Chapter Text
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“Mmmmmmm”
A low grunting sound emerged from his sleep.
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“Mmmmmmmm”
Deep in an uninterrupted sleep
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“Mmmmmmmmm”
“Uh?”
Finally, the young American foxhound of white fur. Brown and black fur opened his eyes to find the sky above him in a dark, fussy pink. He couldn't understand where he was, but his body felt heavier, as if he was carrying way more in his skin than he could carry.
With a lot of effort, the Foxhound propped his elbows to get up and see around him; the pink sky extended way more than the horizon, as if it was hovering over him or if he was inside the sky.
Finally, he focused on his hands; he felt the rocky touch.
It only took him a second of looking around to figure out he was on a rock platform with a semi flat stop where he was.
"Ummmmm."
The Foxhound hound growls, confused about where he was; his head hurts a bit, and his body feels tired, really tired.
“Where am I?”
The Hound murmurs to himself, he has no idea where he was or what happened to him, all he knew was that he just finished hanging out with his best friends since elementary school at a nearby arcade, he had a good time but now he was as lost as an old dog inside a mall.
After a few seconds of looking around him. Trying to make sense of what he was seeing.
“Captain…”
“!”
A female voice sounded off, almost near him. He snaps his head towards the origins of the voice to see a shiny light with an aura, almost near his rock.
Despite the scare of the voice. The young foxhound recognised her.
“Mia…”
He planted his hands on the surface, and with all his strength, he got up, with his weak feet wobbling but managing to stay up.
“Mia…”
He called again, facing the light; he raised his hand in a futile attempt to reach for her.
*GRRRRRRMMMMM*
A deep groutural sound trembles the Foxhound, as if it's magic; another rock platform emerges in front of him.
*THUNK!*
Until it finally locked place next to the first platform and in front of the Foxhound.
The Foxhound, suspended in disbelief and yet with a hopeful feeling for being with Mia, strolls forward to reach for light. With sluggish feet but with determination.
*GRRRRRRMMMMM*
Another rock platform emerges.
*THUNK!*
And locked in place in front of the Foxhound. Slowly but surely, starting to pick up speed. Walking with more confidence.
Another platform emerges and locks in place.
And another and another.
They emerge as fast as the foxhound was halfway to the platform.
Until finally.
He was within arm's reach of the light.
“Captain…”
The light calls again.
“Mia…”
He announced his arrival by the extend of his arm.
“WOW WOW WOW WOW”
“This is the most cringeworthy thing I have ever heard in my life!”
“Hahahahaha”
With such a smile, Mackenzie stirred his cookies-and-cream shake with his straw.
Inside a diner with a theme of the 80s, white vinyls booths and shiny laminated tabletops of Blaze’s. Mackenzie Border Collie, now 25 years old, in his light grey T-shirt that is his hotel uniform, was enjoying some after-work quality time with Chucky and Buddy of 23 years old and out of university. It was already late at night, and the restaurant was pretty much empty except for a single worker in the back.
It's been six years since Mackenzie graduated from high school, and his main group of friends partied off to chase their dreams. Rusty, Jack, Indy, Chloe, and more. Mackenzie also pursued his university degree in agricultural science to help on his family's farm. He got himself a job at a local hotel to afford his studies and side hustles like e-racing.
Unfortunately, due to his studies and his decision to stay in Brisbane, Mackenzie sometimes found himself in a position where there was no one with whom to hang out. He found himself lucky to learn that Chucky and Buddy were free to hang out.
Now at the diner where he used to hang out with Lucky and Rusty, he had a cookie and cream shake in front of him while the two younger boys had empty baskets where once was delicious food.
After burping out his dislike for the story, Chucky says, “No way he was that obsessed over… What was her name? Mia?”
Buddy shrugs his shoulders. “Who knows? Love is a really powerful feeling."
“But straight-up dreaming yourself like that is crazy!”
Bubby smirks, lazily grabbing a leftover chip from his basket. “As if you never dreamed of being with Bingo."
“HEY!” Chucky snaps his head towards Buddy.
“hehehehehe” Buddy laughs as he throws his chip into his mouth.
“THAT WAS MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS AGOOOOOO, STOP ITTTTTTTTT”
“Ummm” Buddy swallowed and talked. “I wonder what your girl thinks of you dreaming of Bingo.”
*Slam!*
Chucky trembles the table with his close fist and aggressively points at Buddy.
“Don't you dare!!!”
“Of course not," Buddy shrugged his shoulders. "I'd rather you be alive."
Mackenzie, who was watching the whole interaction while drinking from his shakes, put it away to look at the picture on his phone that triggered the story of Captain’s dream; he couldn't help but let out a nostalgic sigh. "Dude, Captain has grown up so much since the time he was my buddy back in Glasshouse… since I was seven!”
"Well," Chucky reached out and stole a chip from Buddy’s basket, who threw a furtive look at him as he threw the chip into his mouth, “He must've not been a complete loser if he pulled her."
“!”
Mackenzie’s ears perked up, and his eyes snapped open.
“Wait… I just remembered.”
“Uh?” Both Chucky and Buddy reacted curiously.
"Ok," Mackenzie put both hands on the table, leaned back, and said with a big smile, “You guys want to hear Captain and Mia’s story of ‘The greatest rescue ever told’?”
“Ehhhhhhhhhh”
Chucky and Buddy briefly look at each other before looking back at Mackenzie.
“I can stay longer. I have nothing else going on” Buddy answered.
“Same here," Chucky also answered.
“Alright!”
Mackenzie leans forward, and Chucky and Buddy do the same, anxious to hear him.
“It all started with—"