BLUE AND RAVEN HAD BEEN WALKING with the scout for what seemed forever. Slowly, the terrain started to change again— the ground became soft mud, and long rows of gnarled oaks were draped in Spanish moss and half submerged in swamps.
Blue smelled fear from the scout.
“I’m sorry I have to leave you here. All I can tell you is to watch out for this territory’s pack. Black Tail, the pack leader, doesn’t like other dogs in his territory.”
The scout walked away silently after a gentle nuzzle with Blue and Raven.
Blue stared at Raven. His eyes remained locked forward, barely acknowledging the scout’s departure. He walked straight toward the swamp, disappearing into the fog.
Blue cocked her head in confusion. Yes, Raven always was a little mysterious, but now he was just acting weird, and she was worried. She followed him slowly. The greenish water hid their scent. They moved across the swamp, their paws sinking into thick plants and bubbling mud. They often found themselves chest-deep in muck.
Blue kept alert, but also tried to engage Raven in a conversation, or at least an occasional laugh. He would not respond. Instead, he continued to lead in silence.
Soon, they heard the rustle of something moving through the swamp.
Did Raven hear it, too? She couldn’t tell as he continued to move straight forward.
As night fell, the swamp became pitch black. Still a city dog at heart, Blue could never get used to this dark stillness; she could barely see her own paws, let alone Raven. She bit hard on Raven’s tail so she wouldn’t get lost. It worked until Raven accidentally bumped into a tree, and Blue lost her grip on his tail. She fumbled around trying to find it again, but she felt nothing. She clamored in the darkness. No matter what she did, she couldn’t adjust to the blackness. To make matters worse, she was chin-deep in mud, and still sinking. Clawing in the muck, finally she found a solid patch of dark, green grass, and pulled herself onto dry land.
“Raven!” she howled in the darkness.
She felt a hit to her shoulder. A deep snarling roared in her ear. Blue could just make out a Newfoundland standing over her, with long black fur and large paws. Blue’s shoulder throbbed, and she feared for her life.
He spoke to some dogs behind him. “Two dogs found here today. They’re both actually alive.”
As soon as Blue’s eyes adjusted to the dog’s presence, she noticed that Raven was being held down, too. Raven looked as calm as ever, staring blankly into the darkness. Blue tried to spring forward to help him, but the guards pushed her back into the muddy water with a splash. She climbed back to shore, spitting muddy water.
Blue decided to try to find some common ground. “I’m looking to fight Robo, the Great Dane.”
The dogs laughed, only their teeth visible in the night.
The Newfoundland gave a chuckle, but his eyes snapped to attention. Slowly, his smile gave way to a frown. “Robo? That’s the stupidest name ever. Let’s try this again—tell us exactly why you are here, and if we like your answer,” he looked around at his pack, “we’ll let you go.”
“Look, I’m telling the truth. We have no issue with you. Let us go on our way,” Blue responded. “We heard you were a tough leader, Black Tail, but not a murderous one.”
The dogs laughed harder.
“We don’t have to murder fellow dogs, sister,” Black Tail said. “We leave that to the crocs.”
Suddenly, a soft, raspy laugh shut the dogs up. Raven looked at Black Tail, a strange and scary look to his eyes.
“Oh please, Black Tail. By the end of this conversation, no one will be worried about the crocs.”
The dogs laughed again, but this time, there was a nervous edge. Black Tail sneered at Raven, “What do you know, old dog?”
Raven stared up at him. “What do you know, pup?”
Black Tail’s laughter was gone. He commanded his pack—a mix of labs, golden retrievers, and Irish setters—to take Blue and Raven as prisoners. Just as the dogs moved toward them, spotlights hovered over the swamp, coming from half-dozen helicopters. The noise startled the frogs and crickets into silence. “Blue, we know you’re there,” a voice said through a loudspeaker. “Give us the orb and we won’t hurt you or those waterlogged beavers who call themselves dogs.”
Blue felt her blood turn cold and her eyes grow wide. Raven stared up at the light, a glint of fear flashed in his eyes.
Black Tail snarled at the insult, but quickly organized his troops. “Run! Encircle the craft when they try to land!” Barking directions to each other, the water dogs started swimming and running through the swamp, forming a tight formation as the robot dogs dropped from the helicopters on ropes. Black Tail quickly had several dogs on the front line, and others crawling silently toward its flanks.
The robot dogs formed a line, waiting for commands. The captain, armed with his own robotic eye, then used bright, bluish LED spotlights to sweep across the swamp. The robot dogs plunging forward with precision, a wall of steel, sharp teeth, and claws.
The water dogs watched in horror as the robots swung machine guns from their shoulders into firing position, while another platoon of robot dogs cornered Black Tail, trapping him in a net.
“Retreat!” he yelped to his pack, most of whom were able to silently disappear into the swamp.
Blue tried to turn back as well, but three robotic dogs dug their claws into her back, shoving her into the soft mud and pinning her. Focusing her powers, she easily bucked them off as crocodiles began to glide near them. But she didn’t see the fourth robotic dog. As he lunged forward, she tried to jump away, but he was fast. He sunk his teeth into her neck and held on as Blue dragged him through the muck.
