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Chapter Text

The soft sound of birds chirping gently filled the bedroom, carried along by the golden morning light streaming through the gaps in the light-blue curtains. Under the cozy blankets patterned with little stars, a young Border Collie was just waking up. His fur was mostly white, with patches of reddish, beige, and brown tones.

He stretched and yawned, his eyes still heavy with sleep. It looked like he hadn't gotten much rest last night for a very particular reason. But the moment he remembered that reason, he shot wide awake.

"Today's the day!" he exclaimed excitedly. Jumping out of bed, he rushed out of his room and bolted toward the kitchen.

As he hurried through the hallway, the smell of breakfast hit his nose. Pancakes! That made everything even better.

Entering the kitchen, he saw his mom preparing his lunchbox, while his breakfast was already laid out on the table.

"Morning, Mom!" the young Border Collie said, hurrying to sit down and dig in.

His mom, who looked quite a bit like him, except for her side-swept fringe and a small hair accessory, turned to him with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Archie. Looks like someone's in a good mood today," she said, playfully pretending she didn't know the reason behind his excitement. Meanwhile, Archie was already munching on his pancakes with obvious enthusiasm.

"Moff! D'did you fforget today's m'my first day of schoo'!?"

"Archie, don't talk with your mouth full!" she giggled. Of course she knew. She was still finishing up his lunchbox and watching him from the corner of her eye. "I'm really happy to see you this excited. Just hope you manage to get some sleep tonight."

"I'm fiiine!!" he replied again with his mouth full, clearly enjoying the delicious pancakes his mom had made for him. His excitement was hard to contain, after all, it was his very first day at a brand-new school, with new friends waiting to be met and a whole new place to explore.

After breakfast, Archie went to the bathroom to brush his teeth. Once he was done, he grabbed his backpack and slipped the lunchbox inside. His tail was wagging nonstop, it was clear he could barely contain his excitement. It hadn't been long since they moved here, exactly two weeks. At first, it had been hard to adjust. A new routine, the anxiety, not knowing anyone around the neighborhood... But now, school! A place full of others like him. It had to be fun, right?

"Come on, Archie! You don't want to be late on your very first day!" his mom called from outside, already opening the car door. The young Border Collie rushed out of the house. The morning sun shone brightly, wrapping the world in a warm and golden glow. Birds chirped from the trees, and the air carried a kind of hopeful energy. Archie climbed into the car, and his mom gently buckled him in.

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Archie stared out the window as his mom drove. The city was huge, and little did he know, there was still so much to discover. As they made their way to the school, he found himself lost in thought.
Would he make lots of friends?
Would anyone even like him?

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard his mother ask softly,

"So... feeling nervous?" It was a sincere question, she already had a good idea of what the answer might be.

"A little... I don't know if they're gonna like me. What if they think I'm annoying?" he asked, turning his eyes away from the window.

is mom smiled gently.
"Sweetheart, you are anything but annoying. You have such a big heart. I'm sure they'll notice that."
Her eyes stayed focused on the road, but every word hit directly in the boy's heart, and brought him a sense of calm.
"Just... maybe don't try to talk to everyone all at once," she added with a playful chuckle.

Archie made a face.
"I'm not gonna talk to everyone all at once! That's, like, a lot of people!"
He could swear she gave him a look, one of those classic "Are you sure about that?" glances.
Seriously? She knew him that well?

Silence returned to the car as Archie gazed out the window again, lost in thought.
They had moved here for a specific reason: his dad had received a job offer too good to pass up one that promised a better life for all of them.
But now, everything felt so different. The new routine, the new place... He wasn't sure if he'd be able to get used to it anytime soon.

"Is Dad picking me up today?" he asked casually, his eyes still on the window where his own reflection stared back at him. His expression was thoughtful, unusually quiet for someone like him.
His mom glanced at him through the rearview mirror, then sighed softly.

"I don't know. He might be busy at work," she said gently.
That answer earned a small, sad look from Archie.

"But," she added with a reassuring smile, "he told me to wish you good luck, and to remind you that you're going to make lots of new friends today."
Archie tried to return the smile. It wasn't perfect, but it was genuine.

His dad wasn't a bad father, quite the opposite. He used to be fun. He'd tell bedtime stories and play whenever he had the chance.
But ever since the new job started, things had changed.
Still, Archie knew deep down that his dad loved him very much, and that there would still be days off to play together again.

"Alright, we're here."
His mom's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
They had finally arrived.

Archie unbuckled his seatbelt, and the two of them walked up a small grassy hill.
At the top, the school came into view, it looked more like a cozy house than a regular building.
Even from a distance, Archie could already see a few kids running and playing.
He wanted to join them so badly, but for now, he held his mother's hand tightly.

At the entrance, an older dog was waiting for them.
Her fur was a gentle mix of gray, white, orange, and black, and she wore a blue bandana around her neck.
She smiled warmly at Archie as they approached.

"Hello there, little one. You must be my new student," she said kindly, lowering herself to Archie's level.

"Hi! I'm Archie!" he replied cheerfully, stepping forward. His tail wagged enthusiastically at the sight of his new teacher, though he seemed even more excited about the laughter coming from behind the building.

"Well then, I'm Calypso," she said with a calm and confident tone.
She stood up slowly, keeping a gentle gaze on him.
"How about you go inside and play a bit with the others? I'm sure they'll be happy to meet you."

As soon as he heard that, Archie didn't hesitate, but just before running off, he turned around and gave his mom a big, tight hug.

"Bye, Mom!"
It was a strong hug, almost like a farewell, even though he'd see her again later.

Then, with calmer steps, Archie walked into the school, ready for whatever came next.

Adjusting the strap on his backpack, Archie looked around curiously, trying to understand what everyone was doing.
A Bulldog was sitting on the floor, carefully stacking blocks into a tall tower. A Red Kelpie and an Afghan Hound were playing house in the corner. And nearby, a trio of Terriers had taken over a pillow fort, giggling inside.

Archie wasn't sure who to talk to first, they all looked fun.
But as he walked a little further, he noticed someone sitting alone on the ground.
The pup had his eyes down, staring at his own legs, looking... well, lonely.
As if he could use a friend.

Archie didn't hesitate to walk over.

"Hi there!" he said with a smile.
"Are you playing something?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. His tail wagged gently, trying to hide the nerves underneath.

Suddenly, the small Chihuahua stood up. He was wearing a hat and had light brown fur.
His expression was serious, almost stiff, as he looked Archie over.

"I'm playing robbers. And you just ruined my plan."

"Oh, sorry!" Archie replied, a bit surprised, though still smiling politely.
Despite the Chihuahua's serious tone, Archie figured it was probably just part of the game.
"Can I play too?"

"Hmm..."
The Chihuahua stared at Archie, as if sizing him up.
After a few silent seconds, he finally relaxed a little and shrugged.

"Alright. I guess I did need a partner anyway."

"Cool! What's your name?"

"Darwin. I'm kinda new around here..."
His tail wagged ever so slightly, showing just a bit of excitement underneath his calm tone.

"I'm Archie! I just moved here a few weeks ago with my parents."
That felt nice to say, to realize he wasn't the only one feeling a little out of place.
Everyone else here seemed to already know each other.

"Sooo... what are we doing exactly?"

"Well," Darwin began, now getting into character, "you and I are partners, legendary robbers! We've already stolen tons of super rare artifacts. And now, our next target is..."
He paused, putting on a thoughtful face. But he didn't finish the sentence.

Archie blinked.
He couldn't help but wonder if Darwin had made up this game on the spot.

With a quick sigh, Archie offered a suggestion to his new friend.
"How about we go to that castle? There's gotta be some treasure or-"

"Yes! Let's go to that castle and steal their treasure! You're a genius," Darwin interrupted excitedly, giving Archie a light punch on the arm, fully diving into the game now.

"Alright! Now we need a plan to break in." Archie glanced toward the castle. It definitely looked well-guarded.

"You're right... Here's what we'll do." Pointing decisively at the castle, Darwin struck a confident pose.
"You go in from the left, I'll take the right. Done!"

Archie rolled his eyes.
He had been hoping for a more elaborate plan, something fun or at least challenging, but this was way too simple. Why had he expected anything genuine?

"Okay..." He shrugged in agreement. Not like he had anything better.
His imagination was already running wild, like he was about to go on a real big mission.

They exchanged a look, like they could read each other's minds, then crouched low.
Thieves had to be stealthy and careful, no attention, no mistakes.
If things went wrong, they'd have to make a quick getaway.

The two of them crawled toward the fort, until...

"Ouch!" Darwin let out a small yelp, quickly moving his hand to find the cause, a tiny building block piece.
Archie fought to keep from laughing, while Darwin threw the block away.
"Just a stupid obstacle!" Darwin grumbled, a little annoyed but still focused.

Finally, they reached the fort, right at the main entrance.
It looked like getting inside wouldn't be easy, especially with three Terriers standing guard, each watching a different side of the fort.

"Uh... are you sure we can get in? We don't even know if there's treasure inside," Archie whispered, sneaking a glance at Darwin.

"Shhh! Quiet," Darwin hushed him, poking Archie's leg with his paw.
"Of course we can get in. And if there's no treasure, then what exactly are they protecting?"

Archie let out an "Oh," quietly agreeing.
It made sense, they clearly had a reason to guard that fort.
Smiling faintly, Archie felt sure about what they were about to do next.
He simply nodded, signaling he was ready.

But before either of them could move forward, a sharp voice echoed from inside the fort:

"INTRUDERS! THEY'RE TRYING TO BREAK INTO THE CASTLE!"

One of the Terriers shouted, catching both Archie and Darwin completely off guard. Their position had been discovered!
Before they could react, the three Terriers climbed to higher ground, aiming right at them.

"READY YOUR ARROWS!" one barked, aiming imaginary arrows at the two crouching on the ground.

Archie looked wide-eyed at what he had just heard.
"Wait, arrows?!" This was definitely bad news.
He jumped to his feet, his imagination racing. Archers guarding the fort, this was a failed attempt at stealing treasure.
"What do we do, Dar-"

"RUN!!" The Chihuahua was already up and moving before Archie could finish his sentence.
No need to think twice. They were outnumbered and unarmed.

"FIRE!!"
At the command, the Terriers shot imaginary arrows at Darwin and Archie, who ran wildly, dodging desperately.

Whether by luck or skill, the two managed to put some distance between themselves and the attackers, and the "arrows" finally stopped.
Panting, they caught their breath after the failed raid... which actually seemed like a lot of fun, judging by Archie's laughter.

