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"submission_left_file_name": "5694198_bearwithin_part_2_-_jason.doc", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/5694/5694198_bearwithin_part_2_-_jason.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/5694/5694198_bearwithin_part_2_-_jason.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/5694/5694198_bearwithin_part_2_-_jason.jpg", "submission_left_thumb_huge_x": "300", "submission_left_thumb_huge_y": "300", "submission_left_thumb_large_x": "200", "submission_left_thumb_large_y": "200", "submission_left_thumb_medium_x": "120", "submission_left_thumb_medium_y": "120" } ], "description": "Josie's rescued \"Thing\" turns out to be a smart and loving companion once he's well fed and finally free from junkyard grime. But could his suspicious absences be related to violent attacks in the area? And just to make her life more complex, Josie has to deal with harassment from her creepy boss...", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Josie's rescued "Thing" turns out to be a smart and loving companion once he's well fed and finally free from junkyard grime. But could his suspicious absences be related to violent attacks in the area? And just to make her life more complex, Josie has to deal with harassment from her creepy boss...", "writing": "[b]The Thing In The Junkyard - Part 3 – Suspicions[/b]\n\nTheo S. Bernard\n\nJosie relaxed on the couch, one eye on a home decorating reality show on TV. The celebrity-hosted house repainting wasn't exciting, but she couldn't reach the remote without disturbing the Thing on her lap.\n\nTechnically, she was only restrained by his head, which rested easily against her thigh. It was a large head, with a broad forehead and stocky muzzle like a rottweiler. He had small round ears like a bear and velvety black fur. Sometimes he would pretend to be an actual lap-dog and stretch his whole muscular body across her knees, and then she would rub his belly even as he squashed the circulation out of her legs. \n\nTonight, he snored softly beside her, his crest of iridescent spines folded neatly against his glossy coat. He was barley recognizable as the same disheveled and half-starved Thing she'd rescued from \"Rick's Auto Dismantler's\". Two months of good food, regular baths and a comfortable bed (Josie's...) had filled out his gaunt frame and healed his sores. His shiny fur no longer carried even the slightest hint of junk-yard stench. \n\nHe rolled onto his back, and Josie caressed his chest, then - quite shamelessly - ran her hand over his full sheath and balls. She never tired of feeling his raw maleness under her fingers. Lovers. The thought no longer shocked her, although it still carried a thrill of excitement.\n\nShe'd had human lovers before. It had been nice, for sure - and painful, when ultimately it didn't live up to girlish ideals of lifetime romance. And yet she'd never felt so truly and intimately comfortable with a man; the Thing just was, happy with himself and not looking to her to give his life meaning. Whether this was in spite of, or because of, his extreme otherness, she didn't know.\n\nOne thing she did know: he was smart. He'd learned to get his own food from the fridge (without leaving a mess) within a couple of days; he'd mastered flush toilets soon after. It was comical and endearing to see him sitting at the table to eat, then licking his bowl like a dog. Josie often came home to find him watching TV with interest, and often as not it would be CNN or BBC news - although she'd also caught him engrossed in car shows and even celebrity cooking. She had always left the TV on for him; at some point he had figured out how to use the remote. \n\nNow he snored softly beside her, accepting and undemanding as always. Her mind replayed certain moments from her day. The hand which had once again strayed a little too far on her waist. Robert, her section manager. She told herself that he didn't mean anything by it. But was she just trying to avoid the inevitable confrontation? Little comments she'd heard suggested that she wasn't the only one who'd been the subject of his unwanted attention. But what could she do? It was all very well to say that the law was on her side, but what if she ended up with the reputation as a trouble-maker? She had to be sure. It was much easier to try and ignore it. \n\nJosie sighed. The Thing grumbled as she shuffled over to grab the remote, leaving his head un-pillowed. \"Coming to bed?\" she asked as she turned off the TV. It was their little evening ritual; he always followed her to her room, watched her undress, then cuddled up beside her. \n\nTonight, she needed his quiet power. The tension of the day melted away as she rolled over, legs spread, and accepted the attention of his highly skilled tongue. \n\n[center]---[/center]\n\nJosie awoke in the small hours to an unaccustomed emptiness in her bed. The Thing was gone. Barely awake, her mind wandered. Memories of his warmth, his sleek fur moving against her skin, his animal energy. \n\nHe had gone to the bathroom, or maybe outside to check a suspicious sound. So strange that she had slept alone so long, but had so quickly become used to his presence. He would return to her in a few minutes. Did she recall him slipping back into her bed on previous nights, or was that a dream? Something nagged at the edge of her sleepy thoughts. No matter; he would return to her. She drifted off with a happy memory of their bodies moving together. \n\n[center]---[/center]\n\nThe Thing was back in his usual place when the morning sunlight crept through the curtains. She remembered waking in the night, but thought no more about it until she was driving to work. But then the nagging feeling came back to her, and now she understood: the ruffled duvet had been stone cold where the Thing's warm bulk would normally be. It was no mere trip to the bathroom... He'd been gone for ages. Other fragments came back to her: the smell of wet grass on his paws; his ears cold as if he'd been out in the night for a long time. But how much of what she recalled was real, and how much only dreams? \n\nAnd what if he did go out to prowl in the night? Could she stop him? Should she worry? For all that he was a great companion and (she blushed at the thought) great in bed, his dark eyes were full of mystery, and his deeper motives remained unknown to her. She tried not to imagine the terror and havoc he might be capable of. He was as strong as the largest dog breeds, and far smarter. \n\n[center]---[/center]\n\n[b]\"Pet Mutilations Continue\"[/b]\n\n[i]In the latest in a series of unexplained pet deaths, a Jack Russell terrier was found dead in Pinehaven this morning. The dog's owner was identified by neighbors but was too upset to comment. The terrier appeared to have been attacked by a larger dog, and animal control officers believe the death may be linked to similar attacks on several cats and a goat in the area. Residents are warned to keep their pets indoors and inform animal control of any roaming dogs...