The Jackal's Song: Chapter 22

After a few minutes, Karrek got up and left the kitchen, walking out to the sanctuary to see if Kai did, in fact, need a hand with anything. He couldn't find him anywhere. Suddenly, he heard Kai's voice coming from a large barn Karrek hadn't noticed before. Karrek walked toward the barn, wondering what type of fauna the building may have contained. He then slowly opened the door, closing it behind him. He looked around the dimly lit room, unable to see more than a foot in front of him. Then, the lights when on, and Karrek saw Kai on the opposite end of the barn, where the light switch was. Kai then noticed Karrek, and smiled at him. Karrek smiled back, but then his expression changed and he became very stiff, freezing at the sight and sound of the dozens of dogs that resided in the building. The dogs loped toward the unfamiliar person Karrek was, excitedly. Kai could sense that something was wrong with Karrek, as well as seeing it in the boy's face. Kai ran over to Karrek, "Leave it!" Kai yelled at the excited, whimpery-whiney dogs. Two of the dogs, a brown and white husky, and the husky Karrek had seen before, went to jump up on Karrek wanting to lick his face. Kai seemed to catch them in midair by their scruffs, and pulled them away "I said leave it!" Kai said firmly to the dogs. The dogs seemed to understand that they had misbehaved and lowered their postures as they were released backing away. Kai noticed that Karrek was still in shock, frozen in the same position, eyes wide. "I'm sorry about them," Kai said, after calming down a bit. Karrek snapped out of it and looked at Kai, seeming like he was about to cry. "Its alright," Kai said, embracing Karrek in a comforting manner, "I promise they won't hurt you." Karrek seemed to relax a bit in Kai's arms, trusting the man, but grabbing onto one of his arms slightly, portraying how scared he was. His heart was pounding, and his entire body was shaking. "They're harmless, they were just excited to see someone new. C'mon, let's go outside," Kai said, trying to comfort the boy, then led the boy outside.

Once they got outside, Kai sat down on a bench nearby, motioning for Karrek to sit down next to him. Karrek sat down next to the man, letting out a deep, recovering sigh. "So, I take it you're....absolutely terrified of dogs?" Kai presumed. Karrek nodded slowly, looking up at Kai. " And, just a guess, but I bet it has something to do with a bad experience with them in the past. Correct?" Kai continued. Karrek looked away, nodding. "Well, I can definitely promise you that none of my dogs will ever harm you. I have personally trained each and every one of them, I know them each like the back of my hand. None of them would ever do anything to threaten you're well-being. They just get excited easily," Kai said, attempting to comfort the boy further. Kai thought for a moment, "Wait right here. I'll be right back," Kai said, getting up and walking back toward the barn. Karrek waited nervously for Kai to return, unsure of what he was doing, or what he would return with.

"You stay right there, hun,"Kai said when he returned.  Walking by his side, leashed, was a muscular, blue and white American Pit Bull Terrier. The dog was male and seemed very mellow. It was a handsome, powerful looking creature, but looked up to Kai every now and then as if to ask if he was doing what Kai wanted. Karrek obeyed Kai, but was nevertheless fearful, but then realizing the dog was with Kai made him relax a bit. He trusted the man,and in his heart knew that Kai wouldn't do anything that he thought would be dangerous for him. Kai sat back down next to the boy, keeping hold of the leash. The dog wasn't typically on a leash, but Kai had decided it was best to give Karrek the comfort of him being in direct control of the dog. The dog didn't seem to have a bad bone in his body, however, and Karrek could sense that, but he was still unsure of the situation. "Sit," Kai said. The dog seemed to obey the second Kai commanded him, looking up at Kai, glancing at Karrek every now and then as if asking, 'May I sniff him now?' Kai dropped the dog's leash,and held it on the ground with his foot. He then put out his hand toward Karrek, "May I have your hand, please?" Kai asked gently. Karrek slowly put his hand in Kai's. Kai held Karrek's hand, palm facing up, and lowered it under the dog's nose. The dog proceeded to sniff Karrek's hand. Karrek whimpered slightly at the sensation of the dog's heavy breath on his hand. The dog's tail wagged happily. Karrek must have jump a mile high as the dog decided to gently lick the boy's hand. "Easy...easy," Kai said gently to the boy. E then guided Karrek's hand in rubbing the beast's head. The Pit Bull pushed up against Karrek's hand slightly, enjoying the feeling of being stroked. Karrek still shook for a few moments, but then realized it was okay, and that he was perfectly safe. He then let out a deep sigh. Kai then decided to release Karrek's hand. Surprisingly, Karrek continued stroking the dog's head on his own. He jumped slightly with any movement the dog made, but the jumping slowly faded. "'Atta boy!" Kai said happily, patting the boy on the back. He was happy that he could do something to help Karrek on the road to rehabilitation. Karrek looked up and smiled at the man.

"Would you like to try and meet the pack again, or would you like to spend some more time with Agamemnon here?" Kai asked, reaching down to scratch the dog behind the ear, to which the dog let out a short pleasured growl. Karrek, jumped at the sound, and seemed unsure of the proposition. The thought of being around so many dogs at once made Karrek a bit nervous. "Um, I think I'd like to get used to just him first..." Karrek said, nervously. Kai laughed gently, "Alright, well, I have some work to do, If you like you can walk around and spend some time with him. Even if you want to go back inside. He hasn't been in the house in a while." Kai then removed the leash from the dog's black nylon collar. "He shouldn't need that either. He's pretty obedient, you can tell him to do whatever and chances are, he'll understand and obey. If you ask him to 'heel' he'll walk right by your side," Kai said. Karrek nodded. Kai then walked off to do his work.

Karrek looked down at the dog. "Agamemnon..." Karrek said, almost hesitantly, The dog's eyes shot up to the boy, as they both stood up. Karrek jumped at the immediate reaction. Once Karrek relaxed, he smiled, looking down at the happily panting, and tail wagging dog. He then began to walk, uttering the command 'heel' as he did so. And to his surprise, the dog followed right by his side, glancing up at the boy as he had when he had been walking with Kai. Maybe Karrek would grow to like dogs, he didn't know. But he did like Agamemnon, that he did know. He just needed time to get used to the beautiful creature.