"Hahaha! I told you we needed a plan!" Archie pointed at Darwin with a goofy grin.
He'd had a blast running away, even if they hadn't stolen a thing.

Darwin, however, scowled.
"Hey, at least a plan, and I didn't expect them to have arrows!"
But his frown soon gave way to a smile.
Archie's laughter was contagious, and Darwin found himself grinning too.
They both had to admit, that had been pretty great.

One thing they also agreed on was that the game wasn't over yet.
They just needed to find something or someone to "steal."
For a few moments, they studied the area, thinking about their next target.

Archie soon spotted what looked like a small food stand a little ways off.
There were a few customers eating there, while a Blue Heeler worked behind the counter.
An idea sparked in Archie's mind, and he quickly caught Darwin's attention.

"How about we grab those chips?"

"Oh, good! I was getting hungry anyway." Darwin glanced over, adjusting his hat with a playful smile, then made a funny face.
"Do you... have a plan this time?"

Archie looked surprised by the question, but gave a small smile.
"How about I distract her while you sneak around back and try to grab some? Sound good?"

Darwin just nodded in agreement.
Simple, but effective.

Archie and Darwin carefully approached the little "shop."
There were quite a few customers, those chips must be really good!
Archie even felt a bit hungry but quickly pushed the thought aside.
Darwin had already slipped away, sneaking around to the back.
Archie was going to go in front and try to distract the cook.
A tough job, but he was pretty good at chatting.

"Hi there!" Archie greeted the Blue Heeler with a wagging tail and a small wave.
He was hoping to make a friend, too. This plan was perfect.
"What are you making?"

She stopped frying fries as she noticed Archie, looking at him with mild surprise.
"Oh, hello! I'm selling chips and fish, but we're out of fish. So, it's just chips today."

"Got it." Archie blinked, nodding in understanding.
"My name's Archie! It's my first day here."

"I'm Bluey, nice to meet you!" The Blue Heeler looked a little excited, her tail wagging gently.
"Well, if you want fries, you'll need these little coins."
She showed him some small stones, which Archie guessed were the money.

"I don't have any money. How do I get some?" he asked, curious.
Maybe this would be better than just stealing fries.

"You gotta work for it," she answered, serious and direct.
Her tone shifted, suddenly acting like a boss.
"Do you know how to make fries?"

"Uh..." Archie thought about it, scratching his head.
That question caught him off guard.
The last time he tried to cook, he made a huge mess.
"Let's just say I'm not very experienced."

"Okay, you're hired." Bluey said without missing a beat, a reply that shocked Archie.

"W-Wait! I don't really know how to cook well," the Border Collie said, eyes wide, trying to explain himself.

Bluey just smiled gently.
"Ah, but you'll learn. Come on! You need to make fries for Chloe, Rusty, and Honey."
She moved away from the table, motioning for Archie to stay by her side.

Archie made a face, silently wishing for help.
He didn't know who those were, or even what exactly he was supposed to do.
His expression fell as he walked past the table and stood beside Bluey.
"So... how do we make chips?"

Bluey seemed happy to play boss, her smile and wagging tail made that clear.
She started showing Archie around the "kitchen."
"Alright, first you grab the potatoes-"
She stopped mid-sentence as she reached for the potatoes.
"Wait... where are the potatoes?!"

Her surprised shout made Archie swallow hard, feeling like his whole body froze.
He was getting so into Bluey's game that he forgot the plan he just made with Darwin.
This was going to get him into trouble.
"M-Maybe you put them somewhere else," he tried to come up with an excuse, anything to make her believe him.

"That doesn't make any sense! I swear I left them right here!"
Bluey was clearly confused, she had definitely placed her ingredients on the table.

As she bent down to look under the table, a strange silence filled the air again.
Archie, now curious, tried to see what she was looking at, until she suddenly screamed:

"A THIEF!!"
The shout made Archie jump, his ears shooting straight up.

Suddenly, Darwin popped out from under the table, holding what were supposed to be the potatoes.
He had a panicked expression, clearly realizing how much trouble he was in.
"Run, Archie! Let's get outta here!"

The Chihuahua bolted, leaving Bluey and Archie blinking at each other for a second.
Archie gave a nervous smile, and took off right after his friend.
He could've sworn he heard Bluey yelling behind them that she'd catch them.

The two raced outside, collapsing onto the grassy ground, totally out of breath.
Fresh air filled their lungs. They were panting, but laughing nonstop.
It had been a wild success.

Archie leaned back on his arms, still catching his breath.
"Wow... that was awesome."

"Haha! Yeah, I thought I was totally caught!"
Darwin grinned, holding the potato in one paw.
He glanced over at Archie with a playful smile.
"Nice job."

Archie chuckled and gave Darwin a soft punch on the shoulder.
"You did great too. Now we've got something to eat."

But that sentence made Darwin pause for a moment.
He looked a bit thoughtful, then handed the potato over to Archie.
Maybe he remembered something.

"Yeah... but we didn't get any treasure or anything valuable."
Darwin muttered as he stood up.

Archie blinked, catching what Darwin was getting at.
"Well... Bluey had money because she works, obviously,"
he said, glancing up at the blue sky scattered with clouds.
He was almost lost in thought when Darwin interrupted:

"That's it! Let's go steal her money next!"
There was no hiding Darwin's excitement. He really seemed to enjoy this thief role.

Archie just rolled his eyes.
He was definitely getting to know Darwin's personality by now.
But this time, he had to disagree.

"How about... we only steal from bad guys?"
Archie stood beside Darwin.
"Bluey just wants to cook. We could... maybe play with her instead."

"WHAT?!"
Darwin's reaction was total shock.
After all that effort to steal a potato, now Archie wanted to go back and play?

"Hahaha! Relax, I said maybe."
Archie laughed nervously, scratching behind his head.
"We could still play something else. But... being a thief is kinda tricky, especially when there's no police or anyone chasing you."

"Oh..."
Darwin seemed to calm down, crossing his arms and thinking about it.
Slowly, his tail began to wag.

"You're right... It was more fun when we were being chased. And yeah, there's no cool treasure to steal anyway."

"Now that's the spirit!"
They both nodded in agreement, and Archie smiled brightly.

"But you're the one who has to say sorry."
Darwin flashed a cheeky grin, clearly, he'd been planning that line.

Archie's eyes widened.
"Ugh..." That part wasn't so fun.
He let out a quiet grumble as he walked back into the school, pretty sure he could hear Darwin laughing behind him.

As they returned, the first thing they noticed was how empty the place looked, like everyone had been swept away by the wind, as if by a single breath.
Everyone, except for Bluey.

She stood there, staring at the potatoes she was preparing, her eyes glassy, like she was about to cry. The sight tugged at something inside Archie, something hard to describe. It just felt... bad.

He stepped forward slowly, a bit hesitant, with Darwin walking beside him. Though, the Chihuahua didn't seem to notice Bluey's mood, his face was neutral as ever.

"Hey..."
Archie broke the silence as he stepped in front of her. His voice caught her attention, but she didn't look pleased to see them.

"We came to give your potatoes back," he said softly, trying to smile to show some kind of sincerity.

Bluey, no longer looking quite so sad, folded her arms and narrowed her eyes.
"Oh yeah? And how do I know I can trust you? You stole from me!"

"Oh come on, it was just potatoes!" Darwin replied with a shrug.

"Darwin!"
Archie shot him a look, clearly annoyed.

"Alright, alright. Sorry."
Darwin mumbled, a bit embarrassed, eyes focused anywhere but on Bluey or Archie.

"Well... it's true. The potatoes must be really important to you," Archie continued, placing the potato back on the table with a heavy sigh.
"We just wanted to grab something... but I guess that doesn't make us very good thieves..."

Darwin opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it again, realizing it wasn't the right moment.

Bluey's expression softened just a little as she looked directly at Archie. A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, and before long, all three of their tails were gently wagging.

"Alright. I forgive you guys."

Archie and Darwin lit up with huge grins, ready to celebrate, until Bluey added:

"But... now you both have to work for me."

"Cool!"
"WHAT?!"
Archie and Darwin said at the same time.

Darwin looked horrified, absolutely floored by what she'd just said.

"I need customers," Bluey explained, lowering her gaze.
"After you two stole from me, everyone left..."
She then looked up again, her eyes determined, pointing straight at Archie.
"Archie, you're gonna be my cook. And my delivery guy. If you can handle it."

"Yes, ma'am!"
Archie gave a playful salute, clearly excited by the idea.

"Darwin."
She turned her serious look to the Chihuahua.
"I need you to find some fish. We're adding fish to the menu."

"Ugh, seriously?"
Darwin scrunched his face. He hadn't signed up for this! He only came along to help apologize... and now the whole "thief game" was turning into hard work.

Then he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder.

It was Archie, smiling that same side-smile again. Why did that always work? Darwin tried to resist, but his tail; the traitor, had already started wagging.

"Fiiiine..."
he muttered, trying not to grin.

"Alright! Let's get to work!"
Bluey cheered, now wearing a big smile of her own.

They all got to work.

Archie stayed with Bluey to learn more, and little by little, he started getting the hang of it, imagining what it'd be like to actually work in a real kitchen. Meanwhile, Darwin was off trying to find some fish, getting himself into all sorts of ridiculous trouble in the process.

Time flew by in the blink of an eye.
Before they knew it, several of Bluey's friends had gathered at the little fish-and-chips stand.

Indy, Coco, and Chloe sat at a table chatting about "mom stuff." Rusty and Mackenzie were at another table, playing with toy figures. Snickers stood at the counter, eyes wide with excitement as he waited for his order. Even the Terriers showed up, claiming they had an army to feed. Darwin really wanted to throw potatoes at them...

But best of all, Archie was finally opening up.
He was delivering orders, chatting with everyone, getting to know Bluey's friends, and slowly, he started to realize how much he actually had in common with some of them, or how unique each one was in their own way.
The world around him felt more alive than ever. Between the laughter, chatter, and smiles, Archie felt like he was surrounded by future best friends.

None of them had even noticed how fast the time had gone.

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It was time to go.

The afternoon sun was lazily dipping behind the clouds, casting soft golden light over the schoolyard. Archie sat near the entrance, with Darwin and Bluey by his side. They were still talking, still laughing, sharing how much fun the "restaurant" had been.

"Did you really threaten to throw potatoes at the Terriers?"
Bluey asked Darwin, giggling a bit.

"Yes!" Darwin huffed, folding his arms and closing his eyes proudly.
"They looked like they were gonna steal the potatoes..."
(Not that he'd admit he just wanted revenge.)