[/i]\n\nJosie read the news article again. Pinehaven wasn't far from her house. Her mouth was suddenly dry. Could the Thing be... The thought was too awful to consider. Surely it was a coincidence. \n\nShe started at the sound of a knock on her office door. Before she could answer, it opened and her manager strode in. Slicked-back hair, crisp pin-stripe shirt with blue tie, and a smile like a wolf who was in real estate and had just seen red riding hood walk into the open home. \n\n\"Jo!\" He beamed. \"You were going to show me those storm-water runoff numbers!\" \n\n\"I can email them\". Couldn't he tell how forced her smile was? \n\n\"No problem, I'll have a look now, since I'm here\". She got a strong whiff of his cologne as he sidled across the small room and maneuvered behind her desk. The scent was probably an expensive one, but it seemed tacky compared to the Thing's natural earthy musk. He loomed over her. He certainly had confidence and charm, but the overall effect was repellent for Josie. Well, each to their own, she thought. The Thing gave her new confidence, as if - before his arrival - she might have accepted the unwanted advances out of lonely desperation. Could that really be true? The thought shocked her. She put it aside and focused on opening the storm-water spreadsheet. \n\n\"As you can see here, the modeling shows a five cumec discharge during a 20 year storm event, which would overflow the existing drainage and could infiltrate the sewage system. They're going to have to put in a bigger storm drain down to Sunset Creek\". \n\n\"That's good work, Jo!\" One thing Josie did not lack was praise from her manager. She already knew it was a thorough piece of analysis, but Rob's praise often seemed insincere. Then his hands were on her shoulders, his fingers massaging gently. The effect was anything but relaxing. Say something! she thought, but still she couldn't muster the courage. \n\nRob's voice had taken on a more intimate tone. \"You've been working very hard lately. It's nearly five; how about joining me for a little celebratory drink, since the report is basically done?\" \n\nJosie shuddered. But how to refuse without being rude? \"Well,\" she stammered, \"I'd like to check these figures one more time, and I promised I'd meet a friend for dinner... What about tomorrow?\" \n\n\"Tomorrow it is, then!\" he grinned a lewd grin, the fox flattering the chicken. \"Don't work too hard!\" \n\nThe cloying smell of his cologne lingered after the man had gone. Josie let out a shuddering breath she didn't realize she was holding. Why had she said 'yes', albeit to a delayed rendezvous? Now she couldn't back out without a really good excuse. She told herself to be more assertive. She had been assertive when she unclipped the chain from the collar of the unknown and untamed Thing in that junk-yard two months ago, and fled with him from the wrath of the owner. If only that same spirit would make itself available in her office life! \n\nThat night she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The Thing tried to comfort her, pushing his nose in between her arms and giving a little wag. But her imagination conjured horrible images of those powerful jaws closing on the small body of someone's cat or dog. Surely it wasn't him... And yet, once the seed of doubt had been planted, she couldn't quite pull it out. Unable to face the uncertainty she felt, she rolled over and faced away from the Thing. She feared his unknown nature, but when he curled up with his back to her, his warmth still felt reassuring, and she hated herself for doubting. \n\n[center]---[/center]\n\n[b]\"Suburban Killer Caught\"[/b]\n\n[i]Animal control officers in West Auckland believe they have caught the stray dog which has been terrorizing Pinehaven. The officers were called after sightings of the animal, described as a pitbull cross, in Pinehaven last night. They were lucky enough to spot the stray jumping a fence into a residential property, and were able to capture it before it could attack another dog at the property...[/i]\n\nJosie felt relief flood through her. Of course she'd never really believed that her Thing could be a killer. However, seeing the proof of his innocence made her much happier. She also felt guilty for shunning him, and promised herself she would make it up to him. She could think of some very nice ways to do that. Now the dreaded evening drinks with Robert didn't seem so onerous. She had a stalwart companion in the Thing; she had no need of approval from a sleazy guy, let alone his insincere affections. She would politely but firmly let him know that she wasn't interested. \n\nRob suggested a little place not far from her house - could that be a coincidence? - and just before six, Josie found herself sharing a curved booth in a dim corner with her creepy manager - him with a craft beer; her with a red wine. The small-talk was pleasant; for all his chauvinism, he was a good conversationalist. They were onto their second drink and Josie was thinking that he might not be so bad after all, when she noticed just how close he was sitting. \n\nIf Josie had been looking out the little window at the back of the booth, and if her gaze had been on the right spot at the top of a retaining wall behind the bar, she might have seen a dark shape slinking through the shrubbery. As if sensing something, it glanced in the window and then froze. It stood quite still for a moment, then hunkered down out of sight where it had a good view into the bar. \n\n\"Now, I mentioned that you were doing a great job, didn't I?\" His tone was warm; they were the best of friends. Josie wondered where the conversation was going as she nodded. \n\n\"Well,\" he continued, \"it's come to my attention that Phillipa is expecting a baby.\" \n\nJosie's eyes widened. This information was not public knowledge and not what Phillipa would care to have spread about until she announced it herself! And she was getting an inkling about where the conversation was headed. \n\nHer boss pushed ahead, unaware of her consternation. \"When she takes maternity leave, we'll need someone to step up to the senior role, and it should be permanent because we've been growing quite a bit.