Rex and I

Rex and I have known each other for a very long time.

We met during World War II, in Italy. I was a dog. He was infantry. We knew each other right away. A weredog can always tell another weredog. Werewolves are pretty obvious too. My handler and I were attached to his company. The first time we went out on patrol together we avoided an ambush and two snipers. We were great together. My handler sensed there was something between us, even made remarks about it. But, of course, he never suspected the truth. A couple times were went out, at night, as weredogs, to scout and sniff. We felt we had to. Our entire battalion was stuck and could not more forward against the German positions. We had to find a hole in their line. One night we ran into three werewolves. There were werewolves amongst the Krauts. I know, I know. Big surprise. Only 2 dogs walked away that night.

In Korea we both fought as men. There was a scout dog and his handler attached to our company. Cody, dog, not weredog. I still think of that dog everyday. Rex and I invited him to be a weredog. He almost did, but declined, said he had to stay with his handler, and wanted to go home someday, as he had been, the way it had been.

In Vietnam I was the handler and Rex was the dog. We became famous amongst the VC. Even the Special Forces guys started requesting us quite often. That was a crazy war, different from others I have known. Rex and I went out a lot more nights as weredogs. We found werewolves. There were plenty over there. But most didn't wear VC pajamas or NVA uniforms during the day. They were our own people. That's a whole other story.

It's not that Rex and I follow each other around. Not entirely. We just keep showing up at the same time in the same places, especially for wars. It is partly by design and partly by fate. Also, has a lot to do with the fact we are a good damn team. 

I've only ever had one other friend as close as Rex. When things get to much, Rex can talk me down, keep me sane. He is the father or brother, I'm not sure which, that I can't much remember anymore. He is older. But not by much.

Before KC, we lived in Seattle. We were there for a while after we got out of 1st Group at Fort Lewis.  (Both humans or that stint. SF doesn't take dogs. Fools.) We like the Northwest so much that we decided to hang it there for a while. He was the dog, with a family in Everett, and I worked as an architect, my second time at that. We finally had to leave when too many people got to know us. Also, the little girl in the family Rex was with saw him in human form one night and knew immediately who he was. She was thrilled. He was not.  As she grew older the risk grew with her. We had to go. Rex worries that she is still in therapy.