Character a Day, Batch 8, Dog Isekai (Patreon)

Dog Isekai is a concept (explained here) that I'm pretty sure has some legs to it. But besides making the time to work on it, I have a couple other challenges. One... I don't know what makes an Isekai idea really work. Two, I'm more of a cat person. It would help if I knew more ways to make a dog come across as a good boy and actually important to a fantasy setting.

I think the way to make that concrete is with the dog's relationship with the "lead adventurer" that is befriended. Arris is a guy who has experienced trauma from the wars he's fought in, and in their world there's no real understanding of what trauma is. He continues to fight because it's all he can do. Until the dog comes in and lets him know it's okay.

Anyway, that's the crux of the story now, is Arris doing everything he can to get the dog back to his home.

Flavor text for each image on the original thread:  

1. In the years after the King's War, Arris earned his freedom but lacking other skills he found work as a bounty hunter. He earned a fearsome reputation, never losing a mark and rarely bringing them in alive. Strange then that first and only companion would be so... small.

2. "What was it about my 'stabbing you' that you didn't understand, good sir?"

3. "This... fellow. They say their name is Marshmallow. The rest are images I don't understand. Glass towers. People in foreign clothes. Loud machines. But there is a child, I believe it is Marshmallow's friend. They are foremost in the little creature's mind."

4. "Everything has its price. Whether I pay you for the creature or pay another to take it from you, is no difference to me."

5. "He may stay where he is."