This article, Dakota and Echo, is owned by Dr. Regina Phalange. Please do not edit this article without their explicit permission.
Description
Dakota is 21 years old and 5 feet 3 inches in height. She's completely average looking when it comes to her figure. She has brown eyes, pale skin, and dark brown wavy hair that reaches her shoulders. Her normal clothes include a blue short sleeved blouse, jeans, and black and white tennis shoes. She also wears a silver neclace with a blue pemdant that rests just above her neckline and matching stud earings. When out in public, Dakota wears a zipped up black hoodie with the hood up and black gloves. This is both for warmth and to make it less obvious she is a human. She also carries a shortsword which is sheathed in a black scabbard at her waist. The sword is dark silver in color with a black hilt. Dakota was born blind and the only thing she can see is light.
Echo is a three and a half-year-old male black lab. He is Dakota's seeing eye dog as well as her faithful companion. He has a leather collar with a matching leash and a special harness with a handle for Dakota to hold onto.
Dakota and Echo share an unusual bond. Their souls are somehow tied to each other which allows them to communicate telepathically. Echo's "voice" has a very serious and articulate sound which can sound funny when he is talking about belly rubs or treats. Also, if something happens to one of them, such as death or severe sickness, the other will fall into a deep state of depression..
Their Home in Snowdin
Dakota and Echo live in an igloo that is roughly the size of a bedroom and located just outside of Snowdin, on the other side of the bridge. Inside is a simple cot with a pillow and a heavy blanket, a dog bed (although Echo often prefers to sleep with Dakota), a food and water dish, a fire pit, and a storage chest filled with things such as cooking supplies. Dakota uses another blanket to act as a makeshift door.
Personality
Dakota tries to get along with everyone but when pushed to her limits, she can be rather temperamental. She can also be easily overwhelmed. Despite this, she is generally a positive person who loves to laugh and share her sense of humor with others. She loves spending quality time with friends or relaxing outside and daydreaming. Echo is very relaxed and calm. He can however be easily distracted by things such as food or spotting a friend. When not working, he enjoys playing and receiving attention in the form of pets.
History
Despite being born blind, Dakota had a fairly normal childhood and grew up living with her parents in the suburbs. At about the age of nineteen, she received her first guide dog and began training. This was Echo.
The two soon discovered they had the ability to communicate with one another. They tried to keep it secret, but after she got home, her parents started noticing strange behavior. Dakota would laugh for seemingly no reason and often spoke to Echo like an actual prrson. Dakota's mother and father grew concerned and eventually confronted their daughter about it. When she finally told them the truth, they became convinced something was wrong with her and pressured her to seek medical attention. She refused and finally decided to move out of her parents' house and into her own apartment in the city. She hasn't spoken to either of them since.
Soon after, she met a man named Chad on a dating site. After dating a few months, Chad moved in with her. They were happy at first but Dakota soon realized that Chad didn't have much going for him. He didn't have a job and he was very needy. Tired of supporting him, she told him he needed to get a job. Things escalated from there resulting in her kicking him out.
The next day, Dakota decided to go on a hike to clear her head so she put Echo in his harness and set out. They eventually found themselves at the top of Mt. Ebott where they stopped to rest for a half hour or so. When Dakota went to stand up, she slipped and plummeted to the bottom of the cavern. Echo tried to stop her fall but ended up exprriencing the same fate. They were lucky enough to land in a bed of flowers which somehow cushioned their landing. With no hope of climbing back up, they decided to find another way out. They soon met Flowey who immediately tried to kill them but was stopped by Toriel who welcomed the duo into her home.
After a month of living with Toriel in the Ruins, Dakota and Echo decided to sneak downstairs where they discovered the exit. After heavy contemplation and consulting her companion, Dakota opened the door and the two stepped into the freezing cold of Snowdin. Once outside, they started walking but stopped when they heard the voices of two monsters. She quickly ran for the door but it was locked so she and Echo ran deeper into the forest.
She soon came across Bryson. She tried to run from him as well but hit her head on a branch and fell unconscious. He carried her back to his house after gaining Echo's trust and tended to the gash left from the tree. Though she was wary of him at first, she quickly grew to trust him.
Bryson was extremely helpful to Dakota. He bought her a thick black hoodie and gloves as well as some bedding to help keep her warm and comfortable. He also helped her find an abandoned igloo to live in as well as taught her to fight with a sword he had forged for her by a friend. The two continued to spend time together and eventually developed feelings for each other. This developed into a deep relationship that lasted for quite some time until they went their separate ways.
Life on the Surface
After returning to the Surface, Dakota will finish school and get a job at a software company developing accessible software for various things. She will continue to spend time with her friends from the Underground and be a strong supporter of monster acceptance. Echo will retire at the age of nine. After this, Dakota will decide to try a new surgery which will succeed in giving her sight. She and Echo will live happily after that.
Relations
Family
Dakota has a mother and father she is not speaking to. Echo came from a litter of seven puppies but hasn't seen them or his mother since he was old enough to begin training.
Friends
- Toriel: Dakota sees Toriel as a motherly figure and feels guilty for betraying her by leaving.
- Bryson: Dakota and bryson were in a serious relationship together. When Bryson began seeing Slade as well, Dakota went along so as not to lose him. When he and Slade became more serious, she decided it'd be best if she broke up with Bryson. It was hard but she eventually moved on.
- Emily: Emily and Dakota are very close and love spending "girl time" together. Emily knows that Dakota's actually a human and has agreed to keep it secret. Dakota does not know about Ulder. Emily doesn't know about Dakota and Echo's special ability.
- Isosceles: Dakota met Issac one day in Snowdin and the two soon became friends. They hang out on occasion.
- Snowdin Dogs: They love to play with Echo.
Enemies
- Flowey: He tried to attack them on a few occasions but mostly torments Dakota with taunts.
- Chad: Dakota's ex. He's a jerk.
Abilities
Dakota isn't really a fighter but will fight to defend herself or those she cares about. While her sword skills aren't perfect, she does pretty well. Echo usually helps her fight by telling her where her opponent is and/or what they are doing. He may also attack by biting or clawing.
Trivia
- Echo is somewhat based on a real life guide dog I know.
- Dakota's last name is Whelan.
- Dakota enjoys cooking and is pretty decent at it.
- Dakota carries around a slate and stylus which she uses to write notes in Braille.
Credit
Special thanks to:
Fredbear and Freinds for helping me with her new backstory
TheSecondEdgeOfTheBlade for the beautiful sprite