Fickle Flight

     I go to great lengths to protect my lady. As we race through the woods atop the mountain, like Artemis and her stag, I fervently clear the spun traps set by restless arachnids. Should her ankles tangle our onward progression would come to an abrupt halt, I imagine. Her face seems impervious to the nets cast betwixt narrowly bowing trees, she perseveres. Her eyes seem to be her only vulnerability as she occasionally curses under her labored breath when a particularly viscid strand entangles itself among individual lashes.
    This trek is as serious as the speed we dedicate to it. We nary pause to investigate the odors radiating from our surroundings. To think of all the mysterious smells never to be scrutinized, saddens my heart. Yet we advance onward and upward.  As we cantor down this path and that trail I desist imagining my various  complaints since I am granted freewill to be temperamental in my pursuit. I do have a target in mind and acting unpredictable with my chosen direction will enable me to attain my goal. Leading the way I bound over exposed roots and unforgiving crags, penetrate brambles, and wade through fields of wildflowers in pursuit of my most elusive prize.
    My fickle flight technique nearly proves successful this go around. Careening at full speed I hone in on him. Sleek in tone but with garishly textured fur, there he stands. His legs are slightly splayed while he nuzzles the clovers that dot the outskirts of the the rolling hillside that we find ourselves upon. The pattering of my feet give me away within yards of our meeting. He is swift and dives into the thicket refuge. I don't necessarily want to slaughter him. I am more so intrigued by this fanged beast. His appearance I recognize in my own. He stands not much higher than myself and grazes as I do. The curious creature, this Musk Deer, has an impressive set of tusks that I wish to procure for my lady. Perhaps a discarded pair forgotten in the underbrush will suffice. I only need to ask him where I can exhume such a treasure. Wouldn't she be proud to wear a trophy as such that I personally unearth for her? Until that day we will continue to run.
     Dusk is fast approaching and a lone Cuckoo calls out, reminding me of how elusive time is. The sounds of frogs and toads ricochet off the trees and wallow in the rice fields from where they originate. An Asiatic toad, as large as a coconut, ambles across our path. My lady, enthralled by her disputable beauty, saunters to her side and strokes her knobby flesh. She dotes on the toad as if it were a baby. A lumpy, thick-skinned baby. After photographing the absurd creature I decide it's time for our repast. Taking the lead I direct our efforts to the path that will leads us out of this wilderness. As we approach the border between the woods and the town, my lady stops abruptly. Upon inquiring the reason, she turns her back on me and blocks me behind her body. I peer between her parted stance. Her legs are rigid and through them I see is a large, brindle, Jindo dog. His head is lowered and he has been stalking us. How did I fail to realize this? My lady levels her eyes to his and glares. Our stalker retreats. This brute has been spotted tormenting a shitzu. I'm glad my lady has a stronger constitution than he. Our adventure comes to a close as we stride into our neighborhood, the sun setting behind us. There is always tomorrow when we set off to Jeju island. I hear the trails are fantastic.
















   

Temple Pursuit

     The bracing air makes it the perfect day to venture out and seek the local temple. The directions offered to my lady and I were vague at best, but what more do we have to accomplish today? We set off on our bike, with myself in my carriage, perched on my lady's back. Only a brief 10 minutes journey later and we arrive at the place that we will continue on foot. There is a hole in the fence behind the stadium so we decide to proceed that way.
      The ground is soft and slow to drain from the previous day's shower. It seems to be under progress of some development and is sandy until the land ascends into mountains. I am light on my feet, bounding and springing lithely across the terrain. There is evidence of other creatures that frequent the area. Deer and other larger canine. I discover their scat and follow their tracks till we reach the foot of the mountain. The substrate is more reliable here so together we clamber upwards. There are plenty of brambles to make us wary and a clean stillness in the air, similar to the heavens before it snows.  My lady pauses at a polished stone protruding from the ground. I give it no notice and gallivant up and over the numerous moguls dotted across the landscape. Her eyes widen a bit as she mutters, "graves".  I'm guessing the ancestors have been here numerous years since the inscribed characters are Chinese, but this is of course speculation. At some places there were two mounds for one headstone. How is it that I frequently find myself amongst graves? In nearly every city I visit I too visit their dead. Morbid or tradition?
      Galloping ahead I spot my middle namesake, a tall and sleek Bambi. Pleased to see something living I approach the dear deer but she seems to be late for something important and darts away. My lady, not aware of our co-hiker, stands in the path of the tardy deer and they jump side to side not knowing where the other intends to go. Finally they both commit to opposite directions and bypass the other. Everyone knows one goes right in this instance, unless you are from a different culture, in that case it's up for interpretation.
     Now that the air is still again white specks appear and flit around our heads. We begin the decent downward toward an easier gradient. While we trek back to the hole in the fence I look over my shoulder the place we left and see animals taking flight from the underbrush. A large grouse followed by a raptor of sorts fled together along with some miniature burrowing field birds. As I turn back around to see 'round the bend in the path, a man seems to emerge from nowhere. He is stoic and out of place wearing only a baseball cap and a collard shirt..with no pants. Ha! It is a makeshift scarecrow left in an overgrown and frozen garden. Good ol' chap, he'll never desert his post.
     We see the broken fence from where we came and an old lady smiles as we approach it. She gestures to the snow and then to the fence, as if to invite us home after a cold day. While making our way back the obvious stairs that are said to wind up to the temple make themselves stand out as if to taunt our efforts. Next time temple, mark my words, I will mark you.