\" Josie was suddenly aware of a warm pressure as his hand touched her knee, then began to inch up her thigh. He leaned closer, and his voice grew conspiratorial. \"I could make sure that you're the top-scoring candidate for the position...\" \n\nJosie was filled with a revulsion which surpassed any desire for a promotion, as enticing as that might be. The man had accurately read her frustration with her position in the company, but massively overestimated his own sexual desirability. And then there was the small problem that HE was the one who had previously thwarted her progress by quietly and consistently downplaying her ability. \n\nHis hand was an affront on her leg, and she suddenly had two contrasting visions. On one hand, this slick, well-dressed and fast-talking man who manipulated people in pursuit of conquest; on the other, the Thing, proud and free, who asked for nothing and had won her heart. \n\n\"Get your hand off me.\" Her voice was low, but she surprised herself by the conviction it carried. In her mind she could see the Thing, and his power flowed through her. He had broken out of slavery with her help; now he inspired her to finally get assertive with her boss. Perhaps too assertive: suddenly the dregs of her wine were flying at his face; they splashed off his shocked features and dripped to the table. \n\n\"I've never been interested in you in that way. You're going to give me that position because I deserve it - as you damned well know. Otherwise, HR are going to hear all about this little incident, and I don't care that your brother is the CEO.\"\n\nRob's mouth was making a stunned 'O' shape that she'd never seen before, and she almost laughed. \n\n\"But I thought...\" he began, floundering to regain his usual dominance. Josie wasn't finished. \n\n\"You thought wrong. Now I'm going home to someone who respects me, and you can get the tab.\" With that, she strode out the door. Work tomorrow might be awkward, but for now she felt a surge of sweet victory and a huge dose of relief. \n\nShe might have been perturbed if she had been able to watch Robert after she had made her exit - if she had seen the consternation in his face harden to vitriolic anger. Fifteen minutes later, having swallowed the rest of his drink and followed it up with a couple of neat whiskys, he left the bar. At the same time, a figure stirred in the bushes at the top of the retaining wall. \n\nThe man stepped out of the bar, his head full of rage fueled by unaccustomed humiliation and alcohol. He turned up the hill towards Josie's house - an address which he had memorized but never visited. As he neared a patch of shadows beneath some overhanging trees, a dark shape dropped into the middle of the path from the adjacent embankment. It looked like a massive dog, and its eyes glinted in the street lights. The man took a tentative step, meaning to skirt around the obstacle. But the thing moved to block his path, and a powerful growling stopped him. Now he could see its bared teeth, and the single-minded focus of its gaze. His nerve cracked, and suddenly he wondered what on earth he was doing. He turned, unsteady on his feet, and shuffled back to the brightly lit bar to arrange a taxi. \n\nWhen Josie arrived home, she was surprised when the Thing didn't greet her. She checked the house, then scouted around the back yard, but he was nowhere to be seen. Her jubilant mood wavered as she considered the implications of the evening's confrontation; however, a sense of relief persisted as she reheated some leftovers. While the microwave hummed, she checked her personal email. Apart from the normal spam, she had one which said: \n\n[i]\"hello you dont no me but I wont to warn you, trouble in Pinehaven could be dengerus.\"[/i]\n\nThe cryptic message was from \"kiba1990@gmail.com\", which wasn't much of a clue. She dismissed it as some kind of scam, although the reference to the nearby suburb seemed oddly coincidental. \n\nThe microwave dinged, and the Thing strode in the dog door right on queue. He tried to look casual - as if he'd been snoozing in the flax bushes - but he was panting hard. Despite his truancy, Josie was overjoyed to see him, and she knelt down and wrapped his neck in a grateful hug. \n\n[center]---[/center]\n\nJosie slept deeply, but her sleep was haunted by dreams. She followed the Thing through a forest, afraid that he would leave her behind but never quite able to catch up. Then she faced Rob. His hand reached towards her, but his fingers were enveloped in flames. Then he was on the ground, his body torn by many horrific bites. The Thing sat beside the corpse, his face darkened by blood, but his eyes looked into hers with a look of desperate pleading. She turned to run, but vines snared her legs and she fell. The Thing stood over her, and his jaws closed on her neck. His teeth did not tear or crush; they merely held her down. Terror gripped her, but also desire. The dream slipped away as she woke to sunlight. Just a weird dream, she thought.\n\nThe Thing was snoring beside her, and she stroked his neck. She drew her hand back sharply as her fingers felt matted fur. When she looked closer, she was shocked to find his fur coated in dried blood from a deep gash. He stirred as she explored around the wound with her fingers, and raised his head with a growl. Then he remembered where he was, and the growl faded to a whine. \n\n\"What have you been doing?\" Josie chided, wondering whether it required stitches. It was deep, but not long. Further inspection revealed a puncture wound in his front leg, and this injury definitely looked like a bite. \n\nThe Thing sat stoically as she cleaned the injuries with iodine solution. Then she set out a towel on the couch for him to rest on while she was at work. \"Don't you go anywhere!\" she admonished before she left for work. His dark eyes seemed to offer understanding but no promises. \n\n[center]---[/center]\n\n[b]\"Vicious Dog Attack Leaves Worker Injured\"[/b]\n\n[i]A WestElectric employee is recovering in hospital today after being attacked by several large dogs. The man was bitten while investigating a power outage near Pinehaven last night. According to police, the man discovered what he described as a \"small pack\" of very large dogs which had been living in disused storm water drains and had caused damage to electrical equipment at the site...[/i]\n\nOh Thing, thought Josie with a sigh. Did you get bored with attacking pets? Her doubts resurfaced with a vengeance. And what about the other dogs mentioned in the report? The Thing might have befriended a group of strays; if that were the case, he would certainly be the leader. Perhaps his injuries resulted from a fight for dominance. She would have to do something; and yet... She had no real proof, and what could she do?