Who is the good boy? [Rose Marigold/Mr. Scratch]
A reprised episode of Night Springs airs when Rose hears the growling and rattling of a chain at the back of her house. She slurps her spoon of spaghetti before getting up and going outside, turning on a flashlight and walking across tall, uncut grass scratching at her knees.
“Babe?” Rose calls out. Weak lightning barely guides her, but she treads her way easily; it’s part of her routine at this point. “Sweetie, are you there?”
Full-mouthed roars answer her question. Under the sheen of a whole moon between trees, a figure of a wolf becomes flaunted in its wet black fur and impossibly larger size, teeth barely shining with all the blood and meat between fangs. A pair of famished red eyes watch her every move with high awareness, but no threat hides in its intentions. It’s adorable, honestly.
“You must be hungry.” She comes a little closer to inspect, and her face immediately twists in reprehension. “Not another Cult member again... Scratch, what have I told you?”
He swallows down a piece of an arm, growls in annoyance, and she growls back. They go on for a long time in this argument.
Until Scratch finally huffs, his lack of action meaning she’s won this time. Again.
But as damage is done, there’s nothing else Rose can do other than to wait for his meal to end and be sure he gets rid of the remaining bones; yet she trusts him with it. Rose always makes sure to put him in line.
“Hmpf. I will allow this tonight, but only for tonight.” She reaches out and caresses the top of Scratch’s head. When his tail starts wagging, she can’t help the smile from drawing her lips. “But you are such a good boy, aren’t you?”
Rose barely minds the red staining down her hands; Mr. Scratch is just a soft big pup in these moments. Just her good boy.