The morning sun shed light over the scene of a man being viciously mauled by puppies. A flood of fur and barks crashed into Nathan the moment he stepped through the doors with an open can of wet dog food in his hand. Seven monstrous beasts yipped and hopped over his blue jeans, nipping at his brown leather suspenders, and biting into his brown gloves. His neck was pushed forward as the smallest puppy clambered onto his shoulders and he caught a glimpse of its bone-white fur and bright white eyes between the long locks of his brown hair.
“Come on Rei, this is how you got caught on top of a washing machine for two hours,” Nathan shook his head. “You know you can’t climb too high.”
The puppy’s tongue lapped against his cheek, and he laughed, grasping Rei’s floofy stomach gently and lowering the animal to the floor. Nathan crossed his arms as Rei’s paws pushed against the stone floor and the dog sped up and bumped into his leg head-first. If he didn’t know better, he’d say that Rei's body was made of iron.
A loud bark took his attention as Rei’s white fur was swept aside by a tide of brown. From the corner of the room the largest dog rushed forward, its bark louder than its bite and its eyes twice as proud. When it puffed out its chest it expected Nathan to listen, and it eyed the food in his hands like a treasure. Nathan was careful not to leave the can hanging within its jumping range, which was vast, because the dog would suck up the contents like a leech if given the chance.
“I’m getting to you Jason, and to all of you.”
Nathan danced across the room, his eyes sliding over the cages and false grass that littered the area as he brushed aside the wave of puppies with his free hand and jerks of his knee. He was careful not to harm a single one of them, but they were all so energetic that they would have shaken off a storm to get to the food he held.
A shadow flashed out from the corner of his eye as a jet-black dog with fur as sleek as silk dashed at him from an overhead bench. The puppy was silent as it began its assault, but Nathan was prepared for it. With a single swipe he caught the puppy and wrapped his arm around Jake like a football. Jake yipped in protest and bit at his gloved fingers, but he laughed it off.
“Jake, you little rascal,” he tutted. “Always going for the neck.”
The little guy hadn’t been born a hunter, but he’d certainly become accustomed to the lifestyle quickly after arriving at the pound. Nathan spied two more streaks of fur encircling him as he held down Jake. Now that his free hand was occupied it was time for the two thinkers of the pack to attack.
A bright ball of red struck first, the puppy’s radiant form reminiscent of a dragon as it flew toward the can of food in his hand, only to be knocked down as another dog leapt onto its head mid-flight, bumping the red fur ball into the ground. Luscious locks of curly silver fur and brilliant silver eyes replaced the red puppy as the newcomer took the chance to bite at the food can. Its white canines stabbed down ferociously, saliva and hot breath tickling the glove that held the can of food.
Nathan whipped his hand to the side and watched with amusement as the silver puppy missed its target and skidded onto the floor. It immediately jumped back up, snarling, but then it let out a yelp of surprise as the red-furred puppy it had betrayed bounded into its belly. The two fell into a battle of snarls and bites and Nathan sighed as he let go of Jake and separated the two fighting dogs. He gripped the red puppy by the nape of its neck and it yipped at him in indignation.
“I swear Lindon if you keep picking fights you’re going to lose a paw to the others one of these days,” he turned to the silver furred pup and pursed his lips. “And you Zorian, you’re smart but the same trick isn’t going to work if you keep doing it over and over again. Why can’t you be more like your brothers?”
Nathan gestured at the only two dogs that hadn’t tried to make a play for the food. Jin and Andross. Jin’s scraggly white and black fur deceptively covered a muscular frame, and he sat back lazily, his tail wagging as Nathan passed by and his tongue hanging out of his mouth as he panted happily. He hadn’t paid any attention to the food at all. Beside him Andross rested on all fours, his sandy-brown fur intermingled with streaks of purple. He’d been content to sit back and wait as the fighting played out. Amusement tinged his stare as he watched the five puppies that had tried and failed to nab the canned food from Nathan’s grasp.
He eyed the cages around him and frowned. Normally when he came in, he would move the dog’s bowls together. Today the place was empty of anything and everything. Even the toys he’d brought for the dogs were gone, and all of their food bowls were missing.