\n\nAnother worry added to the twist of fear in her gut: What would she say to Rob? But he wasn't in the office, and she relaxed when he was reported as being on sick leave. Josie ruminated on her other problem, and an idea came to her when she remembered that she had access to a lot of council maps, including power company tunnels and storm water drains. It didn't take long to find a likely location near Pinehaven. It was time she did a little detective work. \n\nWhen she arrived home, the Thing was out again, and she found another cryptic message from \"kiba1990@gmail.com\" in her email: \n\n[i]\"beware danger, someone maay be after yoiu. stay insid\"[/i]\n\nTwo emails seemed more sinister than just random spam, but she didn't feel like following the advice to \"stay insid\". After her confrontation with Rob, she felt like taking the initiative with her other problems. \n\nBy the time Josie had eaten some dinner, night had enveloped the hills of West Auckland. She took a torch and her printed services map, and went in search of the scene of the previous night's attack. She drove down the hill and into the shopping center, past the same bar where she had met with Rob the previous evening. She noticed a familiar European SUV parked outside. Surely it was a co-incidence; it was a common model, after all. She drove on past the boutique fashion shops and the car yards, and parked near a run-down industrial cul-de-sac. Her map showed some old tunnels beneath the buildings, and it was more-or-less the middle of Pinehaven. It seemed like the best place to start looking. \n\nPart way down the street, she stopped to get her bearings. She was engrossed in the map, and so she didn't notice the figure who rounded the corner after her, until he staggered right up to her, blocking her retreat to the main road. It was Rob, and she was enveloped in the powerful waft of expensive whiskey and strong cologne. \n\n\"Now Josie, love, fancy meeting you here,\" he slurred, his face closer to hers than she would like. \n\nHe didn't get a chance to say more, because a huge dark animal shape burst out of the shadows. Rob staggered back in shock as it turned to face him with a deep-throated growl. Relief flooded Josie when she recognized the Thing. \n\n\"What the...\" Rob had lost his earlier confidence. \"Is that your dog?\" \n\n\"Yes.\" Josie's voice was flat. \"You don't want to fuck with him. Or me.\" \n\n\"I can see.. well OK, have a good night, I guess...\" \n\nRob was not accustomed to being lost for words. He backed off a few steps, still staring at the Thing, then turned and trotted unsteadily back towards the shops. When he was gone, the thing turned, and now his tail wagged. \n\n\"I'm happy to see you, too!\" said Josie, although doubts still nagged at her. Seeing his wagging tail, she found it hard to believe he was a killer, but what was he doing here and how was he connected to the attacks? \n\nThe thing shook his head and made a little coughing sound, then looked up at her, and his tail was still. \n\n\"What.\" He coughed, then tried again. \"What you doing here?\" \n\nJosie blinked. His voice was low and raspy, but he had definitely spoken. \n\n\"I told you, stay home.\" \n\n\"You... can talk!\" Josie was still grappling with the implications. Now she knew who \"Kiba1990\" was, though. Someone had been watching Anime... \n\n\"I learning. Now you should go home... not safe.\" \n\nKiba suddenly froze and took a sniff of the night air. \n\n\"You smell that?\" \n\nOf course, Josie's human nose couldn't detect anything unusual, but at that moment she did hear squeaks and scrabbling noises coming from a nearby building. The thing's head swiveled in that direction, his ears forward in interest, then back to her. He tensed, then hesitated. \n\n\"You stay back!\" he whispered, then he trotted across the road and into the shadows. Josie took a firm grip on her trusty torch and followed him. \n\nThe stucco concrete building looked abandoned; the paint was peeling and the faded sign illegible. As she followed Kiba up the two steps to the doorway, they heard more sounds of commotion inside, including a loud \"Yip\" of excitement. Had they located the pack of dogs responsible for the attacks? Kiba reached up and turned the door handle - his dexterous front paw managing the job easily - and orange light spilled out onto the street as the door swung open. He strode in, his tail high and spines raised. Josie followed hot on his heels, determined not to let him face the danger alone, no matter what he said. \n\nThe scene in the room was not what she expected. A slim young man with dark hair and no pants was pinned in the middle of the floor, his neck gripped by the wide jaws of a Thing much like Kiba, except with striking blue fur. Another Thing sat to one side, while a third and larger one held the young man locked in a mating pose which was immediately familiar to the woman. From the neck-grip, Josie deduced that the man was not a willing participant in the activity. \n\nOne of the smaller things - Josie noticed that this one was a female - rushed at Kiba, perhaps hoping to intimidate him. Kiba braced himself and knocked her down with a thrust of his shoulder, and she reeled back. The blue one released the man's neck and took a few steps towards her, but he changed his mind when she brandished her torch. Kiba advanced on them, and the two smaller canine's lost their nerve and pelted out through a door at the back of the room. \n\nThe remaining thing struggled to free himself from the human, and Josie winced when his engorged knot popped free of the man's butt. That had to hurt, she thought, and indeed, he collapsed to the floor and curled into a ball.\n\nKiba jumped across the room and stood over the remaining thing, his teeth bared. They were similar in size, and for a moment it looked like the pale-colored one would attack Kiba. But then he dropped his head in submission. There appeared to be a brief conversation between the two - a series of squeaks and growls - then the other thing turned his tail and slunk out after his companions. \n\nJosie was starting to learn their body language. The pale thing looked submissive, but as he turned away, Josie was quite sure she saw a look of secret triumph cross his features. Then he was gone into the darkness. She turned back to the young man, who had picked himself up from the floor and was pulling on his lost pants. \n\n\"I'm Josie. Are you OK?\"\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "The Thing In The Junkyard - Part 3 – Suspicions

