Hey,

It’s the D-Dog here! Had quite the night in Pawsburgh – a mysterious orange invasion took over, only to find it was old Baxter’s doing. Not funny, buddy! Anyway, all’s well. Ended up getting a reality check about facing fears. More power to us Shepherds!

Woofs and Wags,
Duo.

Listen to the story here

Whence the orange glow of the city lights did fade, Pawsburgh did spring to life. Being a long-standing resident of this place, this canine utopia was not unknown to me, Duo, the Dutch Shepherd prodigy. As day retreated into the embrace of the night, my memories painted a vivid canvas of our corner of the cosmos – Pawsburgh, where Pinscher Plaza, Doberman Dunes, and Setter Shore marked our territories, our camaraderie, our very essence.

On that night, like countless others, I found myself at the Doggie Diner, mindlessly gnawing on a chicken drumstick, a delightful reverie for every canine taste bud. Almost mechanically, my eyes drifted towards the peculiar sight of an orange perched on top of the bar counter. The glimpse shot through me, igniting a whirl of discomfort I was ill-prepared for.

In that moment, it was as if the world slams down miles of mouse-traps, each loaded with a tiny, little orange. The entire space started to spin, my usual confident demeanor shattered. I knew I had to retreat to my sanctuary. I sprung up, leaving a bewildered Baxter behind. This was to be my journey, a pursuit to conquer an inexplicable fear.

As I crossed the glow of Setter Shore, I sensed something amiss. A hushed cacophony broke the serene silence. An animal sneaking off, maybe? A bait? Or maybe it was just my paranoia fed by the haunting oranges. I sprinted, not daring to stop until I reached my river sanctuary.

Everyone in Pawsburg had their own solitude spot, and that was mine. Where the night seemed a little less daunting and the echoes of the river whispers tales of comfort. But a shiver ran through me as my eyes fell upon an unfamiliar sight – an orange slice replaced my beloved toy elephant.

A chill ran down my spine, my fur on edge. My sanctuary felt violated, my sanctuary where no citrus should be! My sanctuary where Baxter had playfully buried the toy we shared so many scruffs with just yesterday.

With a defiant growl, I mustered enough courage, ready to face this invader. Determined to take back my fortress of solitude, I dashed forward, my fear momentarily forgotten as adrenaline pumped through my veins. In one swift move, I buried the orange slice deep down into the sand.

Returning to my spot, I heaved a sigh of relief until my eyes fell on the culprit – staring at me through the branches was Baxter, a silly grin slapped across his innocent face.

“Baxter!” I cried out, “You scared the living daylights out of me!”

His response was a hearty laugh, his tail wagging with mischief. I felt a strange blend of relief and irritation. Relief because there were no human-related threats lurking in Pawsburg, irritation because Baxter had singlehandedly invoked my paranoia.

The rest of the night was lighter, filled with the comfortable familiarity of the town, the subdued murmurings of the river, and melodious laughter echoing through Pawsburg.

As the sky glowed with the first light, and Pawsburgh stirred back into its slumber, I reflected on my brave, extraordinary night. I had journeyed through the shadows of my fear, driven by an unconquerable strength I hadn’t noticed before – a testament to my lineage as a Dutch Shepherd – and discovered a resilience that traverses beyond the physical, deep into the psyche. And, at the dawn of the new day, I tasted the bittersweet allure of a psychological thriller that has forever tethered me to the magical land of Pawsburg.

The End.