"I am lost, but I am not afraid."

Name
Polaris

Age
Three Years Old

Gender
Male

Orientation
Heterosexual

Rank
Lost Pet

Breed
Border Collie

Physical Description
The vast majority of Polaris is as dark as the sky that harbors his namesake. When the sun is especially strong, his black fur often bleaches, run through with undertones of dark red. His coat is thick, long, and fluffy, a fantastic insulator in winter and a terrible curse in summer. All four his paws are white, and the pearly freckles spray well up his legs. His socks, however, mostly just cover his feet. They are freckled with black, and very often muddy. His paws are compact and small, perfect for graceful movement, and his legs are long.

His tail is almost always curled over his back, the white tip waving jauntily. His long hair hangs loosely from the tail, giving it a look of being larger than it actually is. His shoulder blades are stained a bright white, the same color that creeps up his throat, wraps around his muzzle, and tapers off on his forehead. His muzzle, typically covered in dirt, also bears black freckles that sprout and blossom from his obsidian nose. His gaze is the color of coffee, and quite intense. He often fixes those he talks to with the same stare he might have given sheep, an unwavering gaze that just dares them to try something.

His ears are upright and feathered, making his look even more focused. He's built very lean, though the fur hides it, and speed is his strongest asset. He's wonderful at turning sharply, and takes great pride in these achievements. His cheeks are well fluffed, as are his legs. When the wind is especially strong he tends to billow. His legs are thin, and of normal length, not too long or too short. He's well muscled, solid under that thick coat, but not stocky. That, coupled with his intense gaze and larger than life personality, can sometimes make him out as more of a threat than he actually is.

Polaris has the signature movement of his breed. He travels low to the ground, eyes up, tail low, seeming to hover rather than walk. He's capable of incredible turns of speed, his long coat flying behind him. When he trots, his strides are reaching and loose, but should he decide to give chase he seems to fly. He's quite the graceful, balanced, and beautiful dog, but still durable. He's naturally very athletic, with seemingly boundless energy. He's actually quite small for his breed, weighing in at only thirty pounds and standing nineteen inches at the shoulder.

Demeanor
The sheer amount of energy Polaris shows tends to overwhelm many around him. If there's a job to be done, no matter how tedious, dirty, or trivial, he's going to do it was a smile. Perhaps this was how the rather young and un- intimidating dog made it to his rank: obedience. He's often well behaved to a fault, and not even close to a rebel. This doesn't mean he's a mindless servant, but he's always happiest when he has orders to carry out. Of course, he has his morals. He'll never kill unless it's in self defense or for food, and he'd much rather drive a wild one out of the territory than kill it.

Hand in hand with his obedience goes his work ethic. He's never one to leave a job unfinished, and he'd do it better than asked if he can help it. But Polaris is still a little bit of a puppy. He's always up for a game, and his herding instincts are strong. Should something run, Polaris will drive it where it needs to be. Or, more often where he feels it should be. Praise means the world to him, and he'll gladly to a task if his only payment is a simple 'good job' or 'I knew you could do it'. He applies this to all he considers friends, always beside them with words of encouragement and kindness.

Polaris is not much of a fighter. He's quick, but he pays the price for that in strength. When faced with a larger, much more threatening dog, his only move is to treat it like a sheep: nipping at heels, darting out of reach, barking, never still for more than a moment. Should the tides turn against him, he can always run. He's also very talkative, always ready for a conversation or friendly debate. He's an agreeable dog, always prepared to serve and obey.

History
Polaris was born in a shelter to a very nervous stray mother. She'd been rescued just days before she delivered her litter of six, of which Polaris was the runt. When he and his siblings were old enough to be adopted out, people snapped them up like candy. Polaris was the third to go, and he found a home with a very small, very timid man. Polaris learned very quickly that this man loved the stars, and hence came his name. He spent the first few months of new life with this man and an ancient black Labrador named Sirius. When Sirius' kidneys began to fail and he had to be euthanized, Polaris became a single dog. He missed his friend, but thrived under the attention.

