Dug woke slowly. The world sounded strange, sounds echoed in a way that his cozy home would never allow. Unwilling to open his eyes, he sniffs.

Wet.

Dirt.

Grass.

Hints of smoke.

This is not his home. He is outside. Brain still sluggish, he struggles to understand why he is outside. Did he fall asleep in the sun again? Last he remembers, he was walking with Sam… then… then a car came out of nowhere and he pushed Sam out of the way. She fell in the grass yelling his name… then what?

Opening his eyes, he looks around. He is laying down on the top of a hill overlooking an open field next to the church. He remembers this hill. He and Sam used to roll down this hill in the summer and sled down it in the winter. The wildflowers are in full bloom. He sighs, content.

But where is Sam?

They have never been apart, except when Sam went to school. He stands up, and licks his nose. The dirt feels strange under his paws, and he feels strangely weightless, so he looks down. His normal golden fur is black and translucent, like smoke. He turns to find a tall human-ish figure looking at him.

"Hello, Dug." The creature's voice sounds like wind whistling through hollow bones. They lean down slightly and start scratching behind his ears. It is perfect, exactly the way he likes it. While scratching, the creature sits on the ground and continues the absolutely divine pets. "You are a very good boy. You saved Samantha. Because of you, she will grow up to fulfill her destiny. I am sorry you could not be by her side as she does so."

Dug wags his tail "Sam is here?" He sniffs about looking for her.

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The creature shakes his head, "Sam is not here. She will not be here for a long time."

He sits, tail still, "No Sam?"

"No Sam." They continue to pet and when Dug relaxes, they continue talking. "It takes a lot to protect someone else over your own well-being. You did so good, so I am giving you a choice."

"Dug did good?"

"Dug did the best. You are the best dog, Dug. So now you have a choice."

"A choice?"

"Yes, a choice. Would you like to come with me now? Or would you like to stay here and protect the souls of those who will be buried here? If you decide to stay, you can see Sam when she comes to visit you here and guide her to the afterlife; but you would not be able to join her. You would stay here until the cemetery is full and no more souls need to be protected. If you come with me, it will be a while before you see Sam again, but when she comes you would stay with her forever."

Dug sits, contemplating his choices. Either way, he would have a period without Sam. One might be longer than the other. Looking over the field to the church, he knows what his decision will be. He sits down before looking up at the entity, "Dug stay."

The creature smiles beneath its cowl and pulls a collar out of the folds of their robes. "This will allow you to ferry souls to the afterlife," he fastens the collar around Dug's neck, "if you ever need me, just howl and I will come. You are such a good dog."

Dug licks their arm and pushes his head forward into their chest. "Dug stay. Dug protect."

The being envelopes Dug in a hug. "Good Dug. The best Dug." They stay for a while cuddled together at the top of the hill. Eventually, the being leaves. Dug stays.

After church, Sam sits on the hill and reads to Dug. There are good days and lonely days.

Then a funeral. A soul to protect on their journey to the beyond. Then another, and another.

A year passes, then a decade. Eventually, Sam stops coming. A decade later, she comes again with her own children, and they read with him on the hill. The day he protects her soul on the journey is one of the highlights of his tenure.

A century passes. Then a second. Eventually, the cemetery fills and they open another across town.

After a decade alone, Dug finally ready to move on, howls. Moments later, the entity returns.

"Dug," the entity rasps, "you did so well. Are you ready to move on? Sam is waiting for you."

"Dug ready," he wags his tail and takes one last look over the cemetery he has been guarding, then turns toward the entity. Together, they walk the path to the afterlife one last time, where everyone Dug protected will be waiting for him.

Including Sam.