Username: Baobabel
Name: pepita de calabaza // pepitas
Gender: male
Name Meaning: pepita de calabaza- little seed of squash // pepitas- pumpkin seeds
Prompt:(background is totally made-up and completely separate from the onsite breeding. IE- I’m pretending he came from a litter made of dogs that don’t share his markings)
Pepitas was used to being excluded from the others. This was for many reasons. First, since his birth, other dogs have avoided him. It started with his mother recoiling from him. Eventually but reluctantly she would nurse him. The human had to be the one to clean him off though. Once his siblings’s eyes opened, they treated him differently too. They didn’t know what to make of his unique markings. No one he knew had ever seen “unnatural” marking before and so they shunned him out of fear. They thought it must be some curse or something bad. On the human side of things, he was poked and prodded as his owner paraded him around. He liked showing off this odd puppy in hopes he could find some expense buyer. Many people came to ogle over the unusual pup and many of them didn't know how to properly and gently handle a pup. He started feeling many strong feelings whenever he saw people start to approach. Nervousness, fear, anger, resentment, anxiety. The handling wasn’t pleasant and he didn’t like feeling like an object to be passed around.
He just wanted to be left alone by the humans and be accepted by the dogs. They still hadn’t gotten used to him and basically ignored him. Pepitas just wanted to be treated as a regular dog. Eventually his owner found the ‘perfect’ buyer. A rich man who collected oddities. This person was not known for his kindness. Instead, he was known for treating everything as objects and as ‘his belongings’. Physically they were kept in pristine condition but no thought went into mental or emotional welfare. Pepitas knew he couldn’t take a lifetime of being kept separate from others, stared at, and treated as an item. So he ran.
At the next opportunity, he snuck out and ran as fast and as far as he could. He kept away from human-made structure and any time he saw a person, he immediately went a different direction. He snuck water and food from random bowls at night, having to scrap with feral cats and racoons to get it. Over time he came across houses less and less until eventually it had been several days since the last house. Pepitas was moving slower as intense hunger set in. He also hadn’t been sleeping well due to the unfamiliar surroundings. Then, his nose caught a scent. Well, many scents but most importantly to his stomach, the smell of cooking food. Almost unconsciously, he began to follow the odor. He paused though when he reached the edge of the treeline. So far, the forest had kept him hidden. He could look out of the trees and see a wide grassland and beyond it, a large yard with a few buildings. As he watched, he could see figures darting around.
But the smell of food wafted over him again and he began to creep in closer. He stayed low and out of sight, slinking through the tall grass until reached the edge where he met the shorter grass of the yard. There he paused to watch the scene and soak in the smells. He would later learn, what he was observing was a barbecue grill out. There was a whole pack of dogs having fun in the yard. Some romping and playing together. Others resting in the shade or playing in a sprinkler. A few humans were sitting around a table and talking. The urge to mingle and be accepted was almost stronger than the need for food. He had been burned and let down so many times in the past though he was afraid to make his presence known. He didn’t want to have those looks of disgust from the dogs or the ogling and prodding from the humans.
He somehow fought his hunger and decided to wait until it got dark, hoping there would be some scraps left behind. Although with that many dogs running around he was doubtful any piece of grilled meat or veg would go unnoticed.
What he didn’t realize was that he also hadn't gone unnoticed. A couple of the pack had picked up his odor and eventually spotted where he lay in the tall grass. They didn’t let on that they knew however. They had correctly assumed he was a stray that was nervous to join in the rowdy company of strangers so they continued to ignore him for the moment. The owner of the dogs had also picked up on something. They weren’t sure what was in the grass but they were very perceptive and in tune with their dogs and had noticed them noticing something. If the dogs weren’t concerned however, neither would they be.
As the sun sunk, the party began to slow down. All but a couple of the humans had left and most of the dogs had gone inside. Pepitas started to shift hoping to be able to leave his hiding place soon to look for scraps. He noticed a pair of dogs talking before one raced off towards the barn. A minute later she returned with two more dogs in tow. He began to get nervous as they walked in the direction of his hiding place. He held his breath as they got closer and eventually stopped about 15ft away. Then they all plopped down as if to take a nap, never actually looking directly at him. No! He was so close to being able to move again and now he stuck for who knows how long! His frustration and hunger grew until suddenly, both evaporated in a new discovery.
First off, he could smell the intoxicated scent of grilled food so they must’ve brought some with them. But more astonishing was the dogs themselves. They had unusual markings.
One looked just like a regular collie, but the next dog looked like someone tried
hand painting on him, and the
third looked like she had mushrooms growing along her side! As Pepitas’s mind was blown, he realized the “normal” looking dog was talking calmly to him. “Hi there. We noticed you in the grass. Don’t worry, you won't be chased off. Any dog is welcome here as long as you mean no harm to others. You look like you’ve traveled far and missed a few meals. Would you like some dinner?’ she asked as she pushed a pile of food his way. Pepitas’s paws began to move involuntarily at the sight of a meal. Before he fully emerged from the grass he asked “You won’t be scared if I have…weird…markings will you?”. The three chuckled before the mushroom dog responded, “Have you seen us?”. The one with the hands added “We think all markings look cool. Doesn’t matter if you’re a solid coat or rainbow polka dotted”. Pepitas crept forward, still expecting to be pushed out once they fully saw him. As he emerged however, no comment was made. In fact, they barely even looked over. They just nudged the food closer. Recognizing a dog still close to flight and knowing any comment made about physical appearances were likely to set it off, the trio began to lightly talk about the events of the day. Nearly ignoring Pepitas as he finally fully approached and began to eat. When he was about done and feeling more settled, the pale lilac dog, Fern, spoke to him again.
She explained the working of the ranch, described the owner, and gave some info about the others on the farm. She made clear there were no set expectations for him. He was welcome to leave at any time. They would love to have him join but he could leave right now or in the morning if he so desired. If he stayed, he could interact with the others as much or as little as he desired. Feeling the weight of his journey, he decided he could at least spend the night and then make a decision in the morning. Plus, this was his first time having a real conversation with anyone. They all chatted for a bit but eventually his eyes began to droop and he knew he wouldn’t be able to stay awake much longer. So the others brought him to a cozy corner in the barn. They gave him some space but Fern stayed behind to sleep nearby so Pepitas wouldn't be all alone.
The next day the bulk of the pack was outside when he awoke. He was astonished to see even more dogs with unusual markings. He must’ve been so exhausted and near delusional with hunger, he hadn’t even noticed them the day before. Maybe strange markings weren’t that uncommon after all. Either way, they all seemed to be treated like any other dog. Except the three from the night before, all the other dogs kept their distance, giving him time to get adjusted and approach on his own time. Pepitas, surprising everyone and himself, almost immediately jumped in and began trying to meet everyone! He was so ecstatic to finally be able to interact with others! And they treated him like any other regular dog! No one even seemed to notice his unusual markings. He nearly cried as he was greeted with kindness and normalcy. He made so many friends that first day. This was the companionship he had spent so long searching for. This was home.
