Ep 16 – Another Dog Episode

INTRO: Mirai is currently talking on the bus.

MIRAI:

(Whispers) Okay so here’s the thing. We’ve got like, the whole bus to ourselves, and yet for some reason, Fox Ears has decided to plop their butt right by me and I don’t know what to do! Is this revenge for talking about their ears? Did I really talk about them that much? 

Uhh anyways, regarding my family, it really surprised me that Junpei opened up… at all. Back then my brothers were inseparable when they were younger. I always said it was unfair I didn’t have a twin as well, but my parents seemed pretty thankful.

I thought Junpei was hurt that Jun-nii didn’t want to go to space with him, but it was actually because he was lying about being interested this whole time. Why did Jun-nii lie to begin with?

SCENE STARTS: (“Proserpina Bops” plays as Alina enters the cafe, greeting Drew, Jun, and Dog.) 

ALINA:

All right gang, with what feels like the fiftieth time, let’s try and figure out what the heck we’re doing now. 

DREW:

Well now that we’re more on the same page, we can go back to the original plan right? Look for Lamassu? We never brought it up again.

JUN:   

Oh yeah, that’s the creature you guys decided on when I was injured right?

ALINA:

Yes, I think it’s a strong contender… if we can, you know, get them to join us… Did we think of any incentives?

DOG/DREW:   

Nope/Yeah, no

ALINA:   

Okay cool… Let’s go to the park?

NEXT SCENE: (The gang goes to the park to wait for Lamassu.)

JUN:

So if this is a creature found at the entrance of all places, are we just gonna hang out, right here, till sunset?

ALINA:   

Yeah, also it’s nice to be close to the exit.

DREW:

Ugh I should have brought my tablet, could have at least gotten some work done while we wait.

JUN:

No! Let’s go do something, see something! What’s the point of being in a magical park if we don’t do anything magical?

DOG:

Did you forget the terrifying night creatures that could come and terrorize us?

JUN:   

It’s 2 pm on a sunny day. I think– I think we’ll be fine.

ALINA:

What about Cerberus and that terrible Terry?

JUN:   

Uhh, we can go a different route. 

DREW:

But what if the Lamassu shows up while we’re not around?

JUN:

Then we keep trying! Please, please, let’s at least go for a walk?

ALINA:   

Funny, I thought there was only one dog in this group.

JUN:   

Haha, very funny. Come on, we’ve seen like a fifth of this entire park.

DOG:   

Well… it would be nice to move around a bit I guess.

ALINA:

All right, all right. But after that, we’re parking our butts right here for the next couple of hours.JUN:    All right let’s go!

SOUND: (Everyone starts walking towards the waters.)

DREW:

Uh-oh hey. We’re nearing the waters again. That Kappa better watch where she’s stepping.

DOG:

Be glad all you saw was a Kappa. They’re quite dangerous but not as bad as other creatures.

ALINA:   

At that time, I just wanted to see pretty mermaids…

JUN:

Oooh, what if we saw something like the Kraken in the pond? Or the Loch Ness Monster?

DOG:   

We’d see maybe a limb or a head I suppose.

DREW:   

Seriously? Big creatures exist here?

DOG:

Well yes, it’s rare in this area, you want to see big, we’d have to go into the mountains. But that would be a weekend trip at least… which is unrealistic for us right now.

ALINA:

One step at a time, Lamassu, then Sam, and then maybe we can go exploring. I’d like to confirm multiple mythical beasts in the pack before we go anywhere unsuitable for humans.

DOG:   

My thoughts exactly.

JUN:   

Look guys I think I see something!

DOG:

Don’t run! You never know what’ll come down and drown you!

ALINA:

Jun! Wait up!

SOUND: (Everyone running to catch up to Jun. The sound of an unknown creature is picked up.)

ALINA:

What is that?

JUN:

Looks like a dog and a lizard had a baby together. 

DOG:

It’s called an Ahuizotl. From Aztec mythology. Don’t get too close, it’s got another hand on its tail and you don’t want it to grab you. 

DREW:   

Do I want to know what happens if it does?

DOG:

It has a peculiar taste for human nails, eyes, and teeth. I’m sure you don’t want any of those to go missing.

DREW:   
Yeah, no, no, no. No thanks.

ALINA:   

Should we be concerned? Those spikes on it don’t look all too friendly either…

SOUND: (Wings flapping in the distance as JD arrives looking for Alina.)

JD:

There you are…

ALINA:

(gasp) Oh my god. JD? Oh my god, you scared me. I was going to get my holy water.

JD:

I thought it was strange that an Aitvaras showed up at your place, but you really are still visiting this park quite often aren’t you? 

ALINA:

Haha… you got me. Um, you’ve met last time, but just in case, this is Drew and Jun. We’re kinda a package deal now. 

DREW/JUN:

Sup/Hello

JD:

When you guys found and told me yesterday about a creature, I was not going to help. But you guys are lucky devils to deal with Aitvaras. Ha, get it? No? Anyway, it’s not my expertise exactly, but I knew a guy, so I convinced him to go and sell the chicken to a customer. Otherwise, we were going to have to deal with a very angry dragon.

JUN:

Wait, who’s buying these creatures?

JD:

(Ignores) Anyways, I should kick you out for hurting Sam—

ALINA:

I’m trying to apologize!

JD:

But I also don’t know where he is, and this park is a mess without him here…

DREW:

Aren’t you the park ranger?

