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Post by Quirky Tea on Jul 20, 2014 23:41:26 GMT
Freya Freya woke up late that morning. She felt a little bit sore, but mostly confused. The small, brown terrier shook her coat and groggily attempted to make sense of the situation. A lot happened over the last couple days. Words such as failure and incomplete had hovered around her head for the last few weeks, but over the past four days, the project was pulled and the dogs were stated to be destroyed. Some were too dangerous to handle, and others were too valuable to release.
She was the long legged type of terrier and only stood about 12 inches to her withers. Her brown coat had a grizzled effect. She looked as nondescript as a dog could look. The training that the scientists had put her through… It was all tailored to some strange purpose. She was to gather information, store data, provide perfect recall in a manner that others could see what she had seen, and heard what she had heard… but it had all come to some unreliable power that she could hardly control. People shouldn’t invent things that they hardly understood.
Freya kept playing back a few choice memories. She could perfectly remember the ball being thrown as a reward for her obedience in training. In her memory, she could still calculate the arc the ball was thrown, the exact height of the bounces. She wasn’t mistreated, but the tests could be cruel. Painful, but she suffered them for the good of her caregivers.
And now, she was thrown away. She wasn’t exactly sure what to do about that. As she saw the morning sun lay its glitter on the lake’s surface and felt that the weather was mild, she thought to herself that it was a beautiful day to go for a swim. She stretched the stiffness out of her legs before she jumped in.
The memories fell at the wayside as she ran into the waters. People were gathered at Lake Arrow: throwing food at the fish, playing Frisbees, and playing with their own children and dogs, should they have them. Nobody noticed the small brown terrier. But that was her design.
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Post by Midnight on Jul 20, 2014 23:53:20 GMT
He had longed forgotten the small comfert of a humans hand or the smileing face of he's owner playing ball with him or goinging swimming or hunting. He had came to find himself wondering from this place to that place trying to find himself trying to find comfert in friends and other such things.
He often thought about trying to have a human adopt him again,but the lose of he's old one had completely devisated him and he became to sad when he saw other humans around.He's tail would wag slightly at the thought and sometimes would catch himself staring at the dogs with there owners playing in the park and other varvious places haveing fun and just being a dog.
Since he's owners death he became mostly a street dog who lived ,breathed,and lived the way of life a street dog would.Though he perferred the forests and most abanaded palces with a lake or pound and maybe a abanaded barn to sleep or hang out at.
The wind slightly blew he's golden coat ruffling it up slightly as he ahd found himself at Lake Arrow where humans and there dogs wore about haveing fun and what not in the area.
He himself felt this area a slight comfert just to hear the noise of the humans and other dogs playing brought such memories back.Ones that could make a dog cry if they could. He soon found himself at the water's edge staring at the water as the water was distirbed by someone jumping into the water watching the ripples dance across the surface as it had messed up he's own reflex in it's water.
Lifting up he's head he tried to pin point where the jump was made and came to find it had been a small dog...a terrier from the looks of it.
So Timber wagged he's tail slightly and waited to see if this creature would dare to come talk to him.Or if he would have to do the talking.
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Post by Quirky Tea on Jul 21, 2014 16:54:36 GMT
Freya paddled in the water. She enjoyed swimming, running, and being active in general. She had a seemingly endless amount of energy. “See? This one’s going to be a good dog. She never runs out of steam.” The compliments of the scientists and trainers always made her tail wag so hard that her entire back end swung side to side. They would test her endurance, see how long she could swim or run. They’d monitor her heart rate and body temperature with wires and electrodes. She had taken it all in stride. And, though she missed their fussy hands and scrutiny, she had to admit that this freedom was a vast improvement.
She could move as she pleased and drew a serpentine path in the water simply because she could. The small terrier, on a turn, caught the sight of a Labrador standing at the edge of the water. She hurried towards him, eager to meet him. It had been rare for her to socialize with other dogs and those dogs had always been overly formal—their spontaneity had been trained out of them. Freya was proud to admit that she never lost her spunk.
