@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

"The air is simply #redolent with refreshing odors."
Lambda barked.
"Yes," Totemo said. "That stockyard's sewage lagoon two kilometers east should be checked."
"Ho, ho! I believe I may also detect the delicate scent of truffles," DIP said, beginning to dig at the base of a tree. (2/4) #wss366

Totemo Isogashii and Lambda arrived at the field location to check on Mr. Rokunai and DIP. They had been directed to conduct a survey together and for Totemo and Lambda to check their results.
"What a delightful setting for our field work!" DIP was saying as they walked up. (1/4) #wss366

"What. What do you want?" #DogsOfMastodon

Note: You can read a bit more about Mr. Rokunai:
https://wandering.shop/@stevendbrewer/114365755201455721
https://wandering.shop/@stevendbrewer/114434867489451781

"See? That's why he'd be perfect!"
"Well, alright. I'll call him in."
As they walked back to her desk, they heard a high-pitched scream.
Lambda wagged her tail. (5/5) #wss366

"Since you have the most experience," the boss said, "I was thinking you'd be the perfect one to evaluate DIP."
Lambda's lips started to draw back from her teeth, but before she could snarl, Totemo said, "Oh, I think Mr. Rokunai would be the better choice."
"I thought he was deathly afraid of dogs." (4/5) #wss366

"I'm a non-human biological android with a new programming stack to support field work. We aim to make the use of biological dogs #redundant so they can serve as pets and companion animals."
Lambda snorted. (3/5) #wss366

"Ah! There you are," the boss said. "We got a request to evaluate a new potential innovation. Meet DIP."
"Hajimemashite," DIP said. "I'm pleased to meet you." He raised a paw to shake.
Lambda laid her ears back.
"DIP?" asked Totemo, shaking DIP's paw.
"Dog Innovations Perfected."(2/5) #wss366

A notification appeared on Totemo Isogashii's screen. She stood up and Lambda sprang to her feet.
"C'mon, Lambda," she said. "Let's go see what the boss wants."
They arrived at his office and found a strange dog standing next to his desk.
The hackles came up all along Lambda's back. (1/5) #wss366

Grip had removed the case from the #compass and pointed to a small object attached to the inside. Will pulled it off.
"Let's keep this quiet," Will whispered. "We seemingly have a saboteur on board. Until we can identify and neutralize them, let's proceed as though we're unaware." (4/4) #wss366

"Our heading now looks more like 90 degrees."
"That is what Grip and I were just discussing," Will said. "I think our #compass is being deflected about 30 degrees to the east."
"Will!" Grip called. "Come look at this!"
Will and Revin returned to the cockpit. (3/4) #wss366

His eyes narrowed.
"Cap'n! What's our heading?" he called back to Will.
Will came forward.
"Why do you ask?" he said quietly.
"When I went to bed, we were on a heading of 60 degrees," Revin said. "But this morning…" He nodded to the sun just clearing the horizon, dead ahead. (2/4) #wss366

Revin emerged from the VIP cabin on the Queen of Belleriand just as 6 bells was striking. He went past the cockpit, where Will and Grip were discussing something in low tones. He went to the Observation Deck and looked out over open ocean. The sun was just breaking over the horizon. (1/4) #wss366

"Draw me like one of your French boxers…" #DogsOfMastodon

Please give generously to the @SFWA Winter Worlds of Giving campaign before it wraps up on Saturday, January 31! https://stevendbrewer.com/sfwa-winter-worlds-of-giving/

RE: https://mastodon.world/@signalapp/115736240699170960

Signal is one of the important things I subscribe to support

Read more about Rory and Tseluna in *A Familiar Problem*, available now from Water Dragon Publishing! https://waterdragonpublishing.com/product/familiar-problem/

"The benefits of a #classical education, I guess," Tseluna replied, finally.
Rory regarded her skeptically.
"He was cute, OK?" she said. "Almost as cute as you." (3/3) #wss366

"Then he struck up an exciting new romance. That explains the sudden change in his work at that time."
"How do you know all that?" Rory asked.
There was a long pause. (2/3) #wss366

"What does this passage refer to?" Rory asked, indicating a paragraph in his homework. They were currently reading a famous poem in his ancient literature class. Tseluna looked over his shoulder.
"Oh! He was suffering from depression after the untimely death of his wife," she said. (1/3) #wss366