Unedited.

Rage wasn't a big enough word to explain Bad Dog.

Grady and Edaline were on the porch watching ad the Pillager jumped around his enclosure. Slamming his large fists against the sides, shaking it. He screamed, and pounded his head chest and the ground. He had thrown himself into a fit of half anger and half blood thirsty fury.

Gnomes were shuffling and on edge as he hit the cage, shaking it, threatening to break it. The group seemed to suck in a breath. "Sophie we tried everything. We can't get it sedated or even calmed." Edaline said, spotting Sophie first. Sophie untied the handkerchief. "Anything I should know about this thing before I jump into something I might regret?" She asked. "He's angry." Keefe offered unhelpfully. "Thanks for noticing." Sophie said as she took the thick rope from Edaline. "I need you all to go on the other side of the cage, distract it. Biana, I need you to open the gate for me." Sophie said, as she tied her hair up in a pony tail. Biana nodded nervously. "So we just make it angrier while you go in?" Keefe pointed out.

"I got this." She didn't have this. "I've said that a lot of times...and I didn't even have a plan." Keefe said. "Just go. Grady, Edaline....call Elwin just in case." Sophie said as she grabbed the chain of purple point flowers, she ran towards the cage before they could stop her.

Mae was good at distracting Bad Dog, unfortunately it only made him angrier, as Sophie slipped in the enclosure, Biana locked it behind her, Sophie found herself staring at the muscles moving and rippling across Bad Dog's back, as he pounded against cage.
Sophie took in a deep breath, good thoughts, good thoughts, she silently chanted in her mind, as she made a loop in the end of the rope. Good thoughts, good thoughts, good thoughts. The mantra went on.

Sophie crouched down, watching Bad Dog scream, pounding his chest at the group on the other side of the cage. "That's right ugly butt, come and get me!" Keefe shouted. "Bring it on sasquatch." Mae said. Sophie took one tentative step.

Crack!

Bad Dog's ears twitched back at the sound, he turned. "No! Back here you abominable beast!" Dex shouted, but Sophie had locked eyes with the beast.
A moment, a breath, a heartbeat passed and chaos broke loose. The beast is charging! The beast is charging! Move Sophie! Sophie shouted at herself, but she couldn't move, she stayed low in a crouch. Her heart pounded as she heard everyone screaming for her to run, but soon the screaming of Bad Dog drowned it out, it left her ears ringing, as she stared at the charging beast.

Move! Move your legs! You're going to die!

Sophie's mind screamed but her body refused to listen. "Stop." She transmitted just loud enough for Bad Dog to hear in his loud mind. "I'm your friend. Remember?" Sophie showed him flashback of earlier that day, Sophie letting him in the enclosure where food waited. Bad Dog slowed, but continued loping towards her. His yellow teeth bared.

"I'm not here to hurt you." Sophie said calmly, as another muffled voice in her mind screamed for her to just forget it and run. "I just want you to...to be happy. To be safe." She kept her voice as steady as she could, firm but not cold, calm but still ringing with authority. "Calm, breath." She continued as the running got slower and slower, and turned to walking. Bad Dog was right in front of her now. "Be Still!" Sophie said loudly in the same voice she had used with transmitting, Bad Dog stopped and stared down at her. Wondering why this little elf's voice was inside it's head. Sophie felt her eyes burning with the demand, as Bad Dog tried to resist the command.

Then she saw it. The flicker in it's eyes, Bad Dog's fist came flying at her. I told you so. It said as Sophie felt herself fly through the air, the breath whooshing out of her, as pain erupted in her body.
Her back hit a unity tree, her head jerking back like whiplash, her skull cracked against the tree, she fell. In a heap of tangled limbs and searing pain. She could hear the heavy foot falls of Bad Dog as he started working himself in the rage. Sophie had to move. Wiping liquid off her mouth she stood. "Fine." She growled, planting her feet she faced the beast head on.

Sophie charged.

Bad Dog reared back standing up straight, he was much bigger, he spread his arms wide, roaring at Sophie. Sophie didn't slow, despite everyone screaming for her to stop, and Keefe's unhelpful voice shouting tips of  "Zig Zag! Barrel roll! Tackle! Ziggity zig zag!" Sophie did the exact opposite. She fell.

Slipping on the slick green grass, she went beneath the wide planting feet of Bad Dog. Throwing the rope around one foot, she managed to grab both ends as she slid behind the thick leg, the rope wrapped around the ankle and she managed to stand as she slid before turning and yanking with all her strength on the rope. Bad Dog stumbled but managed to catch himself, growling. Sophie looked at Bad Dog's fury filled eyes, and did what the little voice in her mind had been telling her all along. She ran.

Sophie ran, barely managing to stay ahead of Bad Dog who was ripping trees from the ground as he chased after her. "What's the plan? What's the plan?" Sophie panted to herself, as she barrel rolled to the side before zig zagging. Keefe really knew how to get away from angry things.

But he said tackle....Sophie couldn't tackle Bad Dog he was ten times her size....unless.....Sophie looked at the rope in her hands. She had a plan.

Sophie set her trap as quick and efficiently as possible, with Bad Dog chasing her. She had to keep circling back. Finally stepping in front of her foot trap she stood still. Holding up her hand she shouted. "I SAID BE STILL!" she boomed. Bad Dog started screeching to a halt, but the grass was slippery, he slammed into Sophie.