“Hey!” She paddled her legs as quickly as she could and actually was making good speed. Soon, she was paw deep, finding purchase on the slippery mud on the bottom. “Hey! Are you going to jump in or what?” She play-bowed and snapped at the water to make it splash. The invitation was obvious even if her social skills were a little coarse. |
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Post by Midnight on Jul 22, 2014 23:59:51 GMT
Timber smirked at her as she had swam over making it to the muddy bank of the lake as she had snappd at the water making the water splash getting him a bit wet in the process.He couldn't help,but feel amused by this a she bowed back in responce he's tail still wagging as he nodded a hello to her."Sure why not...was just wondering if anyone was going to notice me first"He said and made a running jump into the water ending up behind her in no time.He was surpized by how fast this little one could swim and how fast she wa sin the water,but he pushed that thought aside.
"Hey...I'm Timber by the way..what is your name ?'He asked her in a soft kind voice.By the look of it she looked young,but he could tell that she had been through a lot by the way she smelled.He was curious why this was and tilited he's head to the side a she caught himself staring at her as he's mind wonderered he's tail had stopped wagging and he also came to find himself haveing a flash back of he's old master and the other dog friend he had and how they used to play in the lake around the barn where he used to live all the time.The thought made him sad and he had forgotten what it felt like to soicalize with others.He shook he's head of the thought and looked at her again."Oh sorry...long time"He said with a embrasshed laugh."Anyways your name?"He asked as he moved around in the water the top of him still a bit dry while the water tickled at he's under belly as he walked.
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Post by Quirky Tea on Jul 23, 2014 16:11:44 GMT
Freya wagged her stiff tail so fast that it was a blur. She was about paw-deep in the water and bounced around as Timber walked in. “My name’s Freya,” her voice came out too excited, puppyish. She definitely had more time to mature. “Or Frey. Either one is good,” she said. She jumped into the deeper waters, which was still shallow enough for Timber to stand and keep his back dry. She paddled around him.
“You’re big,” she observed. She had a skill in saying the most obvious things that would probably undermine others’ perceptions of her intelligence. But she also had the trait of not being cognizant of the matter.
However, she was a little afraid that he might have been one of those dogs that try to kill and overthrow humans. And, though she had been thrown away, she still had much respect for them. They hadn’t mistreated her. Freya put a little more distance between herself and Timber until she was wading chest deep in the water.
“Hey, Timber,” she said. “What do you think of humans?” She had been raised to believe that she was supposed to be a partner to the humans; she was supposed to be a working dog for them. And she was too naïve to harbor ill intentions towards them for abandoning her.
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Post by Midnight on Jul 24, 2014 15:30:32 GMT
Timber had watcher her carefully as she had swam out deeper to where he was and nodded he's head to her name"Well Freya that is a nice name to me....it's nice to meet you"He said as he had turned to go a bit deeper since the water felt good against he's warm fur.
"Yep I am pretty big,but not as big as the massive dogs....I only seena few with there humans"He added as he felt a bit taken aback by her next question and had looked towards the bank and the land where some humans and there pets wore playing. The look on he's fae had turned a bit sad and he had lowered he's head slightly and glanced down at the water.
"Why do you ask...?"He asked her curiously a she rose he's head to look at her feeling sad now as more memories had invaded he's mind and he shook he's head as he tried to just focus on haveing fun with this little lady and enjoying himself in this nice lake with the cool water against his mass.
"I suspose it depends on the human to tell the truth..."He added as he looked at her."Some are good and some are bad...I guess it just depends really...."He said as he traield off a bit."I used to have one...he was a nice master and a even better friend...,but he isn't around anymore..."He added"So what about you...why ask such questions anyways..."He added to her as he lowered he's body into the water to get himself more wet before he had popped out of the water after gteting he's back and head wet.Still waiting for her answer.