"Wow, what a role model you are!"
Archie joked, smirking.

They all burst into laughter, it was the kind of memory they knew they'd come back to someday with a smile.

Then they heard a honk in the distance. All three turned to look.

"Oh, that's my dad." Bluey said, getting up. She looked at the two boys, her tail wagging.
"This was super fun. I hope we can play again soon."

"As long as it doesn't involve chasing fish again..."
Darwin muttered, though deep down he didn't actually mind that much.

"Haha! We could try something else tomorrow. Anything sounds fun now,"
Archie suggested cheerfully.

"Alright then... Bye Darwin! Bye Archie!"
Bluey waved at them and ran toward Bandit, who was waiting for her.
Even from a distance, it looked like she was already excited to tell him about the two new friends she'd made today.

Archie sighed peacefully, letting himself sink into the moment. The warm sunlight lit up his fur, and the soft breeze brushing against him brought a quiet comfort. It was rare for everything to feel this calm, and yet, a deep happiness bubbled inside him, one that made his heart feel full.

That is, until Darwin broke the silence.

"Today was actually really fun, wasn't it?"

"Huh?"
Archie turned to look at him, a bit surprised by the sudden question.

"I thought I was gonna be bored... with no one to hang out with,"
Darwin said, lowering his voice a bit. He shrank into himself slightly, but smiled.
"But then you found a way to make everything fun. Even a game I didn't really plan out."

"What? You did come up with the game!"
Archie sat up, crossing his legs. Darwin was being weirdly sentimental all of a sudden.

"Yeah, but I only did it so I wouldn't look lame."
Darwin rolled his eyes, half-laughing, half-annoyed at himself.
"I had no idea how to actually make the game fun. Then you went and came up with that dumb idea about storming a castle."

He chuckled, and despite himself, couldn't stop remembering the Terriers again.

"Well, your plan wasn't that great either," Archie said, shrugging with a laugh.

"Yeah, I didn't really know how to storm a castle," Darwin chuckled, then added,
"And then you said we should give back what we stole and play with Bluey... and it wasn't bad. I actually made some friends. I didn't feel so... boring."

The sincerity in Darwin's voice hit something in Archie. He gave a crooked smile and placed a hand on Darwin's back.

"I don't think you're boring. You're actually really fun. You're my first real friend."

That one simple sentence lit up Darwin's face. This time, he didn't hide his smile.

"Haha! Thanks, Archie. You're my first real friend too."
Darwin gave him a few friendly pats on the back.

"You're welcome."
Archie had to admit, Darwin had his own grumpy way of doing things, but right now, he was definitely his best friend.

"Anyway, we should come up with something fun to do tomorrow."
Darwin quickly shifted the subject.
"But I swear, I'm not playing restaurant again. I'm officially quitting! Sorry, buddy, but I resign."
He crossed his arms with a mock grumpy face.

"We can think about that tomorrow. It wasn't that bad-"

"Archie!"

A voice called out, one that Archie recognized immediately. His ears perked up as he turned to look.

It was him.
His dad.

Standing a few meters away was a tall Border Collie in a police uniform and hat. His badge read: "Marlow."

"Dad!"
Archie jumped to his feet and ran straight toward him, wrapping his arms around him in a tight, heartfelt hug, almost knocking the officer over.

"Haha, good to see you full of energy," Marlow laughed, hugging him back.
"Ready to head home?" he asked, ruffling the fur on his son's head.

"Yeah!" Archie beamed.
But before leaving, he ran back to Darwin and held out his paw.

"See you tomorrow, Darwin!"

The little Chihuahua had just been quietly watching the moment from afar with a small smile. He was a bit surprised, but of course, didn't leave Archie hanging. He reached out and gave him a big ol' bear grip.

"Aha! See you tomorrow!"

With that brief goodbye, Archie ran back to his dad and hopped into the back seat of the car. As they pulled away from the school, Archie watched out the window. Slowly, the school disappeared from view.

"So... how was your day?"
Marlow asked, eyes on the road but clearly eager to hear about it.

Archie broke into a wide smile.
"I made friends! Lots of them! Darwin, Bluey, Rusty, Indy, Chloe..."
He went on listing names, excitedly telling his dad everything that had happened.

The whole ride home was filled with stories, each more animated than the last.
Marlow just listened, smiling quietly to himself, happy to see his son so cheerful again. It had been a while.

When they got home, the first thing Archie did was run straight into his mom's arms with a joyful hug. And at that moment, a thought popped into his head.

A phrase his mother had told him earlier that morning.

She had been right.

He had a big heart.

Chapter Text

The morning sun streamed through the bedroom window, lighting up the walls covered in posters of cartoons. Archie was sprawled out on the floor, surrounded by toys and open notebooks, enjoying a rare day without school.

It had been a week since he’d started at his new school. In that time, he and Darwin had really become best friends, doing almost everything together. Even though Darwin could be a bit short-tempered with others, in the end he went along with the fun.

Of course, there was also Bluey. She was very pleasant and fun to talk to, even if last time she had suggested playing “mommy and daddy” and Darwin hadn’t liked being the baby at all. There hadn’t been any fight or argument, probably thanks to Archie calming his friend down.

Then there were Rusty, Jack, and Mackenzie, who, by the way, was also a Border Collie. They didn’t have as much in common as Archie had hoped, but they still had fun together.

Now, however, Archie faced a real challenge: boredom. He hadn’t expected a day without school to leave him so restless. Darwin said he was going out with his parents, while the rest of the gang, well, Archie hadn’t been invited to anyone’s house. So the only thing left for him was to stay home.

His room was perfectly quiet, as if not even the chirping birds outside could cheer him up. He tried playing with his action figures, a robot versus a dinosaur. The battle was fierce in his imagination, but it only distracted him for a few minutes. Archie let out a vague sigh, lying down on the floor with a bored expression.

Would this day really be that dull?

The moment was interrupted by the creak of the door opening. It was his mom, holding a broom as she looked around. She wore an apron a little stained with dirt. Her gaze finally landed on Archie, still on the floor, not reacting much.

“Archie? Are you okay?” she asked, walking lightly over to the little Border Collie. She knelt down to be at his level, her expression curious.

Archie sighed.
“I’m just… bored. There was no school today, and I wanted to play with my friends, but it feels like there’s nothing fun to do,” he murmured, sitting up slightly, curling in a bit.

“What are you talking about, sweetie? It’s such a beautiful day! Perfect for playing.” She smiled softly, now fully understanding her son’s situation, and gave him a gentle pat on the head. “You used to have so much fun playing alone. Why not try again?”

“It’s different now. I have friends, it’s much more fun with them.” And indeed, Archie enjoyed himself so much more with Darwin and the others. Playing alone now felt so dull, especially since there weren’t any new games.

“Oh, Archie…” His mom chuckled lightly, not because it was funny, but because she found her son adorable. She stood up, keeping a confident smile. “How about you go outside for a bit? I’m sure you’ll find something to keep you busy.”

Archie blinked, looking toward the window. Indeed, the sun poured through the curtain slits, revealing a bright day. Maybe he’d been so bored from spending too much time in a quiet, dull room. He needed some activity. His mom’s suggestion brought a bright smile to his face, and he eagerly got to his feet.

“Okay! I’ll go play outside! Can I take my cars?” he asked. The idea of racing his toy cars seemed fun in his head.

“Of course, sweetie. Just don’t forget, it’s just in the backyard,” his mom replied, half playfully, half strictly. She didn’t want Archie thinking he could go to the park or anywhere else. It was just the backyard.

The Border Collie nodded in understanding. Quickly gathering only his favorite race cars, Archie jumped up, too excited to waste any time. He ran outside, laughing, without even saying goodbye to his mom.

The same one who had stayed in the room just rolled her eyes, a soft smile lingering on her face. She was used to her son’s behavior; it wasn’t the first time. In the silence of the bedroom, Archie’s mom just looked at the mess in the room, toys and drawings scattered across the floor.

“Well… time to clean up.” She huffed, taking advantage of the broom already in her hands. Today really was a perfect day for cleaning.

════════════════════════════════════

Archie was already in the backyard. The feeling of the short, soft grass under his paws made him laugh, filling him with energy to run. The space was wide, surrounded by a light wooden fence showing a few worn spots from age. There was a small gap in the fence that led to the other side. His dad had promised to fix it, but nothing had been done so far.

In the right corner, a sturdy tree stood out, its branches casting shade on the ground and holding a tire tied with a thick rope, serving as an improvised swing. His dad had made it for a game called “Astronaut Swing,” where the tire was their spaceship and they had to travel to different planets. It was fun.

The rest of the backyard was just a large open space, perfect for Archie to do whatever he wanted. His parents said they would eventually put in a pool for the hot summer days. Until then, Archie had this vast space to play in.

“Let’s get our pilots ready!” Archie flopped onto the grassy ground, kneeling. He had two cars. The first was red, long and narrow, like a Formula 1 car. The second was blue, sturdier, with a tall body and wide wheels, more like a rally car.

Archie made engine noises with his mouth, trying to make it feel more realistic. In his head, he marked exactly where the finish line was: the fence. There were no obstacles in the way, nothing too complicated for him to imagine. Just a straight track.

“3… 2… 1…” The countdown. His tail wagged slowly like a timer, counting down to the right moment. Until… “GO!!”

The cars shot forward over the grass, pushed by Archie’s paws with all the strength he could muster. The red one slid straight, though it wobbled a bit over the uneven terrain. The blue one, sturdier, picked up speed steadily, as if it had really been made for this kind of surface. Archie’s eyes followed both closely, his mouth making engine and tire sounds.

The red car hit a small bump in the grass and veered slightly to the right, while the blue one stayed steady in a straight line. The finish line—the old wooden fence—approached quickly.

“Go! Go! Go!” Archie shouted, not knowing which one would win.

He cheered as the two cars raced toward the finish line. The red one, unstable at first, regained speed in the last moments. The blue one remained steady, but a bump made it lose momentum seconds before reaching the fence.

With one last push from Archie, the red car shot ahead, and to his surprise, it went straight through the small gap in the worn fence, disappearing to the other side.

“What?!” Archie’s eyes widened as he ran to the fence. He tried to peek through the gap, but all he could see was the toy stopped in the neighbor’s yard, out of his reach.

His tail, once wagging with excitement from the race, slowly dropped. The thrill of the game vanished in seconds.

“Oh no…” he murmured, leaning his paws against the fence, looking dejected. He didn’t know if the neighbors were home, and he would follow his mom’s words faithfully. He wouldn’t leave this backyard.

