Author:
In another lifetime, August was a punk kid running a writing-themed e-zine in 2002 and participating in online survivor writing contests; these days, she’s a punk pseudo-adult with an office job and a studio of her own.

Meet Pitney Scolan. Pit, for short. He’s a decorated general and a venerated leader of the sprawling human race. He’s protected his species' colonies from vicious native animal populations and hostile alien life. He’s fiercely introverted, and he’s really looking forward to retiring on his personal planet in the very near future.

Except…now he has to be a dog.

A daugment, to be specific: a cybernetically enhanced canine, previously the doting pet of Pit’s biggest rival, General Tristan. It’s the only way to escape certain assassination.

So Pit grudgingly allies himself with a pair of well-meaning scoundrels and sets sail for seedier space in hopes of escaping Tristan’s clutches. What he finds instead is a galactic conspiracy to force him to make friends.

Daugment

Pit barked sharply. Fionn started and his fists opened, sending the mangrove leaves crashing to the ground. The dogs dove noses-first away from the bench. Their hind legs rose into the air as they both performed unintended handstands. Ravenna was too long, and her back legs crashed back down onto the bench. She had to kick off sideways and right herself before she could consume her share.


Pit managed to wobble forward on his front legs and make space to bring his back legs down, and then his face was full of the sharp, meaty shark flesh. He snapped his teeth around a strip and gnawed on it until it softened and released its savory liquid. Tangy, salty, oceany life poured down his throat and warmed his stomach.  


Pit sighed with contentment. Buried his face in the leaf. Ate until his stomach was taut like a drum.


Chapter 24