JD:

So I’ll let you stay here if you bring Sam back.

ALINA:

Thank you?

DOG:

We’ve been trying really hard to find Sam. Do you have any idea where he could be?

JD:

You talk to Terry?

DOG:

Yeah… and went exactly as you’d imagine.

JD:

Well, I’ve already done way more than I wanted to, but I don’t want last time to happen again, so I can get some creatures to help you out. Maybe that will help to convince Terry.

JUN:

Why don’t you talk to Terry?

JD:

Are you kidding? They’re terrifying. Here. (SOUND: blows whistles) Meet the lion dogs.

SOUND: (Two large dog-like creatures come running through.)

JUN:

Oh my god, those Chow Chows are so big!!

JD:

They’re not Chow Chows, they’re lion dogs. They’re all over eastern Asia: the haetae, komainu, and the snow lion. They protect a ton of people. So they can protect you as well.

DREW:

Well, it’s not the lions we were looking for specifically, but it’s definitely something right?

ALINA:

Yeah… what more can you tell us about them?

JD:

Their significance with the Buddhist religion is pretty strong. It’s why you’ll see them in many high-ranking places like palaces, temples, and government buildings. And they’re typically depicted as a pair. You know, yin and yang and all that. 

DOG:

I’ll explain better… They appeared when the Silk Road in Asia was created. After all, Asiatic lions live around that area. So when travel expanded, so did the stories of these legendary creatures. 

The masculine aspect is known to hold an embroidered ball or to have his mouth open, to symbolize an outward appearance and to protect the city from intruders. The feminine aspect is shown with a cub or with her mouth closed, to show an inward appearance, guiding and protecting family first. Together they maintain society.

SOUND: (The two lion dogs are running around not really caring what’s going on.)

JUN:

Aren’t they both playing with balls right now?

DREW:

(Snickers) Balls.

ALINA:

Drew!

DREW:

Hey, he said it first.

JD:

Oh yeah, (shrugs) it happens. 

ALINA:

So how exactly do they protect us from evil creatures?

JD:

Well, the Ahuizotl is still there, why don’t you go say hi?

ALINA:

(Pauses) Dog, what would happen if the Ahuizotl gets me?

DOG:

Well, on the plus side, if you do die, there’s been stories that the Ahuizotl are actually water guardians, and you’d be chosen to enter the home of the water god, where you’d live a good afterlife. 

ALINA:

And the bad side?

DOG:

Well, you’d just be dead.

MUSIC: (“Creatures of the Night” start playing.)

JD:

You’d meet Terry real fast that way at least. 

ALINA:

Terry is not the end goal here!

SOUND: (The Ahuizotl starts crying like a human baby.)

ALINA:

Uhh, w-what’s going on? Why does the Ahuizotl sound like a crying baby?

DOG:

Oh, it’s trying to lure you in. It’s one of the tricks they use on humans. Which is a pretty common trick by the way. 

JUN:

Don’t trust babies in the park, got it.

JD:

Relax, the lion dogs are here, trust me. 

ALINA:

Okay… uhh hey lion dogs. Let’s go play in the water. Doesn’t that look fun?

JUN:

Wow, Alina really isn’t a dog person is she?

DREW:

Yeah, that’s her trying.

SOUND: (The Ahuitzotl makes a splash and disappears into the water.)

ALINA:

Wait, where’d the Ahuizotl go? 

JD:

Wow, it’s really a fast swimmer, isn’t it?

ALINA:    

Uhh, w-what do I do?

DREW:

Alina!

SOUND: (The lion dogs start barking. As Alina verbally struggles with the Ahuitzotl.)

JD: 

She’s fine. Anyways this is where you take one of the balls the lion dogs were playing with. 

SOUND: (The Ahuitzotl jumps out of the water, grabbing Alina with its tail, and Alina screams.)

ALINA:

Ow! It got my hair!

JD:

Remember, it stands for fighting and whatever (DOG: protection! It stands for protection!) and you throw it at the danger for them to understand what the issue is.

SOUND: (JD throws one of the balls towards Alina and the Ahuitzotl causing the lion dogs to charge. The lion dogs bark, naturally causing the Ahuitzotl to let go of Alina and run away.) 

JUN:

Woah, what are the Lion Dogs doing? It’s like when they bark, it forces the creature back. That is amazing.

DOG:

They’re protectors, not fighters. So, think of them as the best shield in the world. You might just have to um, train them a bit.

DREW:

Alina, you okay?

ALINA:

Yep… just uh, gotta breathe a little… Ugh stop licking me! You’re getting me all wet!

SOUND: (The dogs want Alina to play with them but she has no idea and thinks they’re ganging up on her.)

JUN:

How will they know to find us when we’re here?

JD:

This whistle. They will come when called. Take it.

DOG:

Thanks, JD. This will really help us.

JD:
Just get Sam back. Someone needs to take care of the park.

SOUND: (In the background, Alina yells, someone get these dogs off meeeee.)

OUTRO: (We return to Mirai. “Proserpina Bop” plays as the sound of the bus comes back in.) 

MIRAI:
Oh wow! JD coming in with the help finally. These guys were struggling really hard. But is having a protector enough? What if they miss when they throw the ball if a dangerous creature attacks? I’d be scared to mess up, but at least now there’s some level of security when they go to the park now.

FOX EARS:

Excuse me miss— 

MIRAI:

Eep!