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Post by Quirky Tea on Jul 24, 2014 16:11:13 GMT
Freya was relieved to hear that he didn’t hate humans. She had been trained to distrust dogs like that. To spy on them, for lack of a better word. She wagged her tail and watched as the Labrador sank under the water and back up. He was completely soaked now.
“I was raised by humans,” she admitted. “I was a tiny puppy when they took me from my mother and fed me and cleaned me and groomed me. They changed me into something more, I think. And I could see things and then show them the things I saw.” She wagged her tail. “They told me every day that I was special and important. They taught me how to do so many things.” She smiled.
The Labrador’s talk of friends made Freya realize that she never really had a friend. Not really. She had people she enjoyed, but that was because they found utility in her and made her feel important. But she didn’t want Timber to know that she was so lacking and naïve. “They taught me about other dogs that wanted to hurt them, to overthrow them, and take this city. And I was going to be one of the dogs who was going to help stop them. I was going to be a hero or something.” She puffed up a little bit, prideful. She didn’t realize how stupid she sounded. She was just a little, proud terrier telling a story.
She wasn’t going to be a hero. She knew that, but she wanted to believe she was simply underestimated, that the humans would go and try to find her again and take her back and tell her that she was important again. |
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Post by Midnight on Jul 24, 2014 16:23:52 GMT
Timber nodded he's head to her."Well you seem like a very awesome dog indeed to have the humans relie on you to do so many things. "He said as he tilited he's head."Well not all dogs that hate humans are bad...some could of just been mistreated and are scared of them...others well...what would you do if you came across such a dog?"He asked her curiously."One much bigger then you....could easily move past you to hurt a human"He said as he looked up towards the bank."Nothing lasts forever....I had that ripped away from me....and I kinda miss it it's true,but I never had the heart to try again...for fear of loseing an other one....I suspose that I wont last forever myself...the world used to be such a fine place..."He said and wagged he's tail a bit.
"Your be a great hero"He said as he changed the subject."So....where do you live at?'He askd her curiously as he swam around her splashing her slightly with the water useing he's paws.
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Post by Quirky Tea on Jul 24, 2014 17:06:46 GMT
Freya smiled sheepishly and averted her eyes. Now she would have to admit that she wasn’t designed to be as glamorous as some of the other dogs had been. There were soldier dogs meant to protect people and fight the war against the uprising canines. And there was herself—made simply to gather intelligence.
She was completely inconspicuous, as was her design. She stood at a small, but not too small 12 inches tall. She had a harsh, short coat that was weather resistant. She was brown in color, with darker ears and a muzzle. She had dark brown eyes. And she had an athletic build. Her appearance was the sort that would never make a person or a dog look twice at her.
“I wasn’t made for combat,” she admitted. “I was mostly designed for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering. I was to be sent in the field and record information so that I could share it to my superiors. They told me every day that I was going to be a game-changer against the canines trying to take over. But… then it’s like they didn’t want me anymore.”
Freya looked sadly at Timber. “The project just ended. After all the training and experiments and all the fun, it just ended.” The words rang through her ears, her memory had perfectly captured the events leading up to the project being pulled. Incomplete. Failure. Too expensive. Where are the results?
She sighed. And from the way Timber talked, it seemed that he had something deeper with his human. Friendship. She couldn’t claim friendship with another being, nothing like Timber was feeling. Was this why she wasn’t as upset? But she was curious to know what Timber’s life was like with his human. What was different that he could call the man a friend. “So… how about you? What did your human do with you?”
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Post by Midnight on Jul 25, 2014 0:08:54 GMT
Timber hadn't meant to make her sad and he susposed she hadn't meant to make him sad as well with brining up all the questions.He sighed slightly as he moved out of the water shaking it off slightly as he looked at her as he sat down on the bank.It was to serious talk to try to have fun and swim around now as he pondered what she had said.
