemingly without any food motivation, perhaps… at most, a desire to be warm. Even from this closer angle… light does not seem to shine of its dark, dark eyes, its gaze consuming more than reflecting.
It consumes his smile. His laugh.
And when he lays the shawl over his lap, creating a cozier place for it to rest… it pokes its head out just enough to shove it beneath his hand before he can withdraw it, insistent and the motion accompanied by a small canine whine.]
[ The peculiar dog stares up at him. Link stares back. If he didn't know better, he might believe the creature is... studying him. Thinking. And, well, she still could be, but... something about that deep, open stare seems much more intelligent than the typical dog.
Then it nuzzles his hand. That makes sense, he thinks to himself. She wants pets! Definitely some kind of dog.
Smiling with the same gentle, humble kindness, Link strokes his hand across her head and down the back of her neck. His touch is careful but expressive. ]
You're so sweet. [ Being mindful not to reach too closely towards the beast's pointed about, he scratches behind one of her round, teddybear-like ears. ] How'd you get out here...? I wonder... could you be lost? Do you have a family?
[Do dogs possess the ability to judge humans and other human-like peoples on their kindnesses or potential skills with a petting hand? If so... Surely this dog-thing has exercised it very well. As Link's hand brushes over the snow-white fur, he will feel it is thick and insulating, surely something that should keep an animal quite warm despite outside temperatures, full and thick and coarse until fingers get past the prickly point of the outer hairs to the softer fluff closer to hide.
Though cats are the sort to sometimes lay traps, seemingly asking for touch and then hissing or slapping at the hand that offers it, this creature takes what it seemed to ask for, its tail twitching and curling with satisfaction as it tips its head into the sensation, eyes briefly closing as tongue laps along dark lips and swipes over its nose. The way it moves...
It almost seems like a "no", that it does not have a family... But that is probably just how it is moving, surely, "nodding" into the scratch behind its ear and letting out a pleased rumble of sound.
If Link isn't careful... The beast will take full advantage of its newfound pamperer. And when he is ready to leave...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
as is only proper!!!
And sharp teeth get to work, gnawing on the first piece near the opening to its temporary den. Slowly, it approaches the next piece... devours it... and then the next...
It is still shivering slightly, even though its body language is looking less wary of Link's presence, small ears no longer flattened back to the skull and not turning its face constantly towards Link to ascertain he has not moved. His patience, it seems, will be rewarded...
Because after it devours the piece of jerky closest to him, it does not skitter back to to the safety of the rubble of Yima's manor. Instead... it turns its muzzle Link's way, beginning to sniff towards his knee and leg and pack as if inquiring if there is not more food to come.]
no subject
Whatever this thing is, it's adorable. If Link had less self-control, he might be tempted to reach out and run his hand down its downy neck and back... but he knows not to test the tolerance of a creature with sharp teeth.
So he takes another piece from the pile of jerky sitting atop his pants leg and holds it out to the beast, in his open palm. Will it eat straight from his hand? Or will it bite? It won't be the first time a canine has sunk its teeth into him, but this one isn't acting anything like the packs of wolves that inhabit Hyrule. ]
no subject
Until, you know, the next piece of meat comes out.
This time, it does not hesitate as much. There is still a cursory sniff, a brief look for a trap... but it stands up partly to put two paws on Link's leg and begins to eat the jerky from his hand. And when the jerky is gone, well...
The scent remains, as do a few crumbs. And so the tongue goes to work, licking along the lines of his palm to get every last bit.]
no subject
.....So wonderful. This is something he's missed, he realizes. Being alone, but not really alone. Being alone with the natural wilds. Yes, they're in the city, but the area around the Manor has largely been left to exist as a space for plants and small animals to thrive. A halfway point between civilization and the harsh Beyond. Not unlike the Ruins that populated the Hyrule he came from.
He doesn't have much jerky left. Using his other hand, he awkwardly reaches around to his opposite hip where his pack sits and takes out the last of the meat. But instead of giving it directly to the beast, he holds it in his opposite hand, offering. In order to reach it, the beast will have to climb into his lap. ]
no subject
Deep black eyes examine the situation, assess what needs to be done... and then hops on to the Hyrulian's lap, at first just bracing back legs and fore on opposite thighs to bridge the gap and reach his other hand, but once the meat has been seized... it "retreats" into the cradle of his lap, turning around and fussing for a comfortable spot until it seems satisfied, laying down in a curled up ball to gnaw on the jerky, its tail thumping slightly against a knee.
And this time... it stays, even after the meat has gone. A black nose curiously sniffs along trousers, little claws prick along leg... and then it curls in even tighter with a shiver, trying to bury itself deeper between Link's legs as if having found its new hiding place.]
no subject
She's so friendly that Link is starting to believe she must be some kind of dog. What kind, he has no idea... but it has been 114 years. Maybe this is some sort of new breed to Highstorm? ]
...good girl.
[ Unlike other animals, dogs enjoy being spoken to. Link's voice is soft and quiet, barely above a whisper. He watches the dog curl into the space between his folded legs and laughs, for real this time, unrestrained. ]
Are you cold? With a coat like that, I'd expect you to be more comfortable in snow.
[ Carefully, he pulls his shawl off and lays it across his lap, leaving a small gap over the dog's head, so she can still look out at the world if she wants. ]
There. You can stay until I leave, if you want.
no subject
It consumes his smile. His laugh.
And when he lays the shawl over his lap, creating a cozier place for it to rest… it pokes its head out just enough to shove it beneath his hand before he can withdraw it, insistent and the motion accompanied by a small canine whine.]
no subject
Then it nuzzles his hand. That makes sense, he thinks to himself. She wants pets! Definitely some kind of dog.
Smiling with the same gentle, humble kindness, Link strokes his hand across her head and down the back of her neck. His touch is careful but expressive. ]
You're so sweet. [ Being mindful not to reach too closely towards the beast's pointed about, he scratches behind one of her round, teddybear-like ears. ] How'd you get out here...? I wonder... could you be lost? Do you have a family?
no subject
Though cats are the sort to sometimes lay traps, seemingly asking for touch and then hissing or slapping at the hand that offers it, this creature takes what it seemed to ask for, its tail twitching and curling with satisfaction as it tips its head into the sensation, eyes briefly closing as tongue laps along dark lips and swipes over its nose. The way it moves...
It almost seems like a "no", that it does not have a family... But that is probably just how it is moving, surely, "nodding" into the scratch behind its ear and letting out a pleased rumble of sound.
If Link isn't careful... The beast will take full advantage of its newfound pamperer. And when he is ready to leave...
It might not be so keen to let him.]