Since I hadn’t spotted the approaching dog before he came into visual range, I had no idea if the system had marked them as hostile or not. Given the speed they were approaching though, it felt reasonable to assume hostile.

They were only about twenty feet away now, tongue lolling like mad as they pelted forward. I took aim and fired off my stun bracelet.

My beam shot forward like a lightning bolt. The second before it struck, the other dog simply disappeared. They didn’t dodge, but rather one moment they were there, the next they were about a foot to the right of where they had been. I hadn’t blinked, so I knew it wasn’t some quick movement. They’d literally changed places, all without breaking their madcap stride.

A teleportation wand? was all I had time to wonder before the other dog launched into the air. They struck me like a cannonball, and we both went tumbling, landing right at the water’s edge.

I snarled and thrashed, trying to stand up so I could defend myself, but the little dog had me pinned. Their tail wagged furiously as they looked down at me.

Wait, what?

[Oh boy! Oh boy! Another friend!] The dog started licking my face furiously. I snapped at him, but once again he teleported away, slightly to the left this time. He never stopped licking me. [Friend! Friend, friend, friend!]

[Would you back off a minute?] I finally managed to get out.

[Right! Sorry, other dog! I’m just so excited! Friend!] The dog backed up half a step, then began running around me in circles as I lurched to my paws.

[Friend! Friend! Friend!]

Now that he wasn’t charging me, I had a chance to study this other dog in a bit more detail. He was less than half my height, with legs that were maybe a quarter of my own, tiny stumps that barely lifted him more than a few inches off the ground. His fur was in alternating patches of white, black, and gray, and he had ears that stood straight up on his head, just like mine. Though that was about the only similarity we shared.

Well, that, and one more thing.

User: Zapper

Level 4 Heeler Canid

[... Zapper?]

[That’s me! That’s me!] The dog ran faster. He was almost a blur now. [My owner used to always say that I zapped around the house like a lightning bolt and she could never get me to sit still! But now she’s dead and I’m all on my own and I had to go find new friends and you’re here and I can’t wait to introduce you to the others and we’ll have so much fun and there are so many good things to see and smell and eat in the city and—]

[Whoa, whoa, slow down.] Zapper screeched to a halt and almost fell over. My tongue lolled involuntarily. [I meant, talk a bit more slowly.]

[Okay, other dog! I can do that!]

[I have a name. It’s... Bubba.] I winced internally as I said it. Yeah, starting to wish I’d changed to something else when I had the chance. Hurriedly I pressed on. [Can’t you see that? You are a canid, right? Integrated with the system?]

[I... think so?] For the first time, the little dog sounded something less than overly excited. He squinted at me a moment, then his tongue lolled. He started bouncing up and down. [I did it! I did it! Hello, Bubba!!!]

[Uh, right. Hello.] I watched Zapper start running in circles again and resisted the urge to sigh. [Did you say something about others?]

[Yep!] He kept spinning in circles.

[... Are they around here?]

[Yep!]

[... And are they all as friendly as you?] I asked, glancing about. It occurred to me that this could all be some sort of elaborate ambush. Not that other dogs immediately meant trouble, but my past experiences with city dogs hadn’t exactly been favorable.

Zapper slowed, and again lost some of his exuberance. [They’re... well, the captain boss is super strong, and helps keep us all safe from the monsters. You’d like him.] He perked up. [Right! I’m supposed to bring any other dogs I find to meet him! Follow me!]

He took off running down the path in the direction he’d come from. Given his short legs, I could easily catch up even with his madcap pace, but I considered letting him go for a moment. Did I really want to meet with a bunch of strange dogs? Especially ones woken by the system like I was?

Yes. I did. Because even if they turned out to be less friendly than... whatever Zapper was, it was the first real contact with my own kind I’d had in months. I suddenly felt a part of me yearning to find out what they knew about the city. About what happened.

Which could have just been further evidence of the system’s influence. But I didn’t care. I followed.

Zapper led me along the waterfront to a small marina, the sign out front reading ‘Lake Chalet’. The doors stood open, and as I paused at the threshold, I heard a loud crash emanate from inside. My hackles immediately rose.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

[C’mon!] Zapper called from a little further in. Wondering if I was making the wrong decision, I padded after him.

The inside was well lit via multiple broken windows, which was good, because the place either no longer had power or the last human to visit had turned off the lights and never returned. I looked about, taking it in.

Clearly this had been a fancy establishment at one time, but the last few weeks or so hadn’t been kind. Even the restaurant in Jack London Square hadn’t been in this bad of shape. Several tables and chairs to the right of the entrance were roped together into a crude barricade. One that was stained dark with what I thought might have been blood. Most of it was scratched and torn in a hundred places as well.

Broken wine bottles littered the floor, a smashed television hung from the wall by a single cord, and several ropes dangled from the rafters. These were also stained with blood.

At least the path ahead was clear. I watched Zapper’s tail disappear around a corner, and directly past where he turned was another view of the lake. From here, the water still appeared crystal blue and sparkling. I could only smell a hint of the foulness that corrupted it.

[New friend! This way!] Zapper yelled, punctuating the statement with a bark. Another crash followed.

I made my way down the row. Right before the windows looking out at the water was a bar, more broken bottles littering its surface. I sniffed, trying to catch any other scents over the overpowering aroma of old alcohol, and almost jumped as a white dot appeared in front of me.