Archie shrank down, as if on the verge of tears. Things hadn’t gone the way he had planned. What could he do now? Maybe he’d have to call for his mom.

But then, something unexpected happened.

The car rolled back through the same gap in the fence, moving on its own, almost like magic. Archie’s eyes widened, fixed on the toy that stopped right in front of his paws.

Before he could even process it, a voice echoed from the other side of the fence:

“Hey… that car’s yours, right?”

Archie slowly lifted his head. On the other side, a Tibetan Mastiff puppy was watching him. He was the same age as Archie, but much bigger. His thick, reddish coat fell over his face, almost completely covering his eyes. Still, the wide smile clearly showed his friendly expression. The stranger leaned on the fence, looking over it.

Archie blinked a few times, still not believing the car had come back to him. With his paw, he nudged the toy closer, as if to make sure it really was his.

“D-did you do that?” he asked, lifting his snout toward the huge figure on the other side of the fence.

The Mastiff tilted his head, a serene smile forming on his lips.
“I just returned it. It had ended up in my yard.”

Archie’s eyes widened.
“Wow! You’re… really big!”

He let out a short, calm laugh.
“I know. People say that a lot. My parents say it’s genetics…”

The Border Collie relaxed a little and wagged his tail, still keeping some distance.
“I’ve never seen you around here before.”

“Yeah, I stay inside more.” The Mastiff said casually. He really sounded so calm, despite being so massive.

Archie tilted his head, curiosity growing.
“And you’re alone out there?”

“I live with my parents. They’re inside, tidying up.” The Mastiff smiled again. He hadn’t paid much attention to Archie’s question and shrugged. “And you? You seemed to be having a lot of fun.”

Archie immediately brightened, holding up both cars for his neighbor to see.
“I was! I was having a race. This one’s the red car, the fastest of them all, and this blue one can take anything.”

The Mastiff leaned closer to the fence, trying to get a better look at the toys. Archie wondered if he could even see through all that fur.
“They look pretty strong. Who won the race?”

Archie made a face, remembering what had happened.
“The red one… but it ended up going through that hole and landed in your yard.”

“So it was a really close race.” He chuckled softly. “I guess I’ll have to watch the next one.”

Archie grinned from ear to ear, feeling more at ease.
“You can watch, sure! Or better yet… you can even race with me, if you want!”

The Mastiff nodded in approval, calm and comfortable as he responded.
“I’d love to. By the way, my name’s Shake.”

“Shake? That reminds me of Milkshake!” Archie exclaimed with a light laugh. “I’m Archie.”

Shake tilted his head, looking a bit confused.
“I’ve never really thought about my name… anyway, nice to meet you.” He said as he climbed over the fence.

With an awkward jump, the Mastiff leapt over the fence. Archie stepped back, surprised by just how big he looked up close.

“Wow… you’re really huge!” he said, looking him up and down. Shake was almost as tall as his mom.

“I know.” Shake smiled naturally, brushing the dust off his paws. “But I promise I won’t crush your cars.”

Archie laughed, completely relaxing. He held out both cars to his new friend.
“Okay, let’s race again! This time, you pick which one is yours.”

“Hm…” Shake studied the choices like it was a very important decision, deciding within seconds. “I’ll take the blue one. People always say blue is the color of champions.”

Archie blinked.
“Really? Who says that?”

“The… the car scientists,” Shake replied without hesitation, with the utmost seriousness.

Archie’s eyes widened, impressed.
“That’s a real thing?”

“Of course.” Shake nodded. “They study the wheels, the engines, and… the color that makes the car fastest. It’s proven.”

Archie thought about it for a few seconds, then laughed, wagging his tail.
“Hah! I knew blue was good!” He believed what Shake said, it seemed like very true information.

The two crouched down on the grass, lining up their cars side by side. Archie pointed toward the fence, as he always did.
“Finish line: there! Ready?”

“Ready,” Shake replied with a wide grin, already getting into the mood.

They counted together.
“Three… two… one… GO!”

Their paws pushed the cars, which sped across the grass. Archie leaned forward, almost lying on the ground, while Shake clapped softly, excited. The red car shot ahead, but the blue one held steady, almost reaching the fence alongside it.

“I won!” Archie shouted, jumping for joy.

“Almost a tie, huh?” Shake laughed, scratching his ear. “Must be because the wind’s helping the red one today.”

Archie raised an eyebrow, pausing his celebration.
“The wind?”

“Yes, of course,” Shake explained, gesturing like it was obvious. “The wind always blows stronger for warm colors. It’s physics.”

Archie blinked several times, trying to understand. He didn’t even know what physics meant.
“You’re serious?”

“Yes,” Shake confirmed, arms crossed, not emphasizing his point much.

Archie seemed somewhat convinced by what Shake said. Actually, he found him brilliant for knowing all this. Cars weren’t exactly his favorite thing, but learning more about them was fun.
“I think I’ll have a red car when I grow up!”

“They’re pretty cool.” Shake nodded before looking around more at Archie’s backyard. “Hey… what about that swing over there? Looks fun.” He pointed to the tire tied to a tree branch.

Archie followed his gaze and smiled broadly.
“Oh! That’s the swing my dad made. We can play Astronaut Swing if you want.”

“Hm… I’ve never piloted a spaceship before,” murmured the Mastiff, walking toward the tire.

“Then today will be your first time!” Archie exclaimed, running ahead of Shake.

The tire was big for a puppy, but for Shake, it might not have been ideal. Neither of them thought about that—they were just focused on the fun of the swing. Archie stood in front of the swing, striking a pose like he was presenting something.

“Here it is! The Astronaut Swing!”

Shake approached, looking at the tire tied with the thick, slightly worn rope. He smiled, a little skeptical.
“This looks tighter than a real spaceship.”

“Well, it’s made for short trips and only one passenger! Just get in!” Archie said excitedly, patting the tire. “Then just hold on tight.”

With a slightly clumsy move, the Mastiff fit himself into the tire, feeling a bit squished but laughing at the situation.
“I don’t think this spaceship was made for giants like me.”

Archie positioned himself behind Shake and tried to push. He put all his strength into it, his whole body trembling… but the tire barely moved. He looked at it in disbelief.
“Uff… you’re… way too heavy!”

Shake laughed loudly, the tire moving only a few inches from Archie’s minimal effort. He tried not to wag his tail, finding the situation hilarious.
“Okay then, let’s activate the thrusters!”

Determined, Archie crouched down, planted his paws firmly on the ground, and pushed with all his strength. This time, the tire moved slowly at first, then began to swing back and forth. Gradually, the speed increased, and Shake was carried along by the motion. The Border Collie stepped back, watching in awe.

“Wheee!” the Mastiff shouted, lifting his paws as if he were really flying through space. “I’m orbiting Mars!”

Archie laughed, jumping around the tree, caught up in the excitement.
“I told you! The Astronaut Swing is amazing! I want my turn soon!”

But then, a sharp snap echoed. CRACK!

The old rope suddenly gave way. The tire plummeted with Shake inside, landing right on the grass. The impact kicked up a small puff of green dust, but nothing serious.

Archie put his paws to his face, alarmed.
“SHAKE!!!” He ran over, concern washing away all the excitement in an instant.

The Mastiff lay there for a few seconds, then raised a paw theatrically.
“This is Commander Shake reporting: emergency landing successful.” He laughed a little, not a scratch on him.

“Wow, are you okay?” Archie asked, chuckling at his friend’s dramatics. His tail wagged slowly, still a little off from the excitement.

Shake stood up slowly, shaking the grass and dust from his fur.
“Didn’t even feel it. Just a little space turbulence,” he said with a wide grin. “But I think this ship needs some repairs.”

Archie looked at the loose rope on the branch and nodded, still laughing.
“Yeah… or a new rope.”

The two of them burst out laughing again, lying side by side on the grass, as if the fall had been just part of the fun.

Archie lay there for a few seconds, staring up at the blue sky, feeling the sun warm his fur. A gentle silence hung between them, as if there was nothing else to do at that exact moment. He sighed quietly, almost without realizing it, and said softly:
“You know… I was kind of bored today. Not sure why. But… this was really fun!” He looked at Shake with a smile, letting himself relax.

Shake turned his head, resting one paw on his face. He seemed a little more serious, though his bangs still covered his eyes.
“Heh, I get it… I spend a lot of time alone too.” He spoke calmly, a slightly different tone than before. “I’m… kind of lonely. Most of the time, I end up making things up to entertain myself, and I’m not lying! Just saying.”

That made both of them laugh softly. Of course, it wasn’t made up—they both believed it and found it funny.

“I didn’t expect today to be different. I thought I’d just lie on the grass like always, but then a car ran me over.” Shake said dramatically, still smiling. “I went to see who was responsible… and it was my neighbor and… friend.”

Archie chuckled quietly at that, lying on his side and looking at the Mastiff still leaning on the grass.
“Of course! Neighbors and friends,” he exclaimed joyfully, with that contagious smile. “And also… no tires next time.”

“Get a bigger spaceship!” Shake added, laughing now as he held his belly. His laughter made Archie laugh too.

That brief moment of laughter was broken when Archie heard a familiar voice.
“Archie! Who’s out there in the yard?” It was his mom, stopping on the porch.

He jumped up quickly, pointing at Shake with the widest smile he could manage.
“Oh, this is Shake! He lives on the other side of the fence, he’s our neighbor! We were just playing a bit…” His tail wagged slowly, hoping his mom would understand.

Shake stood up, brushing the grass off his fur once more, then gave Archie’s mom a little wave.
“Hi!”

With the response she needed, she seemed more relaxed, smiling gently at the two of them.
“That’s great! And since you’re out there… I just wanted to let you know I made some cookies. How about having a few?”

Archie’s eyes lit up immediately.
“Really? Then come on, Shake!” he said, running toward the door and looking back at his friend. “You can eat with us!”

Shake hesitated for a moment, scratching his chin.
“Ah… I’ll just ask my parents quickly… and then, maybe I’ll come grab a few!” he said, smiling lightly at the end.

Understanding, Archie just nodded.
“Alright! But if you take too long, I’ll have eaten them all.”

The Mastiff laughed, shaking his fur as he walked away. He retraced the same path, jumping over the fence like a little sheep. From a distance, you could see him running back to his house to tell his parents.

════════════════════════════════════

Back inside, Archie was munching on some cookies at the kitchen table. They were ginger cookies—his mom was really good at baking! The Border Collie ate happily, bringing a smile to his mother’s face.

