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's insides felt soft and vulnerable, like he was exposing his belly to the crowd. When he and Ravenna made eye contact, she tilted her ears forward encouragingly.


Pit closed his eyes. His HUD showed his heartrate as elevated, but not dangerous. He took a deep, steadying breath, thankful for Ravenna's encouragement.


"You can trust that hound," someone very familiar said. "On my word as a Canuum Guardian, that's General Scolan himself."


Loper! Pit stood up straight, tipping his muzzle to what he hoped was a noble angle. He would face whatever he had to face with as much dignity as he could muster.


"Ah, yes, that's me," he said. "Though-call me Pit, if you would."


Sparse but appreciative laughter rippled. People leaned forward. Pit's chest swelled. These were just fragments of approval, but they were so welcome.


Chapter 48