"Sounds like you was there test subject and when they didn't need you anymore they throw you away as if you was nothing to them.Maybe they got scared of what was happening to the test subjects who knows,but it sounds like you care about them very much to try to protect them and help them so much. So record them how...is it still activiated?"He asked wondering if they could understand what he was saying now which made him uncomfertable.
"Yes I love dhim very much"He added about he's human"He was in a terrable car crash which killed him and left me ownerless....SO I stayed at the barn and the house and the land away from everyone this is probably the first time out in a long time....hurts me to see all them haveing fun like they do"He added a she motioned he's head towards the dogs and there owners before looking back at her."At least you have spunk at your height and age..."He added.
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Post by Quirky Tea on Jul 25, 2014 16:51:24 GMT
Freya didn’t feel like a test subject when they had raised her. Sure, they put her through experiments, but she had tackled each challenge with such vigor and enthusiasm that they couldn’t help but laugh. She rose to each occasion and succeeded in each test simulation, where they’d have her run a course and complete her objective. And Freya was just a little frustrated that Timber didn’t share anything about what he and his human friend did together. It made her a little jealous that there was something that she could have been missing and she didn’t even know it.
But Timber was sad. And she knew how much it hurt to lose everything you knew, so she didn’t press him. Instead, she went on and answered his questions.
“Well, I don’t think I was supposed to run away, but it looked like they were clearing the laboratory.” She could remember one of her trainers bending down to open her crate. Freya, you have to leave. You have to go! Hurry. Freya didn’t understand really how close to death she was. She didn’t understand that some of the other dogs that didn’t enamor the trainer as much had been euthanized. "I wonder if I'll find the other dogs from the same project I was in."
“Anyways, it all still works. And it’s like, hmmm, like it’s just recordings. The humans can’t understand much of it. They just observe the behavior and take notes and make assumptions. That’s the best that they could do. But their dog soldiers understand. And I can share it with other dogs, too. I shared it more with them. There were a lot of tests to make sure it was all working right.”
She looked at Timber. “Would you like me to share a memory with you?” She wondered if that would help him, even a little bit, cope with his new situation. To cope with the dogs playing at the lake with their people. To move on. She needed to move on in any case. |
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Post by Midnight on Jul 26, 2014 22:04:53 GMT
Timber had been listing to what she said and took it it heart as he himself remembered he's human and sighed slightly.He really did miss him and what she had said about what they put her though and the tests and stuff made him wonder.
He didn't think it was anyones business how he felt about anything really,but he understood why the humans wore so worried some dogs and wolves just straight up hated humans some of the reasons he could understand.Like bad owners or hunters killing there familes and stuff like that.So he could understand why some hatd them. Ohters hate turned into something more though. Some hate turned into pure revenge against the humans were some jsut sought to hurt them and kill them and tortured them. He shook he's head of the thought and looked at her.
"It seems like you had someone who cared about you very much to have told you to run like they did....it's a sad thought to think about what happened to all the other dogs that was with you.If they made an excape or if they got killed.It is a sad thought.I had no idea the humans wore making a defensive against us...well dogs and stuff in genral I mean."He added.
When she had asked about sharing a memory to chear him up he's ears perked up a bit."Yeah I wouldn't mind sharing a memory. I didn't think I would still be so sad after a year or so."He admitted as he gazed at her. "Sorry to be such a moppy dog...I am usually much happier and cripper"He admitted.
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Post by Quirky Tea on Jul 27, 2014 2:10:53 GMT
Freya didn’t want him to think that her life was anything to pity. But she also was afraid that what she considered her very best memory would amount to nothing compared to whatever he had experienced with his human. She wouldn’t say she loved any of the humans. She hardly knew any of them, switching handlers as she learned new things.
It was important that she could respond to any human, not just one. It was important that she could understand that, no matter what, she should listen because that was in her training.
