Backstory Summary Dump!!
(TW; animal death, mold, fungus, body horror, murder)
Epithet was once just a normal corgi named Walter (nicknamed "Buddy") that was adopted as a puppy by/raised into a service dog for an elderly disabled woman who passed away five years later in her sleep.
He ended up at a shelter for a few days, but escaped and was caught by a dogfighting gang member and was used as a bait/fight starter dog for years from then on.
After finally fighting back and defeating the odds by killing the larger dog he was meant to rile up before a fight, he was taken to an abandoned shed in the woods and put down.
The air conditioner somehow still ran in that building and serpula lacrymans (a type of mold) happened to be growing near the dog's body and slowly fused with his soul, granted him sapience, and formed a new humanoid(ish) body out of the flesh.
He woke up panicking over his new form and level of sentience when Lawrence was wandering the forest and investigating the shed. When they made eye contact, Walter instantly scrambled to his feet and ran towards him, happy to see a human who might help, but was met with a hard, startled punch to the face that knocked him unconscious.
Lawrence investigated the creature further and was fascinated by the strange mushroom amalgamation. He decided to take him home and observe him there, later affectionately re-naming him "Epithet".
Since then, Epithet stays happily captive by Lawrence, whom he deems his owner now, despite the torture he puts him through, such as manipulating/lovebombing him, cutting off his mushrooms and limbs, tearing him open, (he has regenerative abilities, constantly regrows mushrooms) and forcibly drugging him. All he's ever wanted is a forever home and now he has one.
(I have an ongoing fanfic on AO3 if anyone wants to read it ^^)
