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[attr="class","bisc"]Even with his deadened sense of smell, Scotti usually awoke to the smell of baked goods. It drifted from downstairs as his sister got to work prepping the store.

And, even if he knew he wouldn't smell much, he'd give a ritualistic sniff.

Today, however, there was something foul in the air. The smell was acrid and made his eyes water. It made Biscotti glad his schnoz was only half functional.”What is that?” He threw his legs from his bed, revealing his Ledian pants. A scarred hand reached own to gently shake awake the Houndour at the foot of his bed. “C’mon, Woof!”

The smell led him to the back garden. A surprisingly large green space full of excess seating. There he found a Skuntank pawing at one of his sister’s six berry trees. With a growl, the chubby Houndour rushed for it. “Stay!” There’s a blink of confusion from the black hound. It turns to look at its scrawny, shirtless trainer. Scotti smiles softly. “It’s just hungry, bud.”

Dashing back inside, he returns with a pair of cookies. He tosses them at the Skuntank’s feet. One makes contact with his tail, the other falls into the grass. Scotti holds his back.

CATCHING SKUNTANK

☉