“Oh– really?”
Johnny supposed a little belatedly that standing near a dog doesn’t necessarily make you its owner - a truth for him, as well. He glanced back to the dog, who seemed just as happy to be ownerless at the moment, standing between the two of them, tongue hanging out of a panting smile as it looked between the talking strangers. Johnny gave him a pat on the head for good measure.
“Nah, he’s not mine– I have seen him out here a couple times though, yeah. He’s a friendly boy, huh? ♪ I’m pretty sure someone out here must own him– he always looks like he’s had a good wash and a haircut, you know? Well fed too, heh. No collar, though– maybe I’ll ask the local park ranger about it.”
He pulled himself away from petting the dog long enough to approach the visiting man - and the dog trotted after him happily, returning to check the stranger out again now that he’d investigated Johnny thoroughly enough.
“I’m Johnny, by the way.” He stuck out a hand for a handshake, beaming. “You said you’re visiting? Where you from?”
Arthur could have been fooled, the eager way the dog wagged its tail as the stranger pet him. But then again, the dog could just be that friendly. “He truly is. Actually, he came right over when I gestured at him.” Arthur chuckled lightly. “If your park ranger doesn’t know his owner, you should take him up for yourself.”
As the other man approached, the dog followed and sniffed at him curiously. Arthur bent down to give the dog an affectionate scratch behind the ears before returning his attention to the stranger--just in time to catch his introduction.
“Arthur,” He responded as he took the other man’s hand into a firm handshake, smiling in return. “I’m from Norad, actually. From a town called Selphia. ...The animals there have a tendency to ah, attack, which is why I...” He nodded down at the dog with a slightly embarrassed smile, figuring that was enough explanation.















