218 - [Video]

[impure_tale]

It would appear that Lestat has left the barge. His cabin is empty, and my item no longer  responds to him.

To those of you that were especially hospitable to my wife while she was here, I --

[He's cut off by the sound of growling, and he glances somewhere offscreen.]

Renate? [His eyebrows raise, more firmly, so as to assert some form of command, get her attention. The growling continues.] Renate?

Comments

[with_my_teacup]

What's wrong with Renate-?

[Over protective ex-inmate thinking of coming over to make sure things are okay? Perish the thought.]

[Spam]

[impure_tale]

[By the time Riddick reaches the Marquis' door he can probably hear angry barking and snarling inside]

[Spam]

[with_my_teacup]

[Well, this isn't right. Riddick almost takes the door off its hinges, he shoulders it open so fast.]

[Spam]

[impure_tale]

[The Marquis had gotten to his feet and was backing from Renate slowly, step by step, speaking softly to her to try and calm her, but her stance hasn't changed, the hair on her back raised up, addressing him much as she does intruders. Riddick's entry is sudden enough that it steals her attention, and she doesn't think, just reacts, lunging in his direction.]

[Spam]

[with_my_teacup]

Shit.

[More an exhale than anything, Riddick lunges out of the way so that she'll hit the door he slams behind him instead of him.

He gets between dog and man, half-crouched to spring again, frowning with growing worry at her lack of recognition, at her uncharacteristic aggression.]

You hurt-?

[Spam]

[impure_tale]

[This illicits a disoriented, pained noise from the canine but she's on her paws again, shaking her head and soon focused enough again that she becomes aggressive once more.]

No.

[The Marquis shakes his head, clearly out of sorts himself, as he's not certain what to do or say, though he does have a firearm he should be going for.]

She --

[He doesn't know what to say. She was sleeping more than usual, slower to respond, but he hadn't thought anything was wrong.]

[Spam]

[with_my_teacup]

She's sick.

[It's flat and unhappy. Riddick knows this is wrong. He's got an innate animalism that can turn a guard dog against its master, but he doesn't even need that much to see what's happening.]

[Spam]

[impure_tale]

[He swallows]

Is it --

[The slight rise in his voice causes her to turn her head toward him, the growl rises in intensity and he goes silent. It shouldn't affect the animals, should it?]

[Spam]

[with_my_teacup]

Probably.

Don't know how she'd've got it. Looks kinda like rabies but you get that off a bite, anything bite her?

[Spam]

[impure_tale]

[He shook his head.]

No. No wild animals in the CES. I've mostly been walking her ondeck lately because it's been warmer out there than in the enclosure.

[Spam]

[with_my_teacup]

She ain't gonna calm down. Can you move real slow, get me a sheet off your bed? I might be able to get her muzzled up.

[Spam]

[impure_tale]

[He started to back toward his bedroom, nearly stumbling on the steps there but he catches himself. Renate has by this point backed herself into a corner. as he pulls a sheet from the bed.]

[Spam]

[with_my_teacup]

[To keep Renate's focus on him, Riddick starts to speak, a low rumble of simple words similar to the Marquis' earlier-- he doesn't like drawing the attention but he knows he's faster than the warden.]

[Spam]

[impure_tale]

[He didn't seem to know what to do, as throwing the sheet to him, even bunched up, would draw her attention.]

[Spam]

[with_my_teacup]

Come over slowww.

[It's a soothing croon. He sticks his hand slowly out behind him, still watching the dog with singleminded focus.]

[Spam]

[impure_tale]

[He edged toward him, when it seemed Renate's attention was mostly on Riddick he allowed himself to take longer steps, but reaching to hand it to him, she broke into another long string of startling barks.]

[Spam]

[with_my_teacup]

[That same low croon.]

You maaaay want to get to the bedroom and shut the door.

[Spam]

[impure_tale]

[He thought he could make it there. Once again, backing slowly. Renate's head didn't follow him immediately. She wasn't completely focused, not that it seemed like her eyes were looking at anything at all.]

[Spam]

[with_my_teacup]

Renate, over here. Sound's coming from over here.

[No quiet way to rip a sheet, so Riddick jammed one end between his back teeth and used the leverage to rip a start.]

[Spam]

[impure_tale]

[It's enough to draw her. Confused, enraged, she lunges again]

[Spam]

[with_my_teacup]

[His side-step is hampered by the sheet-- it fouls his feet long enough for her to sink her teeth into his leg, and he bites down on a cry of pain. The strip of sheet rips free and he throws her to her side like a calf being tied-- trying not to hurt her, but needing to get her restrained-- and kneels over her as he jerks his first makeshift restraint around her snapping muzzle.]

[requiresssacrifice]

What's going on with your dog?

[impure_tale]

One moment, Rex -- [He's cut off by sudden barking, and he drops his communicator. Its collision with the floor turns it off.]

[strangehistorian]

Are you-

[Chromie switches languages here without realizing it; this is Old High Thalassian:]

Are you alright? What's wrong?