“Don’t give them food,” a voice called out.
“Azzie, morning.”
“I said don’t give them food,” the reply was swift and final.
“You’d rather starve them?” Nathan narrowed his eyes.
Azzie stepped forward, the head veterinarian’s eyes sweeping over the seven dogs with disdain. He wore a pristine white shirt and suit pants, and his shoes bounced over the stone floor as though afraid to touch it.
“It saves us cleaning costs when we put them down,” Azzie’s words came out as a snarl. “The damned things shit themselves and I’m not cleaning it up.”
“They’ve got three days left to be adopted. They deserve to be well fed and happy until they leave,” Nathan said.
“Nobody is going to adopt these things. They’re freaks.”
The dogs gathered around Nathan, letting out defiant growls toward Azzie, their fur pressed low, and their tails tucked between their legs. Despite their hostility, none came near the man. His figure looming over them. White, black, purple, and silver mingled together into a river of fur as they crowded around Nathan, their bodies warm as they sought comfort.
All except one.
The largest dog stepped forward, his head low and his canines visible as he smiled up at Azzie. Nathan’s heart dropped as he saw the animal move, and he nudged its side, feeling the warmth of Jason’s fur against the tips of his fingers.
“Jason, don’t.”
The brown dog glanced at him, and after a moment stepped back reluctantly. A whisper of worry tinged Nathan’s heart as he saw the dog retreat. Azzie would declare a dog too violent to live if it looked at him wrong. But his manager was too busy staring at him to notice the dog’s indiscretion.
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“You named them,” his eyes drilled into Nathan. “We don’t name the dogs. It makes them harder to kill.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you liked putting them down,” Nathan raised his fist. “And I think I’ve had it up to here with your bull.”
Azzie’s reply was snatched from his lips as a loud crash filled the surroundings. Nathan’s head whipped toward the window, and he heard a car alarm blaring. Then another, and another. Soon the surroundings were a cacophony of sounds. The screams of the people outside were mixed into them.
“What the hell?” Nathan walked to the nearest window, throwing its curtains aside.
What he saw stopped him dead in his tracks.
The sun had split in half.
The sun’s morning light had been spilling through the window only moments ago, and Nathan stared in disbelief as the broken star rippled and roiled in anger. Between its mass of flames and gas was a large dark crack that grew violently with each passing moment.
Then, without warning, the celestial body shattered into a million pieces.
Nathan jolted, and the dogs howled around him in unison as the light of the sky went dim. Then it flickered and returned with a new strength. New light was coming in through the window, and it didn’t take long to pinpoint the source. The pieces of the sun that had been blown outward were making their way toward Earth. A thousand shards draped in flames the size of continents were hurtling through space, visible for all to see.
It was the sight of a single piece of the celestial body that sent a chill down Nathan’s spine. It was heading right for them, and it was growing in size quickly. The star piece would hit and kill them in a few seconds. If they didn’t burn alive first.
As the celestial shard drew closer Azzie shut the curtains and winced as Rei barked at the sudden movement.
“Shut up!” His scream filled the air. “Two weeks I’ve had to clean up after you damn things and make sure nobody took you, and when I finally get to kill you, the world starts to end?”
“What did you say?” Nathan’s fists clenched as he turned towards the man.
“I said I’m going to kill the damned things.”
Azzie’s foot shot out toward Rei, and the puppy jumped back as a loud bang reverberated across the room. He hadn’t been hit. Nathan had blocked the boot with his hand.
“Step away from the puppy,” Nathan said.
“No,” Azzie raised his foot again. “I didn’t sign up for this, but I’m damned well going to enjoy it while I still can.”
The dogs growled at his words, responding to the tone and hostile posture, and Jason and Jake were the first to attack. Both bounded across the small space, Jason from the front and Jake from the back, sinking their teeth into Azzie’s calves. The man let out a scream of pain and anger, the sound reminding Nathan of nails on a chalkboard and a banshee’s wail combined.
