underground, beneath notice (open)

   Not exactly having any true experience in the real world, Caleb never would have thought of himself as a predator. Predators hunt, kill, stalk… Alright, maybe what he was doing could have been construed as stalking, but that certainly wasn’t the intention.

   The animal ahead sounded afraid, but when the man turned around, Caleb slowed his approach. He wasn’t trying to charge forward or spook either of them, and a piece of him felt guilty for having done so to the deer. As the man knelt to the ground, Caleb gradually closed the distance, his ear flicking once, enjoying the sound of the man’s voice.

   He couldn’t remember seeing the man around the Hollowed Grounds, but then again, he also had willingly put himself into seclusion. Was this a newcomer who didn’t know his place, like Caleb? Or had he been here for longer and just decided to wander into the Underground for the hells of it? It wasn’t exactly the wisest place to explore from the pup’s perspective, but he certainly wasn’t going to tell anyone what to do.

   A hand was extended towards him, and whatever cautionary attitude Caleb might have had before was complete gone by now. His nostrils flared slightly around the man’s hand, picking up and committing to memory the fresh scent of his current companion. The dog’s body language was entirely calmed now; his ears relaxed, oak brown eyes wide and eager, tail wagging. He sat down and tilted his head, lifting his paw with a canine grin to place onto the man’s hand.