Sammy barked several times and then licked his face. Lazarus opened his eyes. The sky was turning blue as the sun crested on the horizon. His body felt like he had been hit by a sledgehammer. He looked at his arm and noticed muscle tone where he didn't have it before. He flexed, and his biceps and forearms popped. Sammy barked again.

He said, "What, boy? What do you see?"

The dog took off like a shot. Lazarus shook his head, hoping Sammy would be careful. They had slept in a small valley with a brick wall behind and large clumps of dirt piled up around them. He knew Sammy would protect him while he slept. This dog was more than a mere animal, but a smart creature that knew what he wanted when he asked, or before he knew what he wanted. Sammy came running back holding in his teeth two large rabbits.

"What do you want me to do with these?"

Sammy placed one of the rabbits on the ground in front of him and trotted away with the other morsel in his mouth.

"Well, you’re right. I have to learn to do this."

Lazarus grabbed the knife. He had cooked chicken before, but it had come already prepared and ready for the oven. He found a cleaned surface on a cement stand. Cutting a slit on top of the rabbit he started to pull the fur away from the skin. It came away in a sickening ripping sound. Lazarus almost gave up, but persisted in gutting the rabbit, cutting away. When he was finished he had a mess of blood and guts, and a skinned carcass. He was breathing heavy. Looking around, he saw water bubbling up from a long pipe extending from a building a few feet away. He stood up went over to wash his hands.

He started gathering firewood and found several sticks he could use as a skewer. Realizing he should have done this first made him curse. He felt a little foolish. Sammy watched him with coal black eyes, wondering why he didn't just eat his meal like he did.

When Lazarus finally got all the wood ready, he walked back to his spot and dropped it to the ground. Flies were swarming all over the rabbit carcass. All that work for nothing, he thought. He shook his head. He should have got his food the easy way. He grabbed the skinned rabbit and gave it to Sammy, who wolfed it down in several bites.

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He found a can of spaghetti and took out the saucepan. But before he opened it, he started a fire. Grabbing a spoon from his backpack, he placed it close to him, opened the can and plopped the mess into the pan. He had to hold the handle close to the fire without burning his hand. After a few minutes simmering it was ready.

He ate his food with his spoon. Everything tasted good, more than good, spectacular. Lazarus had eaten canned spaghetti before. He wondered if the tidal wave had something inside it, something that could create the Grog creatures and give him powers.

He ate everything in his saucepan. He even licked his fingers and cleaned his spoon. He felt invigorated as though he could run a mile. Energy flowed through him and he wondered where this feeling was coming from. He was never an athletic person, and had never had this feeling before. Now, he felt powers course through his body.

He studied Sammy. He was not the same dog that first came to him whimpering and sullen. This was a war canine, ready to do battle against any foe who attacked him. His powers were untapped. He needed to learn more. Cleaning all his pans and utensils with the bubbling water, he placed his things to dry in the sun. Standing a few yards from the ever vigilant Sammy, Lazarus held his right hand up. He looked at a grouping of rocks and broken debris. Focusing on moving the objects didn't do anything. All he sensed was not power or magic, but the tranquil wind blowing around his hair and clothes. Sammy regarded him with a smirk.

Lazarus saw a metal can on the ground and focused on it. The can started to move slightly to the side. He tensed all his muscles and tried to move it more. Getting a slight headache, he wanted to stop, but he kept on staring at the metal soda can. As he did, something else happened. He scanned the can as if looking through a microscope. He saw the blue metal shining in the sun and also sensed the dark liquid inside it. The view was unnerving. He closed his eyes and shook his head.

His body got warm and power filled him. Lazarus wagged his tail. Opening his eyes, he looked at the soda can again, which had not moved. He focused on the object and it started to float upwards. He moved the soda can into a vertical position. Nodding, the can started to turn, over and over again. Lazarus laughed and clapped his hands. The aluminum can fell down and hit the ground with a clunk and thud.

"Wow," Lazarus said. He was amazed. Nothing like this had ever happened to him and he wondered why he was chosen to have these powers. He felt the road ahead would be difficult.

He also sensed he was meant to do something, something important.