That wasn't planned.

Sophie felt like King Kong' hand had wrapped around her and lifted her off the ground. She heard screamed, she saw yellow teeth, slim and very poor dental care...wait. Sophie's mind barely caught up just enough for her to kick the flat nose. Bad Dog screeched, shook her like a rag doll and tried eating her again. Despite her reeling mind Sophie kicked again. "That way!" She snapped, as kicked again at the nose, again and again, then Swoosh!

Sophie slipped from the terrified hand on the beast that was now hanging upside down. She landed on the ground, hard. "Oooowwww!!!!" She moaned as she looked up to see Bad Dog screaming in fear. She managed to push to her feet and stand up she faced Bad Dog.

"Bad Dog!" She snapped. "I said behave! What do you do?! You do the exact opposite nearly killing me in the process!" She put as much scorn, rebuke and disapproval in her haughty voice. "BE STILL AND LISTEN TO ME!" Sophie shouted to the panicking Pillager. It froze and turned it's eyes to her. "I brought you to my own home to help you! Not hurt you! Now because you've dishonored my hospitality you will suffer the consequences! Do you understand me?" Bad Dog gave a whimper, a beg for mercy. "Now you're going to hang there and think about what you've done!" Sophie used the voice her human mother had used on Amy and herself. The disappointment and sadness edging in, causing just enough guilt to make any child cry.

Sophie tapped her foot as Bad Dog hung obediently, his arms hanging above his head. He gave another whimpering cry. "You really disappointed me Bad Dog, but this is your punishment." Sophie said as she counted the seconds in her head. "And if you go into another rage this will have to be done again, until you learn to be nice." Every word hung in the air like thick clouds. Sophie crossed her arms and stared at Bad Dog who looked away from her, giving small cries. "No." Sophie said like she understood the speech. "Your time isn't up yet." She said. More whimpers and sad cries, "I said no. You aren't coming down from that tree until you're sorry." It was an ongoing argument.

A small cry, Sophie stared at Bad Dog. "Are you sorry." A short breath through his nose which sounded much like scoff. "Well then no. I'm not letting you down." That sent Bad Dog into infernal rage he thrashed, screamed and tried to reach Sophie. Thankfully she was just out of reach, she stood firmly, tapping her foot, by the time Bad Dog had worn himself out, or got to dizzy he was swinging at the end of the rope. "Getting angry is just giving you more time up there." Sophie chided like a parent chiding a child. Bad Dog imitated her crossed arms and glared. "Don't have that attitude with me mister." Sophie said. Bad Dog sneered, it was like a teenager asking 'what are you going to do about it?'

"Oh I'll tan your hide. Don't think for a moment that I won't." Sophie snapped. A grumble, 'yeah right' Sophie snapped, "You are only asking for more." She growled. 'Oh blah blah blah' was what she perceived from the look. "Alright. You asked for it." Sophie turned and limped a few steps.

Three...

Two....

One...

Panic. Bad Dog panicked whimpering and crying Sophie stopped walking tilting her head she shook her head and started walking again, which only increased the efforts of wailing. Sophie turned to Bad Dog, who now had black tears coming from his eyes, which Sophie would probably have to look into, but she looked at him. "Are you sorry now?" Thick furry arms reached for her, and Sophie realized the pillager was just a baby. Sophie limped over face to face with the snot and tear covered face. "That's enough. Be still, and I'll let you loose." She said. Bad Dog shuffled and clearly tried to stop it's wailing which it couldn't. Sophie sighed and went around the tree. "Sophie..." Grady called warningly, but Sophie untied the snare, but she had made one mistake.

Bad Dog was much heavier than she.

Sophie screamed, as Bad Dog fell to the ground, she was ripped up by the rope, tree branches tearing her, as she flew through the foliage.

Up.

Up.

Up.

She cleared the tree and her grip slipped on the rope, she knew what she was headed for. The enclosure's side. Crunching up in a ball, Sophie wrapped her arms around her to shield it, she heard Keefe shouting. "Move!" She could hear retreating footsteps, as she slammed into the bars of the enclosure, a sickening

Crunch!

Made pain explode in her side as she fell. Gravity slammed her to the ground, where she felt her nose start bleeding. She heard Bad Dog scuttling over to her, she quickly shoved herself up, preparing for another fight. Bad Dog bowed his head pressing his body close to the ground, clearly showing his neck he raised his hand up to her. His eyes glancing nervously up at her, down and up again. Sophie placed a bloody hand in the thick one. She knew submission when she saw it.

She pulled the chain of sedative flowers, from her belt loop and handed it to him. "Calm. You'll be safe." She promised. Bad Dog took the chain of flowers, glancing at the elves out of the enclosure watching them both he turned his eyes back to Sophie. She gave an encouraging nod. Bad Dog placed the flowers around his neck and slumped into sleep. Sophie stumbled over to the gate where Biana was opening it, everyone rushing to her. Including Elwin.

Sophie gave him a smile as her pain started setting in and her adrenaline started wearing off. "Sorry, about this Elwin." She apologized, as she stopped in front of him. He frowned, Sophie's knees went weak and she felt her eyes roll back as she fainted.

(Oh music, how you understand me.)