“Where are we?”

Dyra didn’t receive an answer, not that she was expecting one, and looked across the weird island she was on. The eager Dutch Shepherd looked up at her, awaiting her signal.

She glanced over the island again, and seeing no threats, she gave the signal with a quick, “Patrol.”

The Shepherd took off, tearing across the island before running around the whole thing on the sand. After two laps, and checking around the few trees there were, the dog came back and Dyra gave her a treat.

“Did you find anything that caught your attention?” Dyra asked as she stepped out of the tattered life boat, “It doesn’t look like there could be much to find.”

The Dutch shepherd just barked, and trotted to the opposite end of the small island, looking back to make sure her human companion was following.

Dyra laughed lightly, “I’m coming, Jazz. Let me grab my knife.”

Jazz waited dutifully, and wagged her tail in excitement when Dyra followed. They made it to the other side within 45 seconds. Dyra was moving carefully, confused as to why Jazz was so adamant about her going over there.

As Dyra kept her guard up, walking across the hot sand, all she could think about was the younger siblings that she had left on the mainland when she had gone on a fishing boat. The pay wasn’t worth it. At least she had Jazz.

The swirling pool of cooler had Dyra absolutely flabbergasted. Jazz ran around it, barking playfully.

“Jazz,” Dyra hissed in fear, “Come here.”

Jazz bounded over, but tilted her head in confusion as she sensed the terror and uncertainty in Dyra’s scent.

Dyra backed up slowly, but Jazz just stared at her, refusing to going farther from the pond.

“Jazz, that isn’t… that isn’t something to play with.”

Jazz glanced at her human, and back to the pond. The pool of water swirled faster and roared a ancient sounding melody, bleeding dark colors into the sand.

Jazz took a step towards the pool and Dyra screeched in terror as the colors quickly moved towards the shepherd through the sand.

Within seconds Jazz was back at Dyra’s side, concerned. Dyra grabbed the back of Jazz’s harness and sprinted as fast as possible back to the boat. Jazz tried to pull and get out of her grip, turning towards the pool of darkness. She even growled, but Dyra would rather die out here than let her best, and currently only, friend to be taken away from her.

She hooked Jazz’s harness to the tether in the middle of the life boat and pushed it off of the sand as quickly as possible. Dyra jumped onto the boat and started rowing away from the sand as quickly as possible. The few trees seemed to disintegrate right before her eyes as the darkness swallowed it up. As soon as she was about four yards from the island, it disappeared. Along with the dark reds and blacks that had been swallowing up the sand, trees and water.

As soon as the island was out of view, Jazz stoped growling and whined briefly before falling over.

“Jazz!” Dyra was at her dog’s side within a second.

Jazz seemed to come-to, and stood up, shaking herself off. Her eyes were back to their normal dark brown, no longer the bright amber color Dyra hadn’t even thought of before.

“Oh, how I miss the mainland,” Dyra said desperately, staring out into the sea as she held her dog close.