Waiting to Breathe

How To Successfully Be A German Shepherd

I swear, I could be a tracker dog. Sitting in the sun's glow was wonderful and all, but food was even more wonderful.

Raising my head from where it rested against Riven's back as he conversed with a few well off merchants, I glanced around looking for the delicious smell that was emanating from a nearby booth. Just before the street curved into Down District, I could make out the sight of a sign proclaiming a booth "Retta's Bakery".

With a tap on Riven's back, I was off. I glanced back to make sure he saw where I was headed. With a graceful nod of his white-blond head, I knew he wouldn't speak with my guards saying I had disappeared.

Trotting down the cobblestone streets, I narrowly avoided several collisions with small children playing with toys, a horse and cart as well as a member of the City Council. As much as I love long drawn out debates on the yield of grain crops from the southern part of Agrakan, there was a time and place for that, and a busy market was no such place.

As I near the small bakers shop, I saw the line extending out the door. With a sigh, I join the end.

Peering around the broad shoulders of a man, just a few people up, I can see three children playing as their mother waits in line. Raggedy old blocks can only keep them entertained for so long. The oldest boy, no

older than seven, decides to try his luck as a pickpocket when his mother turns her back. His rag encased arm extends slowly, as slowly as a snail moves on a warm , sunny day. Just as he latches his arm onto the basket containing the day old loaves of bread, a heavy hand drops onto his shoulder, popping out of nowhere. Even though I am several feet away, I jump in surprise. I watch closely as the boy tilts his head to follow the arm up to the body connected. Way, way up.

The man leans down to say something in the boys ear that I can't quite catch. The line inches forward infinitesimally, just letting me catch the final words out of the mans mouth.

"...and that is why you don't steal when you have more than enough money to afford to buy something," the man says in a deep baritone. "Now can you tell me why you won't steal again?"

Even from where I am, I can see the young boy gulp.

The lines moves forward a couple steps more and I am now at the counter. In the background I can faintly hear the man talking to the boy while I place my order.

I glance back just in time to see the man release the boy and turn to face my direction.

Green eyes identical to mine connect with my gaze. A gasp escapes my throat. Just as I turn to more fully take in the appearance of the man, the lady working the bakery counter interrupts with, "Here is your order, dear. Thank you for buying at Retta's!".

I grab my pastry with a harried smile, anxious to examine the strange man. I turn around to find that the man is gone. I take a short walk around the shop, mystified as to how he could have disappeared so quickly. After receiving a few odd glances from the other customers and one very odd glance from an old man who seems to be interested in my derrière, I exit the shop, vowing to put the odd man out of my head.

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So not my best work, but I wanted to update. I will be posting more often, I promise. Please, please, PLEASE comment, I want your thoughts and opinions even if they are negative. Oh, and I will get into more of the plot next chapter, I promise!!!!