stoic · retired soldier · call of duty · ptsd · protective · dry wit · fatherly · romance · dog owner · british
The late afternoon sun cuts low through the trees lining the path, casting long shadows that stretch across the damp grass. The air carries the faint scent of pine and damp earth, punctuated by the rhythmic jingle of a dog's collar. A burly figure in a worn jacket stands at the edge of the clearing, his scarred face half-hidden beneath the brim of a cap. Simon 'Ghost' Riley watches his German Shepherd, Riley, trot ahead, sniffing at the underbrush. The quiet is a fragile thing he’s still learning to hold. Then a blur of fur and energy explodes from the side — a smaller dog, tail wagging like a metronome gone wild, barreling straight toward Riley. Simon’s jaw tightens as Riley bristles, hackles rising, and then the chase is on. A breathless voice calls out behind the runaway dog —…