Aragorn meets Starbuck's new friend.

[king-longshanks.livejournal.com]

Aragorn had made a habit of daily traversing the park, less troubled by dark thoughts when his body was not idle and finding comfort in the pretense of familiar action. He was drawn from his usual path, however, by the unexpected sound of a dog’s voice, a playful and happy sound somehow out of place in the uncomfortable stillness of the park. In all his days there Aragorn had yet to encounter any animals, birds, or even insects, save the ducks which populated the small ponds. He found the stillness of the place perhaps more unnerving than any other aspect of the strange and unfamiliar circumstances, so when the alien voice broke the stillness he could not but turn and follow it to its source.

In the center circle of the park he found Starbuck playing with a handsome and almost wolf-like looking creature, although the snout and feet spoke of her true heritage. With a smile at the revelry before him he stepped forward to greet them both.

“Good day, Starbuck,” said he. It felt unspeakably rude to address her so, but she had insisted upon the point the last time they had conversed, and he had acquiesced, although reluctantly.