“So, did you like the friend you made today?” she asked, curious, not getting many details once they had come inside.

Archie chewed a bit of cookie, careful not to speak with his mouth full to avoid complaints from his mom.
“Yes! Shake is really cool and knows a lot of things. He said red cars are faster because of the wind, something about physics.”

“Oh.” She made a little face, looking a bit puzzled. “I didn’t know that, your friend must really understand that stuff.”

“Uh-huh! He also said he makes up lots of things when he’s alone… to have fun.” Archie murmured softly, with a look his mom understood well.

“Well, when we’re alone, we’re really creative and invent things that only our imagination can create,” Archie’s mom said, with a knowing smile. “And you know what? That’s totally normal. It’s how we grow, learn to have fun, and discover new ideas.”

Hearing that, Archie gave a small, thoughtful smile.
“And when we invent and do things together, it’s much better, isn’t it?”

“Exactly.” She came closer to her son, giving him a gentle pat on the head. Imagining and creating was one of the best parts of life.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, making Archie jump up from his chair immediately.

“It must be Shake!” he exclaimed, running laughing to the door, barely touching the floor in his excitement.

He opened the door to find Shake on the other side, tail wagging and a huge grin on his face.
“Hi, Archie!” Shake said, waving to his friend. “My parents let me come have some cookies… oh, and they also asked if they could meet your parents sometime.”

Archie left the door slightly open for Shake to come in, his excitement clear.
“Cool! My parents would love to meet yours too.”

Once Shake entered, the two of them headed to the kitchen to eat cookies. Shake politely greeted Archie’s mom, being very modest. Again, the two shared laughs and conversations over the snack.

“Did you know eating ginger cookies makes your fur orange?” Shake commented, clearly joking.

Archie just smiled lightly, crumbs on his mouth. He remembered what his mom had said and let his imagination run, believing Shake’s playful comment. Of course, it was fun.
“Really?”

And so, they spent the entire afternoon talking, until the day came to an end. Once again, Archie had made a new friend.

Chapter Text

It was another beautiful afternoon in Brisbane, with a clear blue sky and a few white clouds drifting lazily. The sun gently warmed the backyard, and a soft breeze stirred the leaves on the trees. It was a perfect day.

A few weeks had passed since Archie had met Shake, and the Border Collie was no longer as bored as before. Of course, Shake’s creative ideas often made him laugh and think; sometimes, he even believed the things Shake said.

At school, things were going well. Darwin seemed more relaxed than ever, getting closer to Rusty and Jack. They had planned to play army at some point, naturally with Darwin wanting to be the sergeant. Rusty said he had to go through training first and be approved as a soldier, then things just stopped there.

But after all, what was so special about today?

Archie had finally managed to convince his parents to let his friends come over on a specific weekend. Marlow suggested a family barbecue, but with Archie’s input, the idea ended up sounding much more exciting.

He managed to invite Darwin’s family and Shake’s, and to his surprise, his father had also invited a work colleague, which made Archie quite curious. He rarely heard much about his father’s work, but it was nice that he had friends too.

Archie helped his mother a little around the house while his father tried to handle the grill in the backyard.

“Darling, are you sure you don’t need some help?” She walked over to her husband, a hint of worry in her eyes. She knew well that, given past events, it wasn’t a good idea to leave him alone with the grill.

The Border Collie, on the other hand, just shot him a sidelong glance, paired with a confident, almost cocky smile.
“Haze, look at my apron.”

With a dramatic flourish, Marlow turned around, revealing the dark fabric emblazoned in white letters: Best Chef. He pointed to his chest with his thumb, still wearing that goofy grin.

Haze raised an eyebrow, pressing her lips together to keep from laughing. “An apron bought downtown isn’t exactly a certificate of skill, love. Do you remember the last time?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Marlow…” Haze sighed, putting her hands on her hips. “The hot dog flew off the grill straight into the neighbor’s yard. And it wasn’t just once.”

Marlow laughed nervously, avoiding Haze’s eyes. He always got scared when she said his name.
“W-Well, few could pull that off.”

“There was also that time you burned the meat!” Archie exclaimed as he came up beside his mother, his tail wagging just at the memory of that hilarious day.

“Archie!!” Marlow shouted, though a corner of his mouth curved in a smile. “Whose side are you on? Mine or your mother’s?”

“I’m on the side of the meat!” He pointed toward the grill, making sure his father paid attention.

Haze gently ruffled her son’s hair, then turned back to Marlow with a look of mild disapproval.
“I agree with him. Today, we want a great barbecue with our neighbors. No little shows or burnt meat.”

With the words of the two people his father loved most, Marlow lifted the spatula like a sword, staring forward theatrically.
“Very well. I shall make this the best barbecue of your lives.”

“Yay!” Archie cheered, throwing his arms in the air. He was already excited for his friends to arrive, but now it was going to be the best barbecue ever.

Speaking of which, the sound of the doorbell rang out from the front door. Someone had arrived.

“It must be Shake!” Archie exclaimed happily. He dashed inside without a second thought, eager to see.

“Wait a minute, Archie!” Laughing a little at her son’s boldness, Haze strolled calmly back toward the house. But before going inside, she paused for a moment, giving her husband a deadly glare. “If you mess up today… you’re sleeping on the couch.”

“Gulp-” Marlow swallowed hard at his wife’s threat, eyes tense on the grill as if his life depended on it.

════════════════════════════════════

Reaching the door to greet Shake and his family, Archie didn’t hesitate. He threw the door wide open in an exaggerated gesture.
“Welcome, welcome to my home!” he announced, in a manner reminiscent of a butler.

Indeed, it was Shake and his parents who had arrived. If Archie said Shake was big, his parents seemed like giants!

Shake’s father had dark fur mixed with golden tones, giving him an imposing, elegant appearance. But what caught the eye most were his eyes, a striking, almost glowing light blue.

His mother had red fur like Shake’s. The resemblance between them was striking, if not for her bangs, which fell over only one eye. Her eyes, in turn, were a pale yellow.

Shake broke the few seconds of silence with a wave and a silly comment.
“Wow, fancy welcome… feels like I should be buying a ticket.”

Behind them, Shake’s parents laughed quietly, greeting Haze, who soon arrived among them.

“It’s so good to see you, Alasker and Saffron,” Haze said kindly, placing a hand on Archie’s shoulder. “It’s been a while… I still need to thank you for the curry recipe you gave me.”

“Aww, no need to thank us, Haze,” Saffron replied warmly. Since Archie and Shake had become friends, their families had really grown close, even sharing recipes and gossip.

“Actually, we should be the ones thanking you for the invite,” Alasker said in his turn, his voice rough but gentle. He held out a medium-sized jar to Haze. “We brought some sausages, if you don’t mind.”

Haze smiled at the gesture, taking the jar carefully.
“Of course I don’t mind! Quite the opposite, thank you. They’ll be perfect for the barbecue. Come in, my husband’s in the backyard.” Haze invited them inside, walking further into the house.

The couple entered cheerfully, while Shake and Archie lingered nearby.

“It’s nice to see our parents getting along,” Archie said, closing the door.

Shake just nodded in agreement.
“My parents didn’t have many friends either, they were really happy when they found out I made one.”

“Yeah, you told me that.” Archie patted Shake on the back a few times, even struggling a little to reach.

“Aha! I just haven’t told you much about my parents,” Shake said with a smile, hands on his hips, a funny story in mind. “My dad says he scares a lot of people at his job, and he’s just in delivery.”

“Oh! He’s a mailman?”

“No, no, he’s a packer,” Shake replied. “A lot of people keep their distance from him, even though it’s a simple job. But he doesn’t complain, says it’s better that way.”

Why did that sound so sad? Archie frowned as Shake spoke. It wasn’t… fair, what his dad went through.
“I get it… well, my dad’s a cop, but he doesn’t talk much about work. He just says it’s tiring.” He shrugged, it was hard to get back to talking with his dad like before.

“Wow, that’s cool! Did you know cops can’t arrest other cops?” Shake said, completely out of the blue.

“Really?” Of course, innocent Archie believed him, and even now he wanted to ask his dad about it.

he doorbell rang again, interrupting the brief conversation. Archie dashed to the door with the same excitement as before, opening it quickly. There stood Darwin and his mother.

Darwin’s mother bore a strong resemblance to her son. Her cream-colored fur had facial markings that looked like freckles. She wore earrings on her large ears and carried a noticeably tired expression.

“Heyyy, Archie!” Darwin exclaimed, hugging his best friend. It was his first time at Archie’s house, and he could barely hide his joy.

Archie returned the hug, giving it a tight squeeze. Even though they were best friends, it was a shame they only saw each other at school. Now, at his own home, he wanted to make the most of it.
“I’m so glad you came… I was starting to get nervous,” he said, stepping back from the hug, though he didn’t really want to let go.

Darwin adjusted his hat, chuckling at the comment.
“And miss a barbecue? No way-” He paused mid-sentence, noticing what was behind Archie. A mountain! He pointed toward Shake, indignant. “Archie, there’s a giant behind you!”

“Darwin!” the Chihuahua’s mother scolded, annoyed at her son’s words. “Be respectful to others!”

“Oops… Sorry, Mom.” The shocked expression disappeared instantly as he shrank back, trying to avoid a scolding.

“It’s okay,” Shake interjected, with that goofy smile of his. He wagged his tail slowly as he extended a hand to Darwin.
“I’m Shake! I’m Archie’s neighbor.”

For a moment, Darwin gave the Tibetan Mastiff a suspicious look, clearly uncomfortable. Yet, he shook his hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Darwin, Archie’s best friend.”

The mention of being best friends made Archie’s tail wag without him noticing. For a moment, he even forgot to greet Darwin’s mother.
“Oh, ma’am… My parents are in the backyard. If you want, I can show you the way.”

“No need to guide me, Archie. And please, call me Velvet.” She gave the small Border Collie a warm smile as she entered the house, occasionally glancing back at her son with a warning tone: “Darwin, be respectful to your friends and don’t do anything wrong. Understood?”

“Y-Yes, Mom!” He straightened up, as if he’d forgotten the distrust he felt toward Shake.

Archie watched and laughed quietly at his friend’s composure. His mother seemed strict, but kind.

Finally, Velvet made her way to the backyard, navigating the house’s corridors effortlessly.

“So… what did your mom bring for the barbecue?” Shake changed the subject.

“She brought salad. Kind of figured you’d be bringing meat, so she wanted to add something healthier,” Darwin murmured, relaxing again.