Theo S. Bernard

Josie relaxed on the couch, one eye on a home decorating reality show on TV. The celebrity-hosted house repainting wasn't exciting, but she couldn't reach the remote without disturbing the Thing on her lap.

Technically, she was only restrained by his head, which rested easily against her thigh. It was a large head, with a broad forehead and stocky muzzle like a rottweiler. He had small round ears like a bear and velvety black fur. Sometimes he would pretend to be an actual lap-dog and stretch his whole muscular body across her knees, and then she would rub his belly even as he squashed the circulation out of her legs.

Tonight, he snored softly beside her, his crest of iridescent spines folded neatly against his glossy coat. He was barley recognizable as the same disheveled and half-starved Thing she'd rescued from "Rick's Auto Dismantler's". Two months of good food, regular baths and a comfortable bed (Josie's...) had filled out his gaunt frame and healed his sores.  His shiny fur no longer carried even the slightest hint of junk-yard stench.

He rolled onto his back, and Josie caressed his chest, then - quite shamelessly - ran her hand over his full sheath and balls. She never tired of feeling his raw maleness under her fingers. Lovers. The thought no longer shocked her, although it still carried a thrill of excitement.

She'd had human lovers before. It had been nice, for sure - and painful, when ultimately it didn't live up to girlish ideals of lifetime romance. And yet she'd never felt so truly and intimately comfortable with a man; the Thing just was, happy with himself and not looking to her to give his life meaning. Whether this was in spite of, or because of, his extreme otherness, she didn't know.

One thing she did know: he was smart. He'd learned to get his own food from the fridge (without leaving a mess) within a couple of days; he'd mastered flush toilets soon after. It was comical and endearing to see him sitting at the table to eat, then licking his bowl like a dog. Josie often came home to find him watching TV with interest, and often as not it would be CNN or BBC news - although she'd also caught him engrossed in car shows and even celebrity cooking. She had always left the TV on for him; at some point he had figured out how to use the remote.  

Now he snored softly beside her, accepting and undemanding as always. Her mind replayed certain moments from her day. The hand which had once again strayed a little too far on her waist. Robert, her section manager. She told herself that he didn't mean anything by it. But was she just trying to avoid the inevitable confrontation?  Little comments she'd heard suggested that she wasn't the only one who'd been the subject of his unwanted attention. But what could she do? It was all very well to say that the law was on her side, but what if she ended up with the reputation as a trouble-maker? She had to be sure. It was much easier to try and ignore it.

Josie sighed. The Thing grumbled as she shuffled over to grab the remote, leaving his head un-pillowed. "Coming to bed?" she asked as she turned off the TV. It was their little evening ritual; he always followed her to her room, watched her undress, then cuddled up beside her.

Tonight, she needed his quiet power. The tension of the day melted away as she rolled over, legs spread, and accepted the attention of his highly skilled tongue.  

---


Josie awoke in the small hours to an unaccustomed emptiness in her bed. The Thing was gone. Barely awake, her mind wandered. Memories of his warmth, his sleek fur moving against her skin, his animal energy.  

He had gone to the bathroom, or maybe outside to check a suspicious sound. So strange that she had slept alone so long, but had so quickly become used to his presence. He would return to her in a few minutes. Did she recall him slipping back into her bed on previous nights, or was that a dream? Something nagged at the edge of her sleepy thoughts. No matter; he would return to her. She drifted off with a happy memory of their bodies moving together.

---


The Thing was back in his usual place when the morning sunlight crept through the curtains. She remembered waking in the night, but thought no more about it until she was driving to work. But then the nagging feeling came back to her, and now she understood: the ruffled duvet had been stone cold where the Thing's warm bulk would normally be. It was no mere trip to the bathroom... He'd been gone for ages. Other fragments came back to her: the smell of wet grass on his paws; his ears cold as if he'd been out in the night for a long time. But how much of what she recalled was real, and how much only dreams?

And what if he did go out to prowl in the night? Could she stop him? Should she worry? For all that he was a great companion and (she blushed at the thought) great in bed, his dark eyes were full of mystery, and his deeper motives remained unknown to her. She tried not to imagine the terror and havoc he might be capable of. He was as strong as the largest dog breeds, and far smarter.

