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 Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:38 pm
Chopper was excited.
Really, really excited.
Like, so excited he could jumpupanddownand -
No, he was being calm and collected. Today was a big day, after all - the first day he was actually on patrol, and he was going to be so grown up and competent that nobody would even realise how excited he was (which was really, really, really excited), and would all be impressed by him rather then going 'aww, puppy!' which was all that had happened so far. He lay his head down on his paws, watching the rest of the station house out of one eye. His handler had disappeared for a moment to go chat with a colleague, and although there was a veryveryshiny thing that looked like it might bounce on the desk, he wasn't going to go for it, not at all.
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:52 pm
 The sounds of paw steps moving hastily down the corridor, a wagging tail hitting legs and walls, and frantic panting could be heard by the other dogs in the station long before Astraea ever made her way to the main hall. The poor golden pup was so excited she felt as though she might explode. Today was it, the day when she would finally get to show off the result of the long days and months of training she had endured. She was going on patrol, and not only that, she was going with one of the other pups she had taken her training classes with. What is his name again? she wondered as she finally came to a halt, sitting obediently at her handler's side.
She recognized the handler of the pup she would be embarking on her first patrol with and a quick glance around the room had her eyes resting on her to-be partner. Her gaze slid up to her handler's face, it wouldn't be right for her to wander off without being given permission to do so but she really really wanted to go get formally acquainted with her new partner. She stared at him, intently, as if by staring alone she could attract his attention and draw him over.
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 3:15 pm
Chopper's eyes slid one way and then another, and he nearly checked behind him so hard she was looking at him. His ears perked up, head tilting to one side, and his tail beat tentatively, making a soft patter on the floor.
Waitwaitwait! He recognised her, from the classes! Yes yes - she was Astraea, definitely. You didn't see retrievers with that sort of colouring very often, and he definitely remembered her. His tail beat a little harder, but he didn't want to move just yet - his handler had said 'stay', and he was definitely going to stay being a big grown up dog and all.
It took a moment for his handler to return, exchanging a few words with the other person before calling him over - Chopper was there so fast he nearly bounced off of a cabinet on his way.
"Hi! Astraea, right? I'm Chopper!"
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 4:01 pm
Astraea was doing her best not to get impatient, she watched as the dog she was intently focusing on looked all around him, apparently checking to make sure she was really looking at him. After what seemed like forever he realized that she was indeed looking at him but he still didn't come over. She cocked her head to the side, a questioning stare was directed his way and then his handler gave him the command he seemed to be waiting for and she yipped in amusement as his paws scrabbled to get traction on the linoleum flooring.
His introduction was a relief, she would have been extremely embarrassed if she'd had to ask him what his name was. "Yes, I'm Astraea. Nice to formally meet you Chopper. Are you excited for the patrol?" her tail was wagging a thousand times a minute and she was sorely tempted to assume a play bow position but she remembered her training, and that she was on duty, and also that today was a very important day. Those reminders brought her to a halt and she found herself standing a little straighter and her tail was now in a relaxed position hanging down towards the floor.
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 6:36 am
Chopper shook himself off with a little brr, and sat practically on his handler's feet, tail beating from side to side still, although more slowly now. The puppy was maybe put off a little by the word 'formally' (he didn't like the idea of formal, formality, all that you-have-to-behave-so-well stuff), but he wasn't going to hold it against her. She looked so professional he was quite worried he wasn't going to be up to the mark, which might well happen. Being a police dog was important and he wasn't going to mess it up.
"No. No, I am in no way horrifically excited" he informed her, before twisting to scratch at his suddenly itchy ear with a back paw, adding a moment later. "Are you?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 10:43 am
Now, everyone that knew Astraea knew that she was absolutely horrible at lying, or even at dancing around the truth without every really getting to the point and so, when he answered her, and then shot the question back her face warmed and she was glad she had dark fur because she was sure if she didn't she would be glowing like a stop light.
"Who me? Um... well... I guess maybe a little." her actual response to the question came out in a rush that he may or may not be able to decipher and she tilted her head down just a bit in embarrassment. I'm going on patrol with Chopper and he is all cool, calm, and collected and I'm... just... not. I'm going to make a fool out of myself.
She suddenly found her paws to be very interesting and set her gaze to staring at them as if they had grown wings, or, horns, or something.
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:02 pm
Chopper paused, setting his back paw back down firmly on the floor. She'd kind of - well, stopped looking at him, and - was she as excited-nervous as he was?
"Well, I bet we're going to be the best team ever" he said self-importantly, scooting towards her on his backside a little. "Those bad guys out there? They're going to quake and tremble at our very names by this time next week!"
Which was of course the utter, absolute, and unvarnished truth as far as he was concerned. Of course they would be the best, and there was no way he was going to fail at this whole thing. Nu-uh.
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Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 9:27 pm
Astraea lifted her gaze at his comment and a genuine smile planted itself on her face. Of course they would be the best and all the bad guys would run in fear whenever they were mentioned... or at least, that's what she let herself believe. Honestly though, was she really that scary? The other officers didn't seem to think so and neither did the older, experienced, police dogs. She shook her head to clear it of the negative thoughts and returned her full attention to Chopper. "You bet they will! I can't wait to get out there and show them a thing or two!"
As soon as she finished speaking her trainer looked down at her and spoke "Astraea, let's get going. Heel." She may not understand all the human words but her name, going, and heel she knew. As he started to walk she stayed right at his side, casting a glance over her shoulder at her partner.
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