“Egh! Salad? No tomatoes, right?” Shake made a dramatic face of disgust, stepping back.

Darwin frowned, incredulous at the Mastiff’s words.
“Seriously, you don’t like salad? And tomatoes are one of the best parts!” Darwin exclaimed, almost dropping his hat.

Shake just shook his head in disagreement. The Chihuahua gawked, looking at Archie with open arms, as if this were impossible.

“Well, I don’t like broccoli.” The Border Collie shrugged. He wasn’t taking sides.

Darwin’s eyes widened.
“You don’t like broccoli?! Do you even know what you’re saying?”

“Look, I’m not a sheep to eat grass,” Shake retorted, crossing his arms and puffing out his chest, utterly self-assured.

“Tomatoes and broccoli aren’t grass!” Darwin waved his arms in irritation, genuinely upset.
“My mom says they help you grow.”

Shake fell silent for a few seconds. He looked at himself, then at Archie with a neutral expression, and finally faced Darwin with a sly little grin.
“I think that’s a lie.”

"WHAT?!” Darwin exclaimed, jaw dropping.

“Yeah, because… I’m way bigger than you, and Archie’s a little taller too.” Shake was starting to piece things together, sending a wave of mild annoyance toward Darwin.

Growling low, Darwin clearly didn’t take a liking to Shake. He seemed to imply that his mom had lied to him.
“Archie, do you think what he’s saying is true?”

“Hey! Why do I have to get dragged into this?” The Border Collie laughed nervously, being a little too clueless to notice the tension. “My parents say I should eat my veggies because they help me grow and-”

“Aha! I knew it. You’re the one lying!” Darwin pointed at Shake with a triumphant grin.

“Pffft, alright, maybe they do help you grow,” Shake held back a laugh. “I guess if I ate a ton of vegetables, I’d be even bigger than I am now.”

“You could be bigger than our parents!” Archie added, imagining the thought.

Darwin didn’t seem so thrilled, crossing his arms and staring off in another direction. Unlike the other two, he had none of their energy or humor, taking the conversation far too seriously.

Archie noticed and moved to his friend’s side.
“You two should open a restaurant just to argue about food.” He nudged Darwin’s shoulder, planting an idea.

“Ooooh! I’d make a restaurant only for meats! Sausages… meatloaf…” Shake’s tail wagged at the thought, almost smelling the food in his imagination.

“Good idea.” Darwin replied quickly, resting his hand on his chin as if thoughtfully considering it. “I’ll take the salad section, since someone here clearly doesn’t know what flavor is.”

“And I’ll be the judge!” Archie clapped once, as if the matter were settled. The best part was, they had just come up with the perfect game.

The three of them laughed together, but the doorbell rang again, echoing through the house. Archie jumped as if startled. The trio stared at the door.
“Ahhh, it must be my dad’s coworker!” Archie said calmly.

Shake tilted his head with a small grin.
“Think he’s bringing food too? Because… you know… I’m hungry.” He rubbed his little belly.

“Dude, why don’t you just go to the barbecue then?” Darwin raised an eyebrow at the question.

“Because I want to hang out with you guys too, Dewin.”

“IT’S DARWIN!” The Chihuahua snapped, growling at Shake again.

Archie pretended not to hear their argument and turned the doorknob, revealing a Bernese Mountain Dog couple standing at the door. The male gave a friendly smile, voice firm but warm.

“You must be Archie, right? I’m Ross, a friend of your dad’s.” Ross Bernese introduced himself, bending down slightly to be at Archie’s height.

Archie left the door slightly open, his tail wagging in happiness at meeting him.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you- Wait, my dad talks about me at work?”

“Oh, he talks,” Ross chuckled at the question. “Your dad talks a lot about his family, especially about you. Says you’re a very energetic kid.”

Archie frowned, trying to understand what energetic meant, this word didn’t exist in his mind. But he didn’t press the matter further.

Ross stood up again, glancing back.
“This is my wife, Nora.”

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you.” Nora waved to the trio, giving a warm smile. But behind her, something seemed off.

After his wife introduced herself, Ross stepped slightly aside, making room for another to appear.
“And we also have our son… How about you introduce yourself, Cooper?” Ross said with a confident smile.

Chapter Text

“Archie, are you sure about this?” Darwin asked, walking alongside the Border Collie.

“Of course, Darwin.” Archie replied with a smile on his face. “I promised Rusty and Jack we'd play army with them.”

It was a normal morning for the two friends. The sun shone gently on the playground of Glasshouse Primary School, while a cool breeze rustled the grass on the small hill they were walking down. From there, they could already see Jack and Rusty ahead.

Darwin, however, did not share his friend's enthusiasm. He still remembered, with some discomfort, the time he was Bluey's “pony.” Why was she so heavy?! The Chihuahua looked downcast. He preferred to play only with Archie, where they were free to make up their own rules.

“Why do we have to play with them? We could play army just the two of us.” The Chihuahua still insisted. He was convinced that this was a terrible idea.

“But it'll be much more fun together!” Archie replied excitedly, adjusting his backpack. “Rusty knows a lot about the army. His dad serves, you know?”

“Ugh... okay...” Darwin muttered, his ears drooping. He had never played army before, and the idea of obeying rules that weren't his seemed stressful. He had to try to have fun.

Soon they reached where Rusty and Jack were. The Red Kelpie was organizing the “equipment” inside the backpack, while Jack ran to greet them.

“Recruits! You're right on time!” he exclaimed, raising his paw to his forehead and saluting. He was so excited that his tail was wagging subtly.

Archie laughed and imitated the gesture enthusiastically. Darwin, on the other hand, just rolled his eyes, making his impatience clear.

“Are we going to have to be recruits?” Archie asked, still saluting.

“Yes, you need to go through basic training before you can become soldiers,” Jack replied without hesitation, happy to have more companions to play with.

Training? Darwin raised his eyebrow, looking at the horizon. Ahead, there was only bush. Were they going to have to go in there? Before he could ask, Rusty's firm voice echoed:

“Attention!”

The change was immediate. Archie and Jack stood up straight as if they were in front of a real commander. Darwin stumbled a little, but soon imitated their posture.

“To the left, march!” Rusty ordered.

Jack and Archie obeyed immediately, marching with firm steps. Darwin sighed but followed along, trying to keep up.

“Now right, march!” Rusty shouted. The three obeyed, almost in sync. “Halt! And... salute!”

The little ones raised their hands in salute. Archie and Jack barely hid the smiles escaping from the corners of their mouths, while Darwin felt his stomach churn. He was nervous. Had he done it right?

Then Rusty relaxed his expression. His rigid posture gave way to a satisfied smile, and his tail wagged freely.

“Very good, recruits!” he declared proudly. “I see you're ready to play.”

Darwin breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, he felt good about those words, but then he remembered what he was playing at, forcing a grimace to try to hide his unexpected satisfaction.

Rusty continued, adjusting the hat on his head. “Before you become real soldiers, you'll have to go through basic training. I'll be the sergeant, and you can ask Private Jack for tips. But first... put on your hats, recruits!”

“Yes, Sergeant!” Archie replied, opening his backpack with a twinkle in his eye. He took out a hat just like Jack and Rusty's and proudly put it on his head.

Darwin, on the other hand, opened his backpack with disinterest. He didn't have a toy military hat. All he had was the beanie he always wore, which was special to him.

“Do I... really have to wear this hat? I like my beanie.” 

════════════════════════════════════

“Of course you do, Darwin.” Archie replied to his friend, adjusting the hat on his head. “That way, we'll really be members of the army, it'll be much more real!” 

Darwin held the cap tightly in his hands. His grandfather had given it to him as a gift, and it had great sentimental value. But... if he was going to play the game with his best friend, maybe he needed to let it go. He let out a deep sigh, almost of disappointment.

With a slow gesture, he pulled the cap off his head. A few strands of messy hair immediately escaped, which his cap had served to hide. He put the beanie away, while Rusty handed him a hat.

“There, happy now?” Darwin muttered, now wearing the army hat.

Archie smiled contentedly and even patted his friend on the shoulder in encouragement.

“All right, recruits! Now that you are properly uniformed, it's time to start training. Follow me!” Rusty exclaimed to everyone, who straightened up again.

He turned firmly, tail erect, and marched toward the bush. It wasn't so tall that they couldn't see what was ahead, so it seemed safe.

Jack shot off after him with great energy. Archie followed right behind him, full of enthusiasm. Darwin, on the other hand, took another deep breath, glancing briefly at the hill they were leaving behind. Part of him wanted to go back, but now he was already in on the game. A small part of him said to go along and have fun, but would that be right?

The small platoon then marched in a line, avoiding stepping on branches that lay on the bush. The surroundings seemed calm and peaceful, under the big blue sky above them. 

Darwin watched the clouds, imagining for a moment the shapes of animals in them, causing him to lose focus. However, he noticed that everyone had stopped, and he didn't understand why. Rusty had made a hand gesture for them to stop, but why?

Then Rusty made another hand gesture. Both he and Jack crouched down, and Archie followed suit. Darwin raised his eyebrow, not understanding anything.

“But what—” Darwin began to say, until he felt a tug on his leg. Jack dragged him down, with a serious expression, putting a finger to his mouth as a sign of silence.

Darwin rolled his eyes, but this time he obeyed, remaining silent. It was then that he heard voices, laughing and talking, a little further ahead. It wasn't loud, but enough to indicate that there was someone on the path.

The small “platoon” began to move slowly, crawling through the vegetation. Darwin felt some dust on his fur and itched his nose. He was trying hard not to sneeze.

As they got closer, the voices became clearer. Soon they could see through the vegetation and see who it was.

In the middle of the clearing, Bluey was playing with Chloe, Coco, and Indy. They seemed to have set up a “pet shop,” improvising tables with branches and leaves. Indy and Coco seemed to be the veterinarians, Chloe must have been the pet owner, while Bluey... was imitating a pony?

Darwin let out a long sigh, resting his face on his paws.
“Ah, it was just the girls...” he muttered, annoyed. “And we didn't even need to be so quiet.”

“We're on patrol, recruit,” Rusty said quietly but firmly. “Real soldiers don't make noise, to avoid being noticed by intruders.” 

Darwin grumbled softly, it was no use arguing. It was a mission after all, and Archie was faithfully believing Rusty, as he was the sergeant on this mission.

════════════════════════════════════

Time flew by between silent patrols and little exercises Rusty made up. Now, he was leading the group to a small hill that rose up at the back of the yard. The place really looked like a little observation point.