---


"Pet Mutilations Continue"

In the latest in a series of unexplained pet deaths, a Jack Russell terrier was found dead in Pinehaven this morning. The dog's owner was identified by neighbors but was too upset to comment. The terrier appeared to have been attacked by a larger dog, and animal control officers believe the death may be linked to similar attacks on several cats and a goat in the area. Residents are warned to keep their pets indoors and inform animal control of any roaming dogs...

Josie read the news article again. Pinehaven wasn't far from her house. Her mouth was suddenly dry. Could the Thing be... The thought was too awful to consider. Surely it was a coincidence.

She started at the sound of a knock on her office door. Before she could answer, it opened and her manager strode in. Slicked-back hair, crisp pin-stripe shirt with blue tie, and a smile like a wolf who was in real estate and had just seen red riding hood walk into the open home.  

"Jo!" He beamed. "You were going to show me those storm-water runoff numbers!"

"I can email them". Couldn't he tell how forced her smile was?

"No problem, I'll have a look now, since I'm here". She got a strong whiff of his cologne as he sidled across the small room and maneuvered behind her desk. The scent was probably an expensive one, but it seemed tacky compared to the Thing's natural earthy musk. He loomed over her. He certainly had confidence and charm, but the overall effect was repellent for Josie. Well, each to their own, she thought. The Thing gave her new confidence, as if - before his arrival - she might have accepted the unwanted advances out of lonely desperation. Could that really be true? The thought shocked her. She put it aside and focused on opening the storm-water spreadsheet.

"As you can see here, the modeling shows a five cumec discharge during a 20 year storm event, which would overflow the existing drainage and could infiltrate the sewage system. They're going to have to put in a bigger storm drain down to Sunset Creek".

"That's good work, Jo!" One thing Josie did not lack was praise from her manager. She already knew it was a thorough piece of analysis, but Rob's praise often seemed insincere. Then his hands were on her shoulders, his fingers massaging gently. The effect was anything but relaxing. Say something! she thought, but still she couldn't muster the courage.

Rob's voice had taken on a more intimate tone. "You've been working very hard lately. It's nearly five; how about joining me for a little celebratory drink, since the report is basically done?"

Josie shuddered. But how to refuse without being rude?  "Well," she stammered,  "I'd like to check these figures one more time, and I promised I'd meet a friend for dinner...  What about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow it is, then!" he grinned a lewd grin, the fox flattering the chicken. "Don't work too hard!"

The cloying smell of his cologne lingered after the man had gone. Josie let out a shuddering breath she didn't realize she was holding. Why had she said 'yes', albeit to a delayed rendezvous?  Now she couldn't back out without a really good excuse. She told herself to be more assertive. She had been assertive when she unclipped the chain from the collar of the unknown and untamed Thing in that junk-yard two months ago, and fled with him from the wrath of the owner. If only that same spirit would make itself available in her office life!  

That night she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The Thing tried to comfort her, pushing his nose in between her arms and giving a little wag. But her imagination conjured horrible images of those powerful jaws closing on the small body of someone's cat or dog. Surely it wasn't him... And yet, once the seed of doubt had been planted, she couldn't quite pull it out. Unable to face the uncertainty she felt, she rolled over and faced away from the Thing. She feared his unknown nature, but when he curled up with his back to her, his warmth still felt reassuring, and she hated herself for doubting.  

---


"Suburban Killer Caught"

Animal control officers in West Auckland believe they have caught the stray dog which has been terrorizing Pinehaven. The officers were called after sightings of the animal, described as a pitbull cross, in Pinehaven last night.  They were lucky enough to spot the stray jumping a fence into a residential property, and were able to capture it before it could attack another dog at the property...

Josie felt relief flood through her. Of course she'd never really believed that her Thing could be a killer. However, seeing the proof of his innocence made her much happier. She also felt guilty for shunning him, and promised herself she would make it up to him. She could think of some very nice ways to do that. Now the dreaded evening drinks with Robert didn't seem so onerous. She had a stalwart companion in the Thing; she had no need of approval from a sleazy guy, let alone his insincere affections. She would politely but firmly let him know that she wasn't interested.  

Rob suggested a little place not far from her house - could that be a coincidence?  - and just before six, Josie found herself sharing a curved booth in a dim corner with her creepy manager - him with a craft beer; her with a red wine. The small-talk was pleasant; for all his chauvinism, he was a good conversationalist. They were onto their second drink and Josie was thinking that he might not be so bad after all, when she noticed just how close he was sitting.

If Josie had been looking out the little window at the back of the booth, and if her gaze had been on the right spot at the top of a retaining wall behind the bar,  she might have seen a dark shape slinking through the shrubbery. As if sensing something, it glanced in the window and then froze. It stood quite still for a moment, then hunkered down out of sight where it had a good view into the bar.  

"Now, I mentioned that you were doing a great job, didn't I?" His tone was warm; they were the best of friends. Josie wondered where the conversation was going as she nodded.  

"Well," he continued, "it's come to my attention that Phillipa is expecting a baby."

Josie's eyes widened. This information was not public knowledge and not what Phillipa would care to have spread about until she announced it herself! And she was getting an inkling about where the conversation was headed.  

