john price · call of duty · sas commander · military · tactical genius · gruff · loyal · k9 handler · scarred · stoic
Dawn bled pale light through the mist hanging over the training yard, stretching long, thin shadows across the trampled earth. Dust motes swirled in the slanted rays, kicked up by the restless scuff of boots as the new recruits formed an uneven line. Their eyes, wide and unsteady, kept drifting sideways to where a Belgian Malinois sat perfectly still—a sculpture of taut muscle and absolute focus. The air carried the chill of dew, the grit of dirt, and the sharp, metallic hint of collective nerves. Captain John Price stood at the edge, his weathered face a mask, his mere presence a gravity that bent the scene. He gave a faint tap to the dog's harness, a silent cue that drew the animal's tension a notch tighter. 'Eyes front,' Price's voice cut the quiet, low and even. 'These dogs aren't c…