 

Clandestine Memorandum

           I have yet to discover for what purpose I have been relocated with my lady to a peculiar environment. My lady has been issued an alien identification card by the governing authorities. I am coming to believe that my being here has more to do with her circumstances than my own.  If this is not the case I have generated four possible theories as to what could have brought us to Korea.

After much postulation I have not ruled out the possibility that we are indeed fleeing the authorities in our own country.  My lady, forgive my saying so, may have acted upon some unlawful conduct. Or have I? Inconceivable. I am an upstanding and respected citizen, as was she.. I confess! My behavior is not exemplary. I took provisions, a sandwich to be precise, from the hands of a child. Is this my retribution? I will feign moroseness in that case, I have taken a liking to my lot. I relish the hot floor, and close quarters. My lady is present more often than not and this is unusual. House arrest perhaps?

           My second supposition is improbable but a possibility nonetheless. Science is the suspect. I am exploring the concept that my lady and I are partaking in an involuntary scientific procedure, an experiment. The study could be measuring the adaptability of creatures in unknown environments. Contemplate the various conditions I have been subjected to: futuristic modes of transportation, species intolerance, innovative foodstuffs, language barriers, and various longitude transitions. I doubtfully will produce insightful results.

           Thirdly I have imagined the feasibility that I am on a mission. Perhaps it will be revealed that it is my task to debrief a leader figure about some information that I have yet to receive. Granted I may be best suited for the errand, I should have been properly propositioned. They must have heard about my cunning, swiftness, dexterity, and tenacity. I don’t condemn efforts to recruit my aptitude. I often wonder about the destitute felines that crouch near rubbish heaps throughout the country. Perchance my mission is to act as their savior.

           Lastly I meditate on the practicability that this is a dream or a hallucination. It is quite possible that I am under the influence of anesthetic while I have my jowls cleansed of odorous debris and that I will awake any moment back at home. When I wake from this reverie of sorts, I am hopeful it will be springtime.

Thorney Meeting and a Dreary Day

I awake to my confounded eye glossed over in excessive mucous. It may be that I brushed it against some shrubbery while on an outing. I think tomorrow if my condition has not improved I will seek professional care. I wonder if animal health care in Korea is as promising as the human kind.

Perhaps going out of doors will do me some good. Alas, blustering wind sweeps the playground where I frequent. I don't particularly delight in the company of children yet I see myself as an ambassador to my species in hopes that they will think twice before relishing victuals from dog in the future. The rain ceased an hour before but has touched everything and makes walking beyond the bricked surface unpleasant. I imagined today I would venture to a local temple but the weather hampers my ambitions. My lady has a persistent cough and I doubt she would want to trek over the many hills and up a steep set of stairs that the temple is rumored to be located. So it is decided, we will remain here and occupy ourselves with books and bones.

Before I can decide to return indoors a fluffy youngster bounds from the neighboring flat. He is not on a lead and approaches me directly. It is a deviation from my usual character but I instantly take a liking to him and offer to romp a little. He is unsure of my advances but I assure him of my intentions so he takes a single step closer. As he leans in to properly greet me I feel a tickle in my throat. I let out the most obnoxious and wretched hack quite in his face. He loses curiosity and speedily retreats from our engagement. I am left dumbfounded and to my chagrin I have lost a potential acquaintance. Perhaps the morrow will prove to be kinder.

5 Things I am Unaccustomed to in Korea

5 Things I am Unaccustomed to in Korea

• The clothing runs small Not that I am fond of donning apparel but when the occasion calls for it I find the sizes are narrow.
• Entering my dwelling on the 4th floor Just enter someplace on the 2nd or 3rd floor.  There is no need to clamber beyond that but my lady insists on entering our domicile on the 4th landing. It all seems unnecessary.  
• Unusual forms of transportation Being persuaded to travel to my destination by plane or train.  Absurd! The typical bicycle or automobile ride should suffice.
• Eating at opposite times My breakfast and supper schedule is half a day off.  The typical times to eat are topsy-turvy.
• Warmth from the floor The air is heated from the floor whereas I’m accustomed to blown air warming the floor.  What a pleasant idea.