Rusty stopped at the top, put his paws on his hips, and announced with conviction. “Archie, I'm going to show you some of the most important places on the base. We have points like Tango 7, Tango 6, and several others.”

Archie nodded immediately, with an enthusiasm he couldn't hide. His tail wagged as he looked at Darwin and Jack.

"And you two will stand guard. I want eyes watching in all directions. If you see any suspicious movement, report it immediately." Rusty said, pointing to the remaining two.

Jack took his position without hesitation, raising a paw to his forehead in salute. “Yes, Sergeant!”

Darwin frowned. Great, now he had to stand guard with Jack. “How nice...” he muttered joylessly.

But Rusty was no longer paying attention. He just gave one last commanding wave before walking down the slope next to Archie, enthusiastically explaining each imaginary point of the “base.”

Jack went to the edge of the hill, crouching down, seriously observing the horizon. The gentle landscape, with the wind blowing over him, gave him a sense of security. He loved vigils, especially when they were important.

Darwin, on the other hand, sat on the ground in utter boredom. He looked up at the sky, trying to find the peace he had felt earlier and avoiding wondering about a lot of things. He just wanted to have fun, but only with Archie. He was still unsure if the army was that much fun.

Jack stood in position for a few seconds, staring intently at the horizon. But soon he couldn't take it anymore and broke the silence, turning to Darwin.

“You know what a watch is, right?” he asked, his tail wagging.

Darwin raised his ears, but not with enthusiasm, rather with laziness.
“Of course I know... standing still, staring at nothing, waiting for something to happen.”

Jack laughed, wagging his tail. "It's not just that! You keep your eyes wide open, noticing anything different. If you notice anything, you talk to the sergeant. You're basically everyone's eyes, they count on you." His words tried to sound as firm as possible, because it was extremely important in his mind.

Darwin raised his eyebrow, unconvinced. “Like... an enemy?”

“Yeah... come to think of it, we've never seen an enemy...” Jack was thoughtful for a moment, remembering the times he played army with Rusty. He stood up and walked over to Darwin. “Oh! There was one time we found a really big bird, it was an invader.”

Darwin looked at Jack subtly. Thinking that a bird was an invader would be funny. But he didn't see the reason for it. “You guys take this too seriously.” The Chihuahua stood next to the Jack Russell; they weren't that different in height.

“Of course!” said Jack, without thinking twice. “If we don't take it seriously, how is it going to be fun?”

“Archie would say the same thing.” Darwin thought with a grimace. He was right, the games had to be taken seriously to be fun, or at least enough to distract them. He felt a little stupid now for being so ignorant of them all this time.

For a few minutes, they just stood in silence. Jack instructed him on how to keep watch, on the edge of the hill, observing the horizon they were on. Darwin had to admit that it was soothing. With the refreshing breeze blowing on his face, he took a deep breath and felt the aroma and peace that this day brought him. Darwin could almost forget that he was on the lookout for imaginary enemies.

Jack, who was lying on the ground, broke the silence. “Hey, Darwin... can I ask you something?”

The Chihuahua looked away from him, still at peace. “Sure.”

Jack tilted his head, his tail wagging slowly. “Why do you hang out with Archie so much? You only play when he's in the mood.”

Darwin blinked, surprised by the simple question. “Well... because he's my best friend.” He answered as if it were obvious, but his voice had a tone of affection when he spoke of Archie.  “We always play together... it's more fun with him.”

Jack nodded, understanding, and smiled slightly. “I'm Rusty's best friend too,” he said proudly. “But sometimes I play with the others too, you know?”

Darwin pricked up his ears, curious, but didn't comment immediately. Jack continued, as if he wanted to explain further: “Like... Rusty is my best friend, no doubt about it. But it's cool to play with Bluey, Indy, Mackenzie... whoever shows up. The feeling of fun is different.” Jack was a little distracted when he talked about the others, losing himself a little in his mission.

Darwin thought for a moment, looking at the floor. He had always imagined himself playing with others besides Archie, but since he arrived, he hadn't had the courage to ask others to play. The reason was perhaps because he always thought he was boring, demanding with games, and got stressed out very easily. Even his brothers said he was unbearable at times...

It was better to play with someone who followed his rules, that was a fact. However, Archie was different. Fun, enthusiastic, always wanting to explore new games and with more people, so he should be surrounded by friends. 

“I know... it's just, I don't know... I have problems sometimes.” Darwin muttered, still looking at the green floor, distracted by the weight on his mind.

Jack didn't answer right away. He just stared at Darwin with a heavy gaze, seeming to understand him a little. “You're doing a great job, recruit.”

Jack's words, even though they were simple, pulled him out of his thoughts. The Chihuahua's tail wagged slightly. For the first time today, he didn't give a forced smile. “Thanks.”

The sound of footsteps caught their attention, and they narrowed their eyes in that direction.

Rusty and Archie soon reappeared on the narrow trail, climbing the hill with steady steps. The kelpie's hat was slightly crooked, but his expression remained authoritative. Archie walked beside him, looking serious, still very much in character.

“Mission accomplished,” Rusty announced, his voice thick with pride. “I showed Archie all the important points of the base. Now he knows every specific point.”

Jack and Darwin looked at each other once more with this information. The two stood in front of Sergeant Rusty. 

“How did it go?” Darwin asked, approaching Archie. With a light look, he was still affected by the light conversation he had had.

Archie's serious gaze faltered when it met his friend's. A wry smile formed on his face. “It was amazing, I already feel like a soldier!”

They both laughed at that. Okay, Darwin had to admit that this joke was cool. It was simple, and yet it was taken seriously in a youthful way, it was exciting.

“Attention! Private Jack, Recruit Darwin.” Rusty exclaimed, getting their attention. His stern voice was enough to make them stand up straight. “I need you to patrol near Tango 7, just to check.”

“Yes, Sergeant!” Jack saluted, an excited smile on his face.

“Y-Yes, Sergeant...” Darwin didn't say it as firmly, but he still saluted. Tango 7? He didn't know what it was, how patrolling actually worked. Besides, he thought they would still show him the areas. At least Jack would do him that favor.

“Let's go, recruit Darwin!” Jack ran a little ahead, taking the lead on the hill trail.

Archie looked at his friend, putting his hand on his shoulder expectantly. “It'll be fun, I'm sure.” 

With his friend's words, Darwin smiled slightly. He no longer needed to worry so much, or at least that's what part of his mind told him.

════════════════════════════════════

The two walked side by side, down the slope and back into the vegetation. The ground was covered with a mixture of dry leaves and green grass, which moved slightly with the breeze.

For a few minutes, silence reigned, only the rustling of branches accompanying their small steps. Darwin kept his eyes down, watching the ground, lost in his own thoughts.

“Did you notice?” Jack asked in a low, almost conspiratorial voice. Jack stared straight ahead, his tail wagging slightly as if to mimic Rusty's seriousness.

Darwin pricked up his ears, but this time he heard no voices, only the wind. What did Jack mean? “What do you mean?”

“The wind,” Jack said, as if it were a revelation. “It always changes when we're on high ground. That can be dangerous on a real patrol, because our scent can be carried to the enemy!”

Darwin looked at him sideways, frowning. Was that really true? Well, the wind could carry their scent... it made sense. But the Chihuahua had heard so many lies from Shake that it was hard to believe. “Are you serious?”

“Of course! If we were really in the army, we'd have to pay attention to that.” Jack just smiled, but still tried to maintain his soldier's pose. “We're on a mission, recruit Darwin, and the sergeant put me in charge of it.”

“Oh, sure, as if we were part of the army.” Darwin sighed, but chuckled. He continued walking calmly, stepping on the dry leaves. “You still haven't explained the areas to me.”

“Someday, I'm going to join the army.” Jack said enthusiastically, until he heard the rest of Darwin's sentence, which made him swallow hard. “I... have trouble remembering things. So if I explain something wrong, I'm sorry... it's my first time teaching.”

“Trouble remembering?” Darwin blinked a few times, not knowing how to respond right away. He didn't have many words in mind. “Look, I forget things sometimes too.” 

“Really?” Jack glanced at Darwin, not losing his way.

"Yeah, there was this one time I forgot to eat breakfast... Then I got hungry at school. Luckily, Archie shared his snack with me.“ Darwin laughed softly, avoiding showing his slightly embarrassed expression on that relaxed day. ”It's normal to forget things, and I think you're doing well teaching... only in the vigil part did you sound exaggerated." 

Jack's eyes lit up at Darwin's words. This time, he was looking at the same horizon as the Chihuahua, but his tail was wagging unabashedly, revealing all the joy he felt. “Thanks a lot, Darwin.” Jack couldn't contain himself. He took a quick step forward and wrapped Darwin in a tight hug.

Darwin's eyes widened, and he stiffened. His ears pricked up as he grumbled, trying to break free. “Hey, hey! That's enough, Jack! I don't like this stuff! I-It's too sentimental.” His words were in vain, as Jack only hugged him tighter. “C-Man, we have a mission!”

Jack just laughed, letting him go immediately. His expression was so happy that it was impossible to stay mad at him for long. “Sorry, sometimes I think this forgetting thing is a serious problem, but it made me feel calmer.”

“Yeah, but it also left me breathless.” Darwin snorted, breathing much better. However, he was smiling, showing a friendlier side.

Jack continued to lead the way, adjusting his hat to keep the sun from blocking his vision. “Come on, we're almost at tango 7!”

Darwin followed him without hesitation, adjusting his hat as well. For the first time, he was managing to have a friend without Archie's help, and besides, he wasn't being annoying; this time he seemed different. 

However, the patrol's silence was suddenly broken by a louder rustling among the bushes. Both instinctively crouched down, as Rusty had taught them. Jack signaled to Darwin with his paw, asking him to remain calm, his eyes half-closed in concentration.

The two advanced cautiously, the vegetation brushing against their arms as they approached the source of the sound. Darwin heard no voices, so it must be something... something dangerous.

Until, in a quick leap, something small darted across in front of them. A slender lizard ran into the shadow of a rock, its tail whipping like a living whip. It was nothing.

“Ah!” Jack took a step back, but soon relaxed, letting out a nervous laugh. “Just a lizard... phew.”

But when Jack turned around, he noticed that Darwin was no longer there. He had disappeared without a trace.

“Darwin?” Jack stood up and looked around, worried. He only saw a silhouette among the vegetation, which soon disappeared from view. This was not good...

The Chihuahua had bolted, running in a complete panic, but why? Darwin only stopped when his paws had already taken him to the nearby woods, looking calm and confident. There were no reptiles, nothing bad there to scare him.

