THE MOMENT
Clara found it easy to be brave with Buddy around. Maybe it was the familiarity of a golden retriever in this otherwise unknown world. Or maybe it was due to his happy-go-lucky attitude. Something about him put her at ease when she would normally be freaking out.
She didn't know the full mechanics of how she arrived on an alternate Earth, but she did know she was tricked into it. She agreed to a game of some sort, and then she was somewhere else. Lost and confused, she kept moving through what she decided was an enchanted forest.
It was beautiful, and magical, and dangerous. She'd fallen victim to another trap among deadly living vines intent on strangling her.
Then, just as things began to go black, a sudden, single shining bark caused the vines to go slack and release her.
It was a very confusing few minutes for Clara as she caught her breath. She had so many questions about where she was and what happened that she kept firing them off at the golden boy.
It'd taken some time to calm down, but finally they started moving again. Buddy seemed to know where he was going and Clara let him lead. In a short time, they reached the Dark Lord's castle and as they approached it, Clara patted Buddy for her own encouragement. He was brave, and she still didn't understand everything that was happening. But, she trusted him.
With him in front, they approached the entrance, and the imposing stone guard. An armored statue with sword at the ready looked down.
“I, Clara, have chosen a guardian to defend against the Dark Lord. We have come to defeat him,” she said. She managed to keep her voice calm and clear as she stated her purpose. She'd been tricked into a new world, but Buddy helped her see the opportunities still available.
She assumed the main point was to trick her into a new world where she would die before reaching his castle. But, thanks to Buddy, she had a chance to win the challenge she fell for. The statue lowered his head to study the dog.
“And what sort of Guardian are you?” it asked with a deep, rumbling voice.
Again, just like with the vines, Buddy barked. A single, powerful answer that crumbled the stone guard in moments.
“You're amazing, Buddy,” Clara patted his side as the door began to open. She didn't know what to expect inside, yet she was still surprised.
A lean man in dark armor appeared before the door was open all the way, and he was angry. Clara recognized the dark lord that had brought her to that world, and she moved closer to Buddy.
“WHAT THE HELL!? THAT WAS MY BEST-,” he'd been focused on Clara, and finally noticed the golden retriever at her side. He froze instantly.
“Buddy?” he asked. He couldn't tell dogs apart easily, and it could have been a random pet, but he doubted it.
“That's right, and he's my guardian! Do you want to surrender now?” she asked. It felt like a bold statement, but there was far more to Buddy than she knew.
“Let me hear it from him,” the dark lord answered while keeping his gaze fixed on the animal. Buddy met the dark lord’s eyes and began to glow with a subtle golden light.
“My name is Buddy, and I am Clara’s guardian,” he said with a stern tone. The dark lord threw his hands in the air.
“You win, I surrender!”