Then Nathan’s fist connected with Azzie’s temple, cutting off the wail and sending pain shooting through his hand. He’d never punched someone before. It hurt. A lot. A soft thump resounded through the room as Azzie’s body fell to the ground. The man was unconscious, but Nathan didn’t care.
He had bigger priorities.
When he was younger Nathan’s dog had gone to a farm. At least, that’s what his mother had told him. He’d imagined the little guy frolicking among the wheat fields and having the time of his life herding sheep and protecting chickens from foxes. Those had been simpler times, back when he believed he could change how the entire world worked if he tried hard enough. And back when he knew he could make everyone happy if he just had enough time.
If only things could be that simple again. Well, they couldn’t be for him, that was for sure, but the dogs weren’t him. They were confused by the loud sounds, but all held their heads up high.
When the sun’s light had reached its crescendo, and the heavens cracked and fell, Nathan only bad eyes for the dogs. He couldn’t stop the end of the world, but he could make it a little brighter for those that didn’t know it was ending.
“All right boys, gather around me.”
Through the destruction and titanic screeching of a world being destroyed, his words reached the dogs. They pressed up against him, both for protection and to protect. And he hugged them in his arms, his fingers grasping their fur and his eyes taking them in for the final time.
“We’re going to a farm, and trust me, it’s a lot better than this place.”
They drew closer to him, each one placing their trust in him. There was a crash as the windows shattered, and a wave of force filled with the fury of celestial flames hit him with the impact of a thousand trucks.
Then all went silent.
****
The sky’s light dripped through cracks in the foliage and stone of the cavern, its radiant white light splashing across the surface of the lake within and illuminating the space around Nathan. He groaned and the sound reverberated through the open space, ricocheting off the mossy walls and mingling with the sounds of falling water. He raised his head and winced as pain shot through his eyes.
“Where the hell am I?”
The moment the words left his lips multiple blue boxes flickered to life and hovered in front of him, transparent and shimmering with bright white letters.
[Celestial mission detected: Conquer Gerasha, destroy the native System, and prepare for the celestial’s descent. Difficulty: Legendary. Reward: The Earth will be restored and you will be returned to your native world.]
[Achievement unlocked: I’m Still Standing (epic).]
[Achievement slots unlocked.]
[I’m Still Standing: You have persisted beyond death’s door with help. Effect: Sleep is no longer needed.]
[Achievement unlocked: Celestial-touched (epic).]
[Celestial Touched: Effect: Unlock your innate magic-affinity.]
****
Nathan Park
Mission: Conquer Gerasha and prepare for the celestial’s descent.
Race: Celestial-touched.
Trait: Human.
Form: Human.
Celestial stream rank: #2,143,565,121.
Achievements: I'm Still Standing. Celestial-touched.
Stat rank: Iron.
Beast rank: Iron.
Elemental rank: Iron.
Elemental affinity: Life.
Stat slots:
1. Might (normal): Iron-ranked slot unassigned.
2. Force (normal): Iron-ranked slot unassigned.
3. Energy (normal): Iron-ranked slot unassigned.
4. Potency (normal): Iron-ranked slot unassigned.
Quirk slots (7 connections detected.):
1. Iron-ranked slot unassigned.
2. Iron-ranked slot unassigned.
3. Iron-ranked slot unassigned.
4. Iron-ranked slot unassigned.
Elemental slots (1 max):
1. Slot unassigned.
Achievement slots (1 max):
1. Assign existing achievement to slot: I’m Still Standing/Celestial-touched.
2. Unlocks at stat rank: bronze.
3. Unlocks at stat rank: Silver.
[System Alert! Mission contrary to System's survival detected. Preparing counter proposal.]
[Counter mission proposal: Defend Gerasha against the Celestial-touched. Difficulty: Legendary. Reward 1: Your world will be restored and a choice of return given. Reward 2: One legendary item, potion, and skill of choice.]
[Accept counter mission proposal? Y/N.]
“What the hell does any of this mean!”
Nathan’s shout filled the air, the surroundings resonating with his anger, frustration, and fear.
Seven barks answered in response.