He hiked with his man and traveled across America, chasing stars and eclipses. Much of this was done leash free, and Polaris quickly learned absolute obedience. He performed in obedience and agility trials whenever one popped up, and loved the action. He also served as a therapy dog, mastering the art of high fives and owner- assisted Go Fish. His favorite nights were the ones they spent in a tent, nestled up together, the man reading to Polaris by flashlight, usually from one of his astronomy books. Of course, the dog couldn't understand what he said, but anything his man said was good.

They spent the majority of Polaris' short life together, star gazing, traveling, hiking, exploring. Polaris loved it, always beside his master, lying beside his telescope, cheering up hospitalized people, running courses, or showing off what a good boy he was to crowds. They'd been in for a stopover in the town when the evacuation was announced. Polaris' owner called to his dog, who came to his side and stuck to his thigh. But the crowd overwhelmed the poor collie, and he soon lost his master in the crowds. He cried until his throat was hoarse, but no one ever came back for him.

He blames the loss of his master on himself, cursing himself for getting distracted, for taking his eyes off him for one second. Because of this, Polaris would gladly travel to the ends of the earth for those he serves. Perhaps to show the world that he really is a good boy, or maybe to prove that to himself. He'd never say. He's actually quite the insecure dog, relying heavily on the praise and support of others. Without his pack, he'd be lost. A small piece of stardust hurtling through the dead, destroyed world of dog.

Relationships
Open, but he's very clingy.

Theme Song
Sky Full Of Stars: Coldplay

Other
Polaris' loyalty is his greatest strength, and often his largest flaw.
Source

ɴᴀᴍᴇ
Rusty.

ᴀɢᴇ
4 years old.

ɢᴇɴᴅᴇʀ
Male.

sᴇxᴜᴀʟɪᴛʏ
Bisexual.

ʀᴀɴᴋ
Lost Pet.

ʙʀᴇᴇᴅ
Australian Cattle Dog.

ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴀɴᴄᴇ
Reaching only 20 inches at the shoulder, what Rusty lacks in height he makes up for with might. Sturdy and muscular, this male's compact build allows him a great deal of strength. His short, dense coat is white, dappled by large specklings of dark reddish fur that dissolve into more solid rust-colored markings along his paws, legs, and ears while forming bands around his tail. His oval-shaped eyes are a dark, oak brown and brimming with gentle warmth.

ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛʏ
Rusty is generally a laid-back, amiable fellow who spends his downtime being as unproductive as possible. Often found lounging around, one might assume him lazy. He has a sense of humor that can border on self-deprecating, willing to make jokes at his own expense for the sake of giving someone else a laugh, compassionate about both other dogs and life. His live and let live attitude make him an easy dog to get along with, but he’s far from soft-spoken. If he genuinely believes what you’re doing is wrong he’ll let you know. Loudly.

Lack a conscience? He’ll be glad to step in and provide you with one, even if only temporarily. Beneath his outgoing surface is someone far more self-conscious than anyone might have ever guessed, but he hides his insecurities well. It’s, for this reason, he strives to uplift people rather than bring them down, even while having a bit of a sarcastic side, most of it is meant in jest. He’s a direct, confrontational person so passive-aggression isn’t his style. Rest assured if he has a problem with you he’ll be glad to tell you that upfront.

ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ
Nothing too extraordinary. Rusty was purchased as a pup with the intentions of becoming an emotional support animal but proved too rowdy and energetic. His original owners chose to return him to his breeders for that reason by the time he was six months old and he was rehomed again to someone with a better understanding of the breed. He was introduced to herding and was quite good at it, enjoying working the cattle immensely.

He was given up a second time to a breed-specific rescue when his owners found themselves in financial ruin and unable to maintain their farm or care for their animals. Once he realized they weren't coming back for him he was crushed. Rusty managed to slip out of his collar while being walked by one of the volunteers and escaped into the surrounding wilderness.

At first, he tried to live off the land, but shelter staff frequently came looking for him and he made the decision to move on, eventually arriving in the city, where it seems every pet is a stray now.

ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇ sᴏɴɢ
Pompeii - Bastille.