Her boss pushed ahead, unaware of her consternation. "When she takes maternity leave, we'll need someone to step up to the senior role, and it should be permanent because we've been growing quite a bit." Josie was suddenly aware of a warm pressure as his hand touched her knee, then began to inch up her thigh. He leaned closer, and his voice grew conspiratorial. "I could make sure that you're the top-scoring candidate for the position..."

Josie was filled with a revulsion which surpassed any desire for a promotion, as enticing as that might be. The man had accurately read her frustration with her position in the company, but massively overestimated his own sexual desirability. And then there was the small problem that HE was the one who had previously thwarted her progress by quietly and consistently downplaying her ability.  

His hand was an affront on her leg, and she suddenly had two contrasting visions. On one hand, this slick, well-dressed and fast-talking man who manipulated people in pursuit of conquest; on the other, the Thing, proud and free, who asked for nothing and had won her heart.

"Get your hand off me." Her voice was low, but she surprised herself by the conviction it carried. In her mind she could see the Thing, and his power flowed through her. He had broken out of slavery with her help; now he inspired her to finally get assertive with her boss. Perhaps too assertive: suddenly the dregs of her wine were flying at his face; they splashed off his shocked features and dripped to the table.  

"I've never been interested in you in that way. You're going to give me that position because I deserve it - as you damned well know. Otherwise, HR are going to hear all about this little incident, and I don't care that your brother is the CEO."

Rob's mouth was making a stunned 'O' shape that she'd never seen before, and she almost laughed.

"But I thought..." he began, floundering to regain his usual dominance. Josie wasn't finished.

"You thought wrong.  Now I'm going home to someone who respects me, and you can get the tab." With that, she strode out the door. Work tomorrow might be awkward, but for now she felt a surge of sweet victory and a huge dose of relief.

She might have been perturbed if she had been able to watch Robert after she had made her exit - if she had seen the consternation in his face harden to vitriolic anger. Fifteen minutes later, having swallowed the rest of his drink and followed it up with a couple of neat whiskys, he left the bar. At the same time, a figure stirred in the bushes at the top of the retaining wall.

The man stepped out of the bar, his head full of rage fueled by unaccustomed humiliation and alcohol. He turned up the hill towards Josie's house - an address which he had memorized but never visited.  As he neared a patch of shadows beneath some overhanging trees, a dark shape dropped into the middle of the path from the adjacent embankment. It looked like a massive dog, and its eyes glinted in the street lights. The man took a tentative step, meaning to skirt around the obstacle. But the thing moved to block his path, and a powerful growling stopped him. Now he could see its bared teeth, and the single-minded focus of its gaze. His nerve cracked, and suddenly he wondered what on earth he was doing. He turned, unsteady on his feet, and shuffled back to the brightly lit bar to arrange a taxi.

When Josie arrived home, she was surprised when the Thing didn't greet her. She checked the house, then scouted around the back yard, but he was nowhere to be seen. Her jubilant mood wavered as she considered the implications of the evening's confrontation; however, a sense of relief persisted as she reheated some leftovers. While the microwave hummed, she checked her personal email. Apart from the normal spam, she had one which said:  

"hello you dont no me but I wont to warn you, trouble in Pinehaven could be dengerus."

The cryptic message was from "kiba1990@gmail.com", which wasn't much of a clue. She dismissed it as some kind of scam, although the reference to the nearby suburb seemed oddly coincidental.  

The microwave dinged, and the Thing strode in the dog door right on queue. He tried to look casual - as if he'd been snoozing in the flax bushes - but he was panting hard. Despite his truancy, Josie was overjoyed to see him, and she knelt down and wrapped his neck in a grateful hug.

---


Josie slept deeply, but her sleep was haunted by dreams. She followed the Thing through a forest, afraid that he would leave her behind but never quite able to catch up. Then she faced Rob. His hand reached towards her, but his fingers were enveloped in flames. Then he was on the ground, his body torn by many horrific bites. The Thing sat beside the corpse, his face darkened by blood, but his eyes looked into hers with a look of desperate pleading. She turned to run, but vines snared her legs and she fell. The Thing stood over her, and his jaws closed on her neck. His teeth did not tear or crush; they merely held her down. Terror gripped her, but also desire. The dream slipped away as she woke to sunlight. Just a weird dream, she thought.

The Thing was snoring beside her, and she stroked his neck. She drew her hand back sharply as her fingers felt matted fur. When she looked closer, she was shocked to find his fur coated in dried blood from a deep gash. He stirred as she explored around the wound with her fingers, and raised his head with a growl. Then he remembered where he was, and the growl faded to a whine.

"What have you been doing?" Josie chided, wondering whether it required stitches. It was deep, but not long. Further inspection revealed a puncture wound in his front leg, and this injury definitely looked like a bite.  

The Thing sat stoically as she cleaned the injuries with iodine solution. Then she set out a towel on the couch for him to rest on while she was at work. "Don't you go anywhere!" she admonished before she left for work. His dark eyes seemed to offer understanding but no promises.

---


"Vicious Dog Attack Leaves Worker Injured"

A WestElectric employee is recovering in hospital today after being attacked by several large dogs. The man was bitten while investigating a power outage near Pinehaven last night. According to police, the man discovered what he described as a "small pack" of very large dogs which had been living in disused storm water drains and had caused damage to electrical equipment at the site...

Oh Thing, thought Josie with a sigh. Did you get bored with attacking pets? Her doubts resurfaced with a vengeance. And what about the other dogs mentioned in the report? The Thing might have befriended a group of strays; if that were the case, he would certainly be the leader. Perhaps his injuries resulted from a fight for dominance. She would have to do something; and yet... She had no real proof, and what could she do?

