Hey family! Just a little update: I’ve been on quite the adventure, helping out everyone I meet with my wagging tail and big puppy eyes. Turns out, a bit of dog wisdom goes a long way! See you all soon. 🐾

– Sammy

As soon as the moonlight crept through the curtains, I knew it was time for another escapade in Pawsburg. My name is Sampson, but you can call me Sam, Sammy, or even Pumpkin Pie if you must. Off I went, leaving the snores of my Daddy echoing behind me. With a swoosh, I slipped through the secret portal hidden behind the rosebush in our backyard.

Arriving in Pawsburg always feels like jumping into a magical chew toy. Tonight, I wasn’t alone. My old friends, Ollie the pug and Bentley the mixed lab, were there, waiting for me with gleaming eyes. Together, we dashed towards the heart of the town, our tails wagging in excitement.

Our adventure began at Shar-Pei Shores, where the waves lapped playfully against the sandy beach. But wait, this wasn’t going to be another night of leisurely sniffing and fetch. Something was amiss, and I could sense it in the air. As we enjoyed our evening swim—with me, of course, staying near the shallows to avoid getting too wet—I noticed a strange glimmer underwater. Being brave was second nature to me, so I dove a little deeper to investigate with Bentley and Ollie beside me.

There it was—a mysterious chest, settled on the ocean floor. As intelligent as I am, I realized this wasn’t the ordinary driftwood we occasionally found. Using my sturdy paws, I nudged the chest open and discovered peculiar stones glowing with an eerie blue light. Before I could bark an opinion, thick, dark clouds rolled across the sky, turning Pawsburg into a sinister shadow of its former self.

“This is no ordinary mischief,” Ollie murmured, hiding the shake in his voice as best he could.

We hadn’t much time. The darkness twisted into a howl of wind and rain, driving us off the shore and into the shelter of Quartz Qimmiq Quarter. Once there, we ran into the ever-sophisticated Chester, a former show dog who now graced Pooch’s Pub with tales of grandeur.

“You meddled with the wrong chest, lads,” Chester said, his eyes revealing a glitter of both intrigue and terror. “That’s the Chest of Canis Umbra. It brings about the rise of shadow hounds unless the stones are re-buried before the moon’s full ascent.”

Time wasn’t on our side. We needed help and we needed it fast. Sparing no seconds, Chester suggested we head to Newfoundland Nook. There, wise old Lady Beagle might have answers. She looked ancient, but her eyes were sharp as a thousand-point stick.

With intrepid dashes, we reached Lady Beagle’s sanctuary. One look at the glowing stones and she sighed with resignation. “You’ve set into motion Canis Umbra’s rise. These stones must be taken far beyond Pawsburg to the real world and buried under the human’s moonlight. Only then will the curse break.”

There was no debate. Bridgette, a sprightly Spaniel who had just joined us, spoke up, “I know the place—a meadow beyond our parks. We must hurry.”

We navigated through Pawsburg’s myriad alleys and streets, finding the place Bridgette mentioned. With the stones tightly clamped in my jaws, I leaped through the magic portal, my heart pounding with the thrill of danger. Once in the meadow, under the human’s mystic moonlight, we buried the stones with ferocity and resolve.

No sooner had the last stone been covered than a rush of wind signaled the end of the curse. As we returned to our homes, weary but triumphant, I knew this was a bedtime story worthy of waking Daddy up for. If only, because morning was far too long to wait to tell him.

As Sammy, I’ve had plenty of thrilling nights, but nothing tops saving Pawsburg from shadowy doom. Now, if only someone could magic away new trash bags—barking at those is a completely different adventure!