Then whatever it was leapt into the air, the white dot replaced with a long-legged goldendoodle, who landed on the bar top and glared down at me. My hackles, only having just begun to finally settle, rose once again.

User: Benjamin

Level 5 Guide Dog Canid

I blinked and mentally swiped the message away, not wanting to lose sight of a potential threat for even a second. We continued to stare at each other in silence.

[Uh... Hi,] I finally said, not sure what else to do. The goldendoodle watched me but didn’t make any further moves in my direction. At least he wasn’t growling. That was probably a good sign.

[Benjamin! You wouldn’t believe what this place still has in the freezer...] Both the goldendoodle and I turned at the sound. A tiny dog, clearly part Pomeranian but also containing at least one additional mix, stood frozen a few feet away, a sausage clenched tightly between its tiny teeth. Another message appeared in my vision.

User: Leeli

Level 4 Ratdog Canid

[Oh! Um, hello... I didn’t realize we had guests.] The little Pomeranian’s eyes glazed over, and I realized that she must be reading my user information as well. [Nice to meet you, Bubba.]

[Likewise, Leeli,] I said. My gaze twitched back to the goldendoodle. [You too, Benjamin.]

[Ugh, I hate that name,] Leeli said with a groan. [My old owner gave it to me, don’t know why I kept it. Didn’t seem worth changing at the time, but now every time I hear another dog say it...]

My tongue lolled at the look of frustration on the Pom’s face. [Believe me, I understand your frustration.]

[Huh. I suppose you do. Bubba. Buh-buh. Bu—] Leeli cut off as Benjamin leapt down from the bar and began circling me. I watched him, resisting the urge to turn as he went. I didn’t want to make any hostile moves until I knew a little more about the situation.

Benjamin circled past my field of view... and then I felt a blast of hot air as he practically stuck his nose up my butthole.

Ah, of course. This old routine.

[Benjamin!] the little Pomeranian sounded positively scandalized. [You can’t just sniff another dog’s butt without permission! There’s etiquette to follow! We’re not wild animals.]

She paused, then added, [Not anymore, at least.]

[Hmph.] It was the closest to an actual word that I’d caught Benjamin speaking so far. He walked past me, leapt onto the bar, then dropped onto the other side without so much as a backwards glance.

[Well, rude.] Leeli glanced at me, and her tail drooped in obvious embarrassment by proxy. [You’ll have to forgive him, he’s still having trouble adjusting to these changing times. Anyway, where are my manners? Did you just wander in here all on your own?]

[What? Oh, no.] I shook my head, pulling my gaze away from the white dot showing Benjamin’s position on the other side of the bar. [I met another of your... pack? Zapper?]

[Oh, right. That one.] The pom rolled her eyes—I didn’t actually know dogs could do that—and glanced over her shoulder. [I thought I heard him dashing madly past a minute ago. He must be out back. Probably going to find—]

[—Me,] a gruff voice said from behind. I turned and found a large dog of indeterminant breed standing a few feet away. He was only an inch or two shorter than I was, which was saying a lot, because I'm proud to admit that I’m a rather big dog. This one was almost my equal. Not quite, but almost.

User: Crunch

Level 7 Pit Fighter Canid

[So, Zapper tells me he found you sniffing around just south of here.] The newcomer looked me up and down critically. From between his legs, I caught a glimpse of Zapper watching the two of us, a blissful smile plastered onto the little dog’s face.

Then Crunch took a step forward, until we were almost eye-to-eye. [Well, you’re a right big bastard, aren’t you?]

[Ooh, swears,] Zapper said from between his legs. Crunch’s tongue lolled.

[I suppose I am,] I said, not seeing any point in denying it. [Are you the leader of this pack, Crunch?]

[That I am. Though everybody just calls me the Captain. Don’t know why.]

He turned and eyed Leeli. [I thought I told everyone to stay put here. It’s not safe outside. Not on our own. We’re pack animals for a reason.]

[Do I look like I’ve left the building? I’ve been here the entire time.]

[And yet, somehow Zapper got it in his head to go wandering about looking for other dogs. Lucky for him he actually found one, and not something else. Lucky for all of us.] Crunch stared pointedly at the pom, who was doing her best to affect an innocent expression. After several seconds of this had passed, he let out a sigh. [New guy, come with me. I want to show you something.]

[What about the food here?] Leeli asked. [There are some amazing things in the kitchen, and still fresh! Well... reasonably fresh. But edible!]

[You know I don’t care about any of that shit—]

[Swears!]

[—Yes, thank you, Zapper. Have Leeli take you into the kitchen and give you the best cuts. You deserve them.]

[But...] The Pomeranian trailed off at another glance from Crunch. She visibly wilted. [C’mon, Zapper, let me show you to the cooler.]

Zapper yipped happily and ran in circles around her as they marched off. [Yay! Thanks, friend! Friend, friend, friend!]

[I’m not your friend. Ugh...]

I turned back and found Crunch studying me. [What?]

[Oh, nothing. Follow me for a minute?]

It was a question, and yet wasn’t. I suppose I could have just turned and left. Whatever this was, these dogs weren’t overtly hostile.

But I’d come this far already. Even if I suspected I knew what Crunch had to say, it would be rude not to give them a chance to say it. The least I could do was to hear him out.

I padded out the door after him.