Not to say that her training was harsh. Far from it. And she chose to share the sort of training she had to go through. She chose snippets of her past that she felt she missed the most. She sat right in front of Timber and tipped her head so that she could look right into his eyes. Her gaze turned intense.
“Don’t blink,” she said. And she pushed her memories into Timber. And it was as if he were there, in her body, looking through her eyes.
One of the scientists is staring right into my eyes. I’ve undergone a lot of testing. I’m sitting and free to leave if I please, but I stay. I’ve shared my memories only a few times prior, but never with intention. I want to do this. They had sent me to memorize a sequence of traffic signs. I couldn’t read, but the scientist could, but only if I could give her my memory. Her eyes are so light and her hair is blonde. She smells like soap.
“Route two-oh-three. Left turn only. Stop.” She keeps talking, but I keep my concentration for another few seconds.
A voice on the loudspeaker confirms that the experiment was a success. “Incredible...” He says. “An accuracy rate of 100%.” He’s behind the one-way glass.
The woman scientist smiles and is almost breathless with the exhilaration of being part of this project. They forget to reward me, but her smile was reward enough.
And then, Freya lost her link to Timber. She snorted. “Well, what did you think?”
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Post by Midnight on Jul 30, 2014 22:40:56 GMT
Timber had to admit he wasn't expecting a real life memory like that he was expecting a story and he had to admit he had teansed when she said not to blink and had watched as images flashed through he's head as she had shown her thoughts and memories into he's mind a sif he was there. The experance was amazing and he never thought sharing stuff like this would make him happy,but he had let he's tail wagged as he watched and looked up at her when she was done.
He didn't really know what to say about her memory he was treated in a different way,but he felt like she was proud of herself nonetheless for acomplise some much with the humans.
"Oh I think it is a cool trick...and it is an amazing experance...thank you for sharing with me Freya"He said as he looked at her and then to the sky watching as a cloud begain to pass by. "It's hard to feel the same thing you do though,but I am glad it made you happy"He added.
"My life was on a different path with my human. Playing fetch with my favourtie tennis ball.Getting baths in baby pool. Wondering the land and playing in the stream trying to catch fish getting excited for the day that my owner would finally take me hunting. Sadly it was the day the car crash happened...and I lost him."He said with a sad smile as he looked back at her."It's time to make new memories though...don't you agree?"He asked her.
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Post by Quirky Tea on Jul 31, 2014 1:32:46 GMT
Memory sharing always took a little bit out of Freya. Although she was trained to have a high degree of focus, the focus required for memory sharing was almost indefinable. The session had ended prematurely, but the effect was the same: Timber had been amazed.
What Freya didn’t realize was that this was the ultimate in opening up to an individual. She had grown up in a laboratory doing this, day by day, with some days being better than others, but what she had learned was that memories were to be shared, that nothing was secret, that privacy wasn’t even afforded to the things in her own skull. But she didn’t even realize this injustice. Instead, she took it and lived it. And the first dog outside of the laboratory she revealed it to understood her intentions and reacted in the best possible way: By trusting her and sharing his own memories.
His method of sharing was the traditional way. He told her. She wagged her tail as she listened to the things he did with his human and her heart ached because she wanted to feel the joy that this dog had felt. She wished his memories were hers. And then he spoke of his master’s death. But before she could even feel a pinprick of sadness, Timber said, ”It’s time to make new memories though… don’t you agree?”
“Yes!” Freya said with a smile. “I want to find out about humans. I want to figure out why they chose to end the project. Why they chose to release me instead of letting me be their good soldier. I want to know the joy of trying to catch fish in a shallow stream.” Freya laughed and frolicked in the water. She wanted to go now. She wanted to do it all, now.
She paused, sopping wet, with her dark eyes a gleam of mischief under her scruffy fur. “Timber. Let’s go our separate ways. Experience everything we can with joie de vivre and then, when we meet up again, we’ll see how far we got. What do you say?”
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