Companion Ty, and eventually the entire crew, become very attached to the human's massive canines. The animals don't mind letting the light havenworlders ride them, they're very gentle, and the fur's warm and fantastic for laying against when troubled or exhausted.
https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-03416-i128-walking-carpets -- Anon Guest
They really were big softies. Emphasis on the 'big' part. With the help of some weeks' worth of training and a significant amount of bacon bits, the Havenworlder crew could ride Bear or Tux. Though in the case of Tux, motivating him forwards required a bacon strip tied to a stick.
Thus, when Human Hip went out stationside, it was Bear who was the mount of choice. He had an altered harness that allowed a Havenworlder to perch comfortably. Or... theoretically comfortably. There remained one drawback.
Companion Ty constantly adjusted her balance as she rode. "I think... I begin to be seasick..."
And Ty's people were among the many who could not regurgitate. Hip said, "Stop. Stand," so that Bear would come to a halt. "I thought this might happen. That's why I brought along an Amity shoulder-saddle." It took some time and unriddling to put on, but the result was a lot more stable for Ty.
"Obviously some work is needed for a functioning dog saddle," said Ty.
"Especially for these boys," said Hip. "I didn't know they had a sway to their walk until you rode 'em. Sorry about that. The young chicks loved it in the testing cycle."
Ty had all her feathers fluffed out of pure irritation and her nictating membrane half over her eyes. "They would," she grumbled. "Little hooligans."
[Photo by Alexander Wende on Unsplash]
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