Short Story Sunday: "Rune"

Here it is, my very first Short Story Sunday post, titled Rune! I had a lot of fun writing this and I hope you all enjoy it! I can't wait to hear your responses, whether they be critiques or praise. :D

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Rune

I ran along the deck of the Black Dragon, enjoying the sea breeze against my ears and the sway of the ship under my paws.

“Easy there, Rune,” cautioned my master and I slowed my pace, watching the horizon with my tongue lolling out of my mouth.

“Merchant to starboard!” cried the lookout from the crow’s next and I howled in excitement, running towards the hatchway to find the captain.

I reached his cabin in no time and began pawing at the door and barking until he opened it and let me in.

“What is it, Rune, ye old fool?” he said, smiling crookedly at me. “Another merchant vessel?”

I sat down and gave a short, smart bark. Aye aye, Captain Dawson, sir!

His smile increased as he tucked a pistol into his belt and reached for his cutlass. “Aye, you are a good dog.”

I followed him as he hurried up to the deck and began shouting orders while I howled at the crew.

The clatter of the cannon ports opening, the snap of the black and red flags up at the top of the mast, and the shouts of the captain and crew excited me and I began to dance on my hind paws.

“ ‘ey, Scar! Yer dog’s doin’ a hornpipe! ’Tis a good omen!” cried the second mate to my master just as the deck shivered under the first blast of our cannon.

“Aye,’tis indeed!” shouted my master in response over the din.

I shook my head as screams echoed across the water and the boom of the merchant ship’s cannon answered our own.

I could taste the smoke and barely see the end of my snout as I loped around to each team on the cannons and howled encouragement, and I could feel the temperature rising with every volley of fire but I kept on, for I knew the best moment was still to come.

“Pull alongside ‘er and board ‘er!” screamed Captain Dawson at last and I leaped straight up into the air with an unearthly howl of pleasure.

Yes! Fight the merchant cowards, me hearties! Fight and earn your prize!

A shout rang across the decks and metal clanged and ropes creaked as my fellow pirates drew their swords and leaped fearlessly across the gap to the enemy ship, engaging whatever fool stepped forward to fight them without mercy.

I bounded across the deck of the Black Dragon to where Scar stood waiting for me and leapt in front of him.

He grabbed me around my midsection and in a move we had done many a time before, heaved me across the gap just as I jumped.

I landed easily and turned towards a sailor who was just bringing his sword down towards one of my shipmates and snarled, leaping forward and sinking my teeth into his leg.

He screamed in what was unmistakably pain and turned on me… then fell as my shipmate brought his own sword down into flesh.

I licked my chops and then spun around as I heard a swish and saw the gleam of a blade passing right by my neck.

How dare you, uncouth beast! I growled, lunging at the man who again tried to kill me.

“Ye are a pirate dog, aren’t ye?” he asked even as he blocked me with his sword.

The sharp blade cut deep into my foreleg and I screamed at him as I darted aside to check my wound, Ye will pay for this!

When I looked up again from licking , the man was busy with another pirate, so I turned to find a new target and locate my master.

Scar? Where are you?

I found him backed into a corner, fighting hard with a single young sailor, a look I had never seen before on his face.

The acrid scent of blood filled my nose, making me wilder than ever and I ran across the deck towards the man as if my paws had wings.

Just as I lunged, however, Scar’s sword shattered and the young man’s blade sank deep into his chest.

He collapsed and I felt my world come shattering down. I forgot my own wounded paw; forgot the man who had killed him; forgot my duty to the crew and captain of the Black Dragon and went to my master’s head at once.

He groaned and the gleam in his brown eyes as they met mine scared me.

Scar! Scar, it’ll be okay! We’ll get through this battle, just like we always have and laugh about this scare together later! One more scar means nothing as long as you don’t die!

“Rune,” he moaned as I licked his hand and tried to nudge him up. “Rune, I- I’m done for, old friend.”

No! No, you can’t die, I need you! I howled, nosing his face hard, but his eyes were already closing.

“Rune…” he mumbled and then I felt his warm breath on my nose and then he was still.

I stared at him, smelled the scent of death on him and sat down, my heart chilled and empty with sorrow.

Scar.

“Aye, what’s a dog doin’ on this ship?” came a voice and I shook my head, looking behind me.

All was quiet, save for the groans of wounded men and a clean-shaven, middle-aged sailor man was standing over me, a small smile on his lips.

Huh? I barked, looking around. There was no sign of the Black Dragon anywhere!

I leaped up, holding my wounded paw off the deck and hop-ran to the edge of the deck to see the sails of my ship just disappearing on the horizon.

My brothers lost the fight and left me, I realized with a sudden shock. Left me and Scar behind!

A howl escaped my mouth and I hurried back to Scar’s side, determined not to abandon him like the others had.

The smile of the sailor who was watching me faded and he knelt beside me and Scar. “You were his dog, aren’t you? You’ve lost your master and your friends.”

I growled at him as he reached out towards me and he paused.

“I won’t hurt you, boy. I just want to see your paw. You can’t just let it bleed like that, you know.”

Is an enemy really being friendly to me? I wondered, then slowly limped forward and let him take my paw.

He smiled again and to my surprise, I felt my tail wag ever so slightly in response.

“It’s okay, boy,” he murmured, sliding his arms around my midsection and picking me up with a gentleness I had never felt from Scar or the others. “You’re safe here.”

I looked around as the young man carried me belowdecks and as we entered the hold, I saw the same young man who had killed Scar lying in one of the hammocks.

A growl rose in my throat, then I paused, for I noticed the young fellow had a bandage wrapped tightly around his head and over one eye.

He was hurt, too… but his shipmates didn’t abandon him to die like they did me and Scar.

I began struggling and the sailor carrying me had to put me down so I limped over and put my good paw up against the young man’s arm, whining softly.

He opened his one visible eye and smiled at me a little. “Hey, dog. Where’d you… oh. You’re that dog, aren’t you?

I nuzzled his hand. Yes. I’m that dog. Are you going to be okay?

“You aren’t mad at me for killing your master?” he asked, looking surprised.

Why be mad at someone who was just trying to protect themselves? No.

“You seem like a good dog… what’s your name?”

He reached out and took a gentle hold of my leather collar so he could read the nameplate.

“Rune. Huh. It suits you, somehow. Well, Rune… I don’t know what to say to you.”

Don’t say anything. Rest. I need a new master… and you seem like someone I could like if I knew you better.

He yawned a bit and closed his eyes again.

I went back to all fours and laid down beside his bunk.

The first sailor approached me again. “Come on, dog. Don’t you want your paw fixed?”

I looked up at him and thumped my tail politely. No, thank you, sir. I want to guard this man now. I won’t abandon him for anything.

A smile answered me and a nod. “All right. I’m going back above-decks then.”

I watched him go, then licked my forepaw, which had finally stopped bleeding as badly, then closed my eyes and went to sleep at last.