Dugstuck

Karkat

Note: I also have drawings of the dogs. Karkat can be found here (remove spaces):

ayamiaras. deviantart gallery/ 40049873#/ d5hmnln

I might not be the best artist and I did draw them by hand instead of on the computer so the quality is low, but I hope you enjoy it none the less.

The woman behind the desk looked the girl over uncertainly and then said, "You realize that the dogs here aren't trained to be used as seeing-eye-dogs, right?"

…

After walking up and down the aisles of kennels, playing with several bouncy puppies, and feeding treats to big dogs and small dogs alike, Terezi finally nodded at the kind woman who worked at the pound and declared, "I've made up my mind."

The woman smiled and grabbed a small collar and leash, expecting the girl to pick one of the younger dogs. Puppies were always the popular choice. She was surprised when Terezi pointed to the kennel at the end of the row and proclaimed, "I want that one!" Not only was 'that one' not a puppy, but he was also a Rottweiler, which wasn't one of the easiest breeds of dogs to get adopted. Plus, this particular Rottweiler had a slightly grouchy personality. When Terezi originally came close to the bars, the dog barked at her and backed away. The poor dog had been in the pound for a while now and he was almost out of time. The pound workers had all lost hope that the grumpy dog would ever get adopted and yet here was someone who wanted him. "R-really? That one? Are you sure?" Well the girl was blind, maybe she was pointing to the wrong one?

…

After the papers were all signed and tags paid for, the woman asked, "What are you going to name him?"

"Karkat." Terezi said without any hesitation. The woman stared at her for a moment, before going back for…Karkat…and clipping a leash onto his choke collar. He barked and barked and once he was out of the cage, he pulled at the leash, trying to go in every which way only to be choked by the collar. Wondering if this poor blind girl would be able to handle such a strong willed dog, the worker handed the leash over.

Terezi took it firmly and in a commanding voice ordered, "Sit." Karkat looked at his new master, gave a short disgruntled growl and then refused to sit. Terezi frowned. "We'll have to work on that." Then the blind girl reached down to pet the Rottweiler. As her hands slid over the chain links on the choke collar, she frowned and asked, "Do you have any red collars?"

…

One week later…

"Sit." Karkat sat. For the first time. Terezi stared at the dog in shock for a moment before grinning and jumping up and down and wrapping her arms around Karkat and showering him with love and affection. "You did it, Karkat! You did it! You're such a good boy! I knew you could do it!"

…

A few months later…

"Thanks for walking me home, Dave. I…" Terezi's words were cut off by frantic barking as soon as she stepped onto the porch. "Oh, that's my dog, Karkat. Would you like to meet him?" Terezi unlocked her door and took a fighting stance, ready to tackle her dog should he try to slip past her and run off. He rushed her as soon as he had the chance and Terezi grabbed him in a tight headlock before maneuvering so she was holding onto his cherry red collar. Karkat continued to bark at the intruder. "Karkat. Shut up. This is Dave. Dave is a friend." Terezi explained. "Hold your hand out to him. Let him sniff it. And don't worry, he's all bark, but no bite."

Dave looked from Terezi to the Rottweiler and hesitated for a moment before holding his hand out to the dog who sniffed it angrily, but true enough didn't bite. He did growl though. "I don't think your dog likes me."

"He just doesn't like strangers. He'll warm up to you eventually."

…

A few months later…

"Dude, Karkat. It's just me. Do we really have to go through this every time I come over?" Dave asked as the Rottweiler yapped his head off after Dave rang the doorbell.

Terezi appeared then and dragged Karkat away from the door and they both disappeared for a moment before Terezi reappeared looking slightly disheveled and opened the door. "Sorry about that. I locked him in the bathroom so you don't have to worry."

"What happened to 'he'll warm up to you'?" Dave asked after stepping inside.

"Sorry. He's just jealous that I'm spending time with you and not him."

…

Later that night…

After spending all day with Dave, Terezi finally opened the door to the bathroom to find Karkat lying on the rug in front of the sink. When the door opened his head perked up. Seeing Terezi, he growled his annoyance at her, stood up, and walked to the other side of the bathroom. He lied back down with his back to his master.

"Oh, Karkles. Don't be like that," Terezi cooed, carefully walking over to him and crouching beside him. She ran her hands over his black coat and scratched behind the ears where she knew he liked it.

Finally, Karkat caved and gave a forgiving lick to his master's offered hand and his stubby tail wagged back and forth.

"I love you, Karkat."