The sheepdog sniffed the breeze and caught a scent that had tantalized its doggy brain earlier. Stronger this time, the sheepdog peered from behind a shade of long fur to catch a glimpse of an approaching human and another dog. To be precise, another sheepdog. Nostrils flared, sensory receptors working overtime, the Webster sheepdog recognized instantly the sex of the approaching sheepdog.
Forgetting his uneasy regard of his older human, who still held his leash, the dog surged forward with an enthusiastic woof, greeting the other dog and startling the almost oblivious human girl, who held a leash in one hand and her phone in the other. "Oh my!" The girl exclaimed. "Who are you?"
Kev, who had disposed of the baggie, rushed to the impostor's side as everyone became acquainted.
"This is Shaggy," the impostor said as he watched, gratified, as the current Webster sheepdog made a proper canine greeting, ducking around to sniff of the new arrival's hindquarters.
Kev, with his own unease, noted that the impostor's introducing him as Shaggy hadn't so much as produced a whimper or whine of protest from his transformed sibling.
"Don't I know you?" The girl said, paying very little attention to the two dogs. "You're in my history class."
"I'm Jared," the impostor said, smoothly and automatically. "Jared Webster."
"Jenna," the girl said. "Jenna Hoffman. I thought it was you!"
"We're walking our dog," Kev piped up.
She turned and smiled, but quickly turned back to the impostor.
"And what is this beautiful girl's name?" The impostor reached down and gave the other sheepdog a few pats on the head.
The girl looked dismayed. "Her name's Chiffon," she said. "My father named her, for some dog in an old movie."
"Well, Shaggy," the impostor said. "Looks like you have a new friend."
Chiffon, largely ignoring the humans, had returned the favor and had moved into position to give Jared's rear a few good sniffs. He snapped to attention, his whole body almost quivering with excitement.
The impostor had to choke off a chuckle at the realization of the state of the sheepdog, which was feeling all sorts of his own hormones, an automatic response to being in close proximity to Chiffon. He quickly suggested they all walk together, knowing that Chiffon was about to test whether Jared retained any control or restraint over his new canine form.
Jenna responded enthusiastically and fell into step with the impostor, who divided his attention between the girl and Jared's coping, or failure thereof, with the sudden churning of emotions and instincts triggered by Chiffon.
The poor male sheepdog now found his clumsy advances rebuffed by the coquettish Chiffon. He whined in irritation and confusion. Kev remained clueless to his sibling's distress, while Jenna had eyes only for the impostor, who alone recognized, but ignored the conflicted sheepdog.
"This should get interesting," the impostor thought to himself.