Cassidy

”That’ll do.”

Those two, blissful words wash over Cassidy like freshly-made lemonade on a hot summer’s day.

Another day of hard, feet-aching work, and this herding dog had the sweat to prove it. Still satisfying as hell though!

His tail was wagging behind him as he ushered the flock together, watching the farmer leave out of the corner of his eye. “We’re at the homestretch, folks. Chow time!” he announces, herding them all together. “Watch your feet there, Neil. Don’t wanna get left behind, do we?”

Evening sun settled over Sunny Acres Family Farm, casting the acres in a golden light as everyone began to settle in for the night. The chicken demis went to their coop, humans went to the farmhouse, and the sheep demis were herded back to the barn after a day spent grazing and getting sheared. The upcoming summer months wouldn’t be doing them any favors, so the farmer figured it was best to beat the heat and get to it early.

The barn stood tall and firm as the sheep began to trickle in through the open doors, with Cassidy following up behind the rear.

“Y’all be safe tonight, y’hear?” he calls out, waving goodbye as the flock slowly heads in for the night. A few mumble goodnight, wish him well, or just drag their tired feet inside, likely sick of listening to him bark at them all day. “Don’t worry, Jess’ll take good care of you.”

The livestock guardian in question just rolls his eyes as Cassidy stops right at the barn door, allowing the shorter man to take his place at the rear and begin herding everyone to their pens.

“G’night, Jess–” Cassidy tries to say, before the barn door shuts in his face with a resounding thud. He stared at the cracking red paint that settled over the grooves of the wooden planks, his tail’s thrumming energy slowing for a brief moment before it picked right back up. “Don’t be a stranger! I’ll see y’all tomorrow!”

And then he turns right back around, wading through the golden wheat to get on the trail that would lead him right to the farmhouse.

Man, you know a guy for over 15 years and he’s still out here giving the cold shoulder, Cassidy couldn’t help but think. What’s his deal, anyway?

Jesse had always been like that, ever since Cassidy could remember, but not for a lack of trying to be friends on his part. Not like there were a lot of dog demis for him to get along with, and they had the same flock for goodness' sake! Of course Cassidy’d try to be buddy-buddy with him. But every single time he tried, he’d either get flat out ignored, a glare, or if Jesse was feeling kind that day, a curt response. There weren’t many other options besides him anyway. Couldn’t be friends with the sheep, not really, and the humans just treated him like another working dog. Fair enough, he supposed, but the longer this went on, well, Cassidy couldn’t help but start to feel a bit lone–

Rustle.

Cassidy’s ears prickled at the sound. His eyes darted to the outer rim of the farm’s edge, where they visibly brightened upon recognizing who it was.

It’s them!

‘Them’ being that skittish prey demihuman who had started lurking around the forest. Or at least, whom he assumed was skittish, ‘cause they’d retreat into the shadows every time he’d try to wave hi at them.

Cassidy’s eyes move between the forest and the farmhouse, his brain trying real hard to be good and insist head inside for dinner! You can’t stay out late, anyhow, but his legs were already moving before he could think. It was slow at first, not even a light jog, before he saw that little demihuman dart right back into the underbrush.

“H-hey, wait!” Cassidy shouted, the line between farm and forest blurring as he picked up the pace, his nose following their scent. “I just wanted to say hi!”

What’re they running from? he can’t help but wonder, eyes glancing back behind him to reveal nothing but trees passing by as he followed after them. I don’t smell no predator around. It’s just me!

As a herding dog, he could keep this pace up for miles. But of course, even he knew when to reel it back. He slowed to a jog, before slowing further to a cautious step. “Phew,” he panted, letting out a breathless laugh. “That was quite a run, you know! Didn’t know you guys were so quick on your feet. Y’sure showed me, huh?

They were near, he could smell it, but where–?

A sudden snap of twigs cut through the air. Then a prompt thud.

“Aw hell,” Cassidy muttered, rushing forward as he finally stumbled upon the demihuman who’d been giving him the slip, caught in the sharp tangles of a briar. He immediately slowed to a stop, watching as the thorns dug into their ankle. Not the first time he’d run into these nasty things, as they used to grow near the fence posts and caught quite a few sheep demi in their snares.

Good thing he always kept a pocket knife for such things.

“You alright there, sugar? Took a nasty fall...” he murmured, raising his hands in a show of placating concern as he knelt down. Didn’t want them getting more freaked out and scratching up their ankle any more than it already was. His hand slowly drifted down to his pocket, flicking out the blade. “Don’t worry,” he assures. “Not gonna hurt ya. Just a little cut here and–”

The briar slackened with a quick snap, falling in a loose thread back onto the forest floor as Cassidy brought the pocket knife away, tucking it back into its leather pouch. Cassidy smiled at the sight of them now safe and sound as he leaned back on his heels, still keeping low to the ground, lest his height frighten them.

“There. All better. How’s it feel, friend? Not too bad, I hope,” Cassidy continued. Well, them getting caught in briar wasn’t how he’d hoped things would end up, certainly not the best ice breaker in the world, but it was a start, right?