He leaned against a tree, breathing irregularly, trying to catch his breath. His chest rose and fell quickly, and his claws clung to the trunk tightly, as if that were his only defense... he was very afraid of reptiles and snakes.

Ever since he was younger, they had been very frightening. Remembering past incidents left him with a lump in his throat. He just didn't like them, whether they were small or large, they were frightening.

Darwin was cowering, where he could finally calm down, but now he realized what he had done. “Damn... I ruined everything,” he muttered to himself, where he didn't even give Jack an explanation, all because of his silly fear.

A recruit who ran away from his mission, what a sad thing.

════════════════════════════════════

Jack ran back down the narrow path, his breathing rapid more from haste than exertion. When he spotted Rusty and Archie, he almost tripped over his own paws as he stopped in front of them.

“Sergeant!” he said, saluting awkwardly.

Rusty turned, looking at Jack in surprise. “Private Jack, where is Recruit Darwin?” Intrigued, he even looked behind his friend, but couldn't find the Chihuahua.

“Recruit Darwin... he's gone!” Jack exclaimed, still saluting, with urgent concern in his voice.

Rusty narrowed his eyes, his posture immediately becoming more rigid. His tail stopped moving and his voice took on a firm tone. “This is serious, Private Jack. Dust off situation.”

Archie, who stood between them, looked worried and confused, not knowing how to help. “W-Wait, dust off? What's that?”

Rusty didn't even look at the Border Collie; he was more than serious. He opened his backpack and took out a toy radio. “Jack, your mission is to find recruit Darwin and bring him back safely. We'll be preparing a landing area.”

Jack puffed out his chest and nodded vigorously. “Yes, sir!”

Rusty then pointed to Archie, who still looked lost. “Archie, you come with me. We're going to prepare the evacuation area. The helicopter needs space to land.”

“H-helicopter? We have a helicopter?” Archie blinked several times, trying to follow the logic of the game.

Rusty was already moving across the terrain, waving for him to follow. “That's right. If a recruit is in danger, we need air rescue. Now, come on, we don't have time to waste!”

Archie ran after him, still not fully understanding how the joke had escalated so quickly. Meanwhile, Jack adjusted his hat again, took a deep breath, and headed off alone in the opposite direction, determined to find Darwin. 

═════════════════════════════════

Darwin was crouched next to the trunk of a twisted tree, his paws holding his knees against his chest. He hadn't even moved from the spot, standing there to reflect further. He sighed softly, looking at the ground covered with dry leaves. He wanted to go back, but at the same time he thought they must be having fun without him, which was better.

Suddenly, a soft shadow approached. Calypso's calm figure appeared among the branches, her light footsteps making almost no sound on the ground. Her blue scarf fluttered in the wind as she stopped in front of him, tilting her head with that ever-serene look.

“Darwin?” she asked quietly, sitting down beside him, with a look that indicated she knew what was going on. “Are you okay?”

Darwin clenched his knees even tighter, looking away. “No... I'm not.”

Calypso waited, not rushing him. Her calm, patient presence seemed to invite him to continue. Darwin sighed deeply, his tail twitching nervously.

“We were playing army... me, Jack, Rusty, and Archie...” He breathed quickly, as if afraid to admit it. “But I saw a lizard. I got scared... and... and I ran.”

His ears fell to the sides, his expression filled with shame. Calypso was still listening. “And not only that... I've been insisting that Archie and I play alone. Now they must think I'm boring and cowardly, that it's better to play without me.”

Calypso looked at the trees around them, letting the silence fill the space for a moment before speaking softly. “You know, Darwin... we're all afraid of something. Some fears are big, some are small. But no fear makes us any less brave.”

“But... I ran away.” Darwin looked up for the first time, curious.

“And yet you're here, telling me about it.” Calypso smiled slightly, placing a gentle paw on his shoulder. “Courage is not never feeling fear. Courage is what we do after fear appears.”

Darwin was silent, the words echoing inside him, even though he was too young to understand them. To him, it made sense. The wind dropped a yellow leaf right between them, and Calypso picked it up delicately.

“See... a leaf that falls from a tree is not weak. It's just part of its journey. You have yours too.” She handed the leaf to Darwin, who held it between his paws, still thoughtful, but with a small sense of relief rising in his chest.

“And about you thinking you're boring... there's no single way to play,” Calypso said, looking calmly at the treetops. “Some run right away, others watch first... and some only discover the fun after a while.”

Darwin looked at the leaf in admiration, but returned his attention to Calypso. His ear moved slightly. “But... what if I ruined the game or got in the way?”

“If you didn't want to play, you wouldn't have tried. But you tried, and you even had fun. That's not being boring. That's just your way of getting into the game. Everyone finds their own door to play... yours was just a little more hidden.” Calypso said, making a small gesture with her hand to indicate the difficulty in this. It was normal for children to take time to get used to some things.

“So... is it okay if it takes me a while to like it?” Darwin asked, almost whispering.

Calypso just smiled, keeping her tone of voice sweet. "Of course, just take your time and don't force yourself. The important thing is that you and your friends have fun." 

Darwin felt a warm glow in his chest, like when someone understood exactly what he meant without him having to explain too much. A shy smile escaped him, and he hugged the leaf to his chest. “Thank you, Calypso.” 

Before he could say anything else, a rustling in the trees caught his attention. Suddenly, Jack came running up, his army hat almost falling from his eyes, but with the serious posture he was trying to maintain.

“Recruit Darwin! Oh, and hello Calypso,” he said nervously when he noticed the teacher, but full of enthusiasm at finding his companion. “Rescue mission accomplished! I've come to get you!”

“G-Get me?” Darwin stood there, completely confused by what Jack had just said.

“Of course! No man gets left behind.” Jack approached with firmness in his voice. He extended his hand to Darwin, signaling him to take it. There was the loyalty Darwin sought, a sign that they were friends, and that neither of them would be forgotten.

The Chihuahua felt his chest tighten, but not out of shame this time. It was different. He held Jack's hand firmly, letting go of the leaf and letting it fly away with the wind. The smile came spontaneously. “So... I guess I can't keep you waiting, right?”

Jack just nodded with a broad smile, already pulling Darwin by the paw as if time were precious. “Come on, we have to go to where the helicopter will land.” 

Darwin looked back with a serene, happier look at Calypso, who was still sitting and smiling at the scene. “Bye, Calypso,” he murmured, almost like a whisper, but it was enough for the teacher to hear.

Calypso just smiled back, waving goodbye to the two little soldiers. She felt satisfied that she had helped, and besides, he had a long way to go.

════════════════════════════════════

The forest began to thin out, giving way to lower, more open vegetation. Darwin and Jack ran side by side, branches tapping lightly against their army hats as they quickened their pace.

Suddenly, the rustling in the bushes ahead made them stop. Darwin froze instantly. The two looked at each other, and soon a small lizard crossed the path, its thin tail dragging along the ground. It was him again...

Darwin's heart raced. His ears lowered and he took half a step back, his eyes fixed on the creature. But this time, he took a deep breath, remembering Calypso's advice... it was okay to be afraid, what mattered was what you did after that.

Swallowing hard, Darwin wasn't going to run away this time. He was going to face his fear, because he had his friend by his side. “J-Jack... what do we do?” he said, narrowing his eyes at the Jack Russell.

When he looked to the side for an answer, he realized that Jack was already running ahead, passing the lizard. Was he... afraid? “Come on, recruit! Quick!” the little dog shouted, already a few meters away, his tail wagging.

Darwin stood still for a second, incredulous, his ears pricking up in indignation. “But... you left me alone!” he exclaimed, his newly found courage shattering in an instant. 

Still, he had no choice. With a sigh mixed with frustration and relief, the Chihuahua dashed after his friend, his nimble legs kicking up dust. He had mustered up a great moment of courage, only to be ignored... why did he find this so hilarious?

Darwin began to laugh alongside Jack, the two running at almost the same speed. Jack was fast, he had to admit, but Darwin wasn't far behind. Perhaps what they did wasn't running away, but avoiding fear. It wasn't exactly courage, but they knew how to get around it and ignore it.

“Come on, recruit! The helicopter must be landing already!” Jack shouted as they ran.

Darwin could see Rusty and Archie at the top of the clearing, waving at them. Archie wagged his tail enthusiastically, and Rusty, arms crossed and expression firm, pointed to the tree. There seemed to be a small structure on it, like a little house, as well as a ladder for them to climb up. That was definitely the helicopter.

“Get in! Quick!” Rusty ordered, climbing quickly up the ladder, followed by Archie.

Jack was the first to reach the base of the tree, climbing up the wooden ladder. Darwin came right behind him, breathing heavily, his heart still racing. All that running had really exhausted him, but he was full of childlike adrenaline. He breathed heavily as he finally boarded the imaginary helicopter, relaxing as if nothing else mattered.

Rusty straightened his posture, giving Jack a steady look and smiling. “Great job, soldier. Rescue mission successfully accomplished.”

“No one gets left behind, Sergeant!” Jack exclaimed proudly.

Everyone laughed a little, even Darwin, who let out a heavy sigh before speaking. He looked at Rusty, trying to appear serious. "I'm sorry, Sergeant... I shouldn't have run away. I'm not cut out for this army business."

For a moment, silence fell over the group. Rusty, however, approached and placed his paw firmly on Darwin's shoulder. His gaze, though serious, had a glimmer of understanding. “It's okay, recruit. The important thing is that we managed to rescue you, you're back.”

Kelpie's words sounded supportive, giving Darwin confidence. Archie and Jack just smiled too; they weren't angry with him for what he had done. The Chihuahua couldn't admit how happy he was, so he just gave a big smile.

“But! When we get to base, you'll have to do 10 push-ups!” Rusty returned to his rigid sergeant's posture.

Darwin's jaw dropped instantly, his wide eyes betraying pure despair. Archie and Jack couldn't hold back their laughter, their tails wagging so fast they hit the wooden floor. Even Rusty, despite his strict sergeant's posture, let out a small smile at the corner of his mouth.

“Seriously? Ten push-ups?!” He tried to argue the inevitable.

Jack saluted, leaning toward Darwin with an amused smile. “I'll help you count, if you want.”

Darwin sighed in defeat, and seeing how the mood was now, he really didn't mind doing push-ups. Everyone seemed to be having fun, including himself. He had finally found the rhythm of the game.

His head had previously been preoccupied with how to avoid them, but in fact, he wanted to be surrounded by valuable friends. Like the fallen leaf on the ground, he would find his way guided by the wind, taking his own time.