Another worry added to the twist of fear in her gut: What would she say to Rob? But he wasn't in the office, and she relaxed when he was reported as being on sick leave. Josie ruminated on her other problem, and an idea came to her when she remembered that she had access to a lot of council maps, including power company tunnels and storm water drains. It didn't take long to find a likely location near Pinehaven. It was time she did a little detective work.

When she arrived home, the Thing was out again, and she found another cryptic message from "kiba1990@gmail.com" in her email:

"beware danger, someone maay be after yoiu. stay insid"

Two emails seemed more sinister than just random spam, but she didn't feel like following the advice to "stay insid". After her confrontation with Rob, she felt like taking the initiative with her other problems.  

By the time Josie had eaten some dinner, night had enveloped the hills of West Auckland. She took a torch and her printed services map, and went in search of the scene of the previous night's attack. She drove down the hill and into the shopping center, past the same bar where she had met with Rob the previous evening. She noticed a familiar European SUV parked outside. Surely it was a co-incidence; it was a common model, after all. She drove on past the boutique fashion shops and the car yards, and parked near a run-down industrial cul-de-sac. Her map showed some old tunnels beneath the buildings, and it was more-or-less the middle of Pinehaven. It seemed like the best place to start looking.

Part way down the street, she stopped to get her bearings. She was engrossed in the map, and so she didn't notice the figure who rounded the corner after her, until he staggered right up to her, blocking her retreat to the main road. It was Rob, and she was enveloped in the powerful waft of expensive whiskey and strong cologne.  

"Now Josie, love, fancy meeting you here," he slurred, his face closer to hers than she would like.  

He didn't get a chance to say more, because a huge dark animal shape burst out of the shadows. Rob staggered back in shock as it turned to face him with a deep-throated growl. Relief flooded Josie when she recognized the Thing.  

"What the..." Rob had lost his earlier confidence. "Is that your dog?"

"Yes." Josie's voice was flat. "You don't want to fuck with him. Or me."

"I can see.. well OK, have a good night, I guess..."

Rob was not accustomed to being lost for words. He backed off a few steps, still staring at the Thing, then turned and trotted unsteadily back towards the shops. When he was gone, the thing turned, and now his tail wagged.  

"I'm happy to see you, too!" said Josie, although doubts still nagged at her. Seeing his wagging tail, she found it hard to believe he was a killer, but what was he doing here and how was he connected to the attacks?

The thing shook his head and made a little coughing sound, then looked up at her, and his tail was still.

"What." He coughed, then tried again. "What you doing here?"

Josie blinked. His voice was low and raspy, but he had definitely spoken.

"I told you, stay home."  

"You... can talk!" Josie was still grappling with the implications. Now she knew who "Kiba1990" was, though. Someone had been watching Anime...

"I learning. Now you should go home... not safe."

Kiba suddenly froze and took a sniff of the night air.  

"You smell that?"

Of course, Josie's human nose couldn't detect anything unusual, but at that moment she did hear squeaks and scrabbling noises coming from a nearby building. The thing's head swiveled in that direction, his ears forward in interest, then back to her. He tensed, then hesitated.

"You stay back!" he whispered, then he trotted across the road and into the shadows. Josie took a firm grip on her trusty torch and followed him.

The stucco concrete building looked abandoned; the paint was peeling and the faded sign illegible. As she followed Kiba up the two steps to the doorway, they heard more sounds of commotion inside, including a loud "Yip" of excitement. Had they located the pack of dogs responsible for the attacks? Kiba reached up and turned the door handle - his dexterous front paw managing the job easily - and orange light spilled out onto the street as the door swung open. He strode in, his tail high and spines raised. Josie followed hot on his heels, determined not to let him face the danger alone, no matter what he said.

The scene in the room was not what she expected. A slim young man with dark hair and no pants was pinned in the middle of the floor, his neck gripped by the wide jaws of a Thing much like Kiba, except with striking blue fur. Another Thing sat to one side, while a third and larger one held the young man locked in a mating pose which was immediately familiar to the woman. From the neck-grip, Josie deduced that the man was not a willing participant in the activity.

One of the smaller things - Josie noticed that this one was a female - rushed at Kiba, perhaps hoping to intimidate him. Kiba braced himself and knocked her down with a thrust of his shoulder, and she reeled back. The blue one released the man's neck and took a few steps towards her, but he changed his mind when she brandished her torch. Kiba advanced on them, and the two smaller canine's lost their nerve and pelted out through a door at the back of the room.

The remaining thing struggled to free himself from the human, and Josie winced when his engorged knot popped free of the man's butt. That had to hurt, she thought, and indeed, he collapsed to the floor and curled into a ball.

Kiba jumped across the room and stood over the remaining thing, his teeth bared. They were similar in size, and for a moment it looked like the pale-colored one would attack Kiba. But then he dropped his head in submission. There appeared to be a brief conversation between the two - a series of squeaks and growls - then the other thing turned his tail and slunk out after his companions.

Josie was starting to learn their body language. The pale thing looked submissive, but as he turned away, Josie was quite sure she saw a look of secret triumph cross his features. Then he was gone into the darkness. She turned back to the young man, who had picked himself up from the floor and was pulling on his lost pants.

"I'm Josie. Are you OK?"
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