Suddenly, a croc reared up in front of Blue. She quickly kicked it in the snout, plunging the croc back under water. It reappeared, and snapped at the dog still gripping Blue’s neck. This time, the croc succeeded, biting through the dog’s tail. The dog let go of Blue, howling in pain.
Blue continued to battle the robots. She heard the yelps of water dogs as the robotic dogs hunted them down. She tried to run again, but this time, a band of robot dogs surrounded her. Blue looked around wildly for Raven. No sign. Instead, she heard a low, deep voice reverberate through the swamp.
“How many dogs have to die because of you, Blue?”
A single red eye appeared in the darkness, shining brightly. It got closer, the eerie light casting shadows on Robo. He walked toward Blue, and sat down in front of her. As the guards held her, he slowly bent down and took the orb out of the leather bag around her neck.
“Don’t you dare touch that, Robo,” Blue threatened. “Or else—”
Robo’s eye flashed with anger. “Or else, what, Blue? Will you use your ‘special’ powers?” he snarled, his nose now within inches from her own. “The only reason you have those powers is because of ME!”
She didn’t dare meet his deadly gaze.
“So, Blue, where is Raven?” Robo asked.
Blue felt her blood turn cold.
“He’s dead. A croc ate him.”
Robo laughed, “For a city mutt, you’re a terrible liar.”
Blue curled her lips. “Well, you would know.”
“You’re pathetic,” Robo cleared his throat. “I’m going to ask again. Where. Is. Raven?”
Blue shrugged. “Lego. I. Don’t. Know.”
“You remind me of myself when I was young and stubborn,” he said, with a faint smile. “But insulting me won’t get you anywhere.” Robo looked at the guards who had Blue pinned down. “Put her in a cage for now. We need to find Raven.”
Blue was forced to her feet, and pushed toward a helicopter. Blue looked back to see Robo fixed onto the orb. He laughed as he tossed it up and down. The glowing orb gently illuminated the dark surroundings.
“So little, but destined to do such big things.” He tossed the glowing orb high into the air again.
It didn’t come down. All Robo saw was a flash of gray flying past him, the orb disappearing with it.
“Raven,” Robo growled.
Raven used his right paw to carefully push the crystal into the soft, muddy ground so it couldn’t be seen. Everything became quiet except for the sound of Raven’s breathing.
“Raven? Is that you, old friend?”
“Give me Blue,” Raven snarled.
Although he didn’t show it, Robo felt his heart torn to shreds. Like so many others, Raven was just worried about Blue. Robo stood there for a moment, helpless in his emotion.
“Give me Blue or the orb gets destroyed,” Raven barked again.
Robo jumped when a twig snap, thinking it was the cracking sound of the orb.
“Okay, okay, surely we can work something out,” Robo said. “Raven, join me. Let’s rule together.”
Raven put more weight on the ball, and it started to crack. “Fine!” Robo snarled, and turned toward the guards. “Let her go.”
The guards shoved Blue toward Raven, who quickly stepped in front of her, growling.
“Now give me the orb,” Robo commanded.
Raven pulled the orb from the mud and stepped forward.
Blue, with horror in her eyes, cried out to Raven, “Don’t give it to him, let him kill me.”
Raven stared at Blue, his eyebrow raised. Even Blue was surprised at what she had said. Ignoring her, Raven slowly tossed the orb to Robo.
Robo grabbed it with a crazed smile.
“Perfect” he said, as he walked away. “Now, kill them both.” Instead of retreating, Blue sprang directly towards Robo, catching the robot dogs off guard. Almost instantly, Blue heard Raven’s screams behind her as the guards set upon him. She didn’t dare turn around. Instead, she rammed into Robo, sending him plunging into the swampy water with a splash. Blue leapt in after him, hoping to drown him. Surely his metal parts would help make him sink. No luck. Robo’s robotic claws clamped onto the swamp trees, and he pulled himself back out. He turned back around to face the now-drenched Blue.
“You’re a coward,” she howled at him. “You let those things kill your best friend—didn’t you?” She couldn’t see through the tears in her eyes. Robo rushed forward, grabbing her by the neck and throwing her against a swamp tree.
Blue lay still.
Bitterly, Robo watched briefly to see if she was breathing. What a waste, he thought. Two who could have been by my side. He shook his head and carefully tucked the orb into its pouch around his neck. Almost immediately, he was distracted by his injured army anxious to leave the swamp—and the crocodiles behind.
“We’re done here,” Robo said to his dogs. “Time to take what is ours!”
The robot dogs howled and reboarded the helicopters.
As the helicopters whirled out of the swamp, Blue slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry, and every part of her body ached. Clearly, Robo thought she was dead.
She remembered Raven. Slowly, she crawled over to his body, torn by the robot guards. His eyes were clouded—no more past, no more future. Just death. There were no sounds except for the frogs, the crickets, and Blue’s muffled grief, as she buried her head in his bloody fur.