Walkies

[Olo]

A woman regularly goes for walks along the wooded trails near her home. She feels safe because she has her big German Shepherd with her. One day, a shadowy figure appears on the trail in front of them. The dog’s warning bark dwindles to a chirp as both the woman and the dog are shrunk. The stranger collects the shrunken woman in their hand and disappears.

The woman’s family is mystified by her disappearance, until the shrunken dog finds it’s way home, trailing a tiny leash.

(Yes, I pass a greenbelt every day on my way to work. Why do you ask?)

[SmolChlo]

Not me reading this while hiking my favorite trail

[Olo]

@SmolChlo I’m guessing Mr. Bear isn’t there to look out for you.

[SmolChlo]

@Olo I wouldn’t get very far dragging him in this heat ‍ I’m sure he misses me… can’t wait to give him a pounce once I get home lol

[littlest-lily]

@Olo Definitely going to be looking over my shoulder on my next walk… Also is it weird that I was more worried about the dog while reading that? lol

[HHunter1]

@littlest-lily No, I was worried about the dog too.

HH1

[Olo]

@littlest-lily said:

is it weird that I was more worried about the dog while reading that? lol

It’s not weird at all. The shrunken dog’s eventual return home is a device to increase sympathy for the shrunken woman while also holding out a poignant hope that there might be a mainstream resolution (woman rescued, both her and the dog restored).

Whether that’s how it turns out remains to be seen. But now we’ve got would-be rescuers searching dresser drawers and shoe boxes and imagining all the dreadful things that must be happening to the shrunken woman, and that’s my jam.

[TakoAlice8]

@Olo Very creative scenario, a great mixture of horror, suspense, and mystery. The cherry on top is that it’s sizey.

[littlest-lily]

@Olo I think part of it for me was that, maybe because I identify as a SW and am used to kidnapping scenarios, I’m just like “yeah, whatever, this is par for the course when it comes to her - but leave that poor dog out of this!!” haha

And yeah I didn’t even quite think of that rescue team dynamic, I’m not sure I’ve seen it before in the genre. She’s missing and they’re looking for her already, but then partway through the investigation there’s this massive shift in how they now need to go about looking for her. Love it!

[Olo]

@littlest-lily Yup, sympathy for the doggo (and the family) is there to heighten the villainy. And if she is rescued but restoration is impossible, she’ll have a companion.

[littlest-lily]

@Olo Argghhh yup, there’s my ideal ending - her safe but staying tiny with her fellow tiny friend!

[Olo]

@littlest-lily