Dirty Paws

“Your future, it’s very blurry. It seems as if there are multiple paths to walk down,” Chase took his paw and swiped it across the ball to the right, a blurry image of what looked like Alex flying popped up.

“Why am I flying in that picture?” Alex questioned, confused.

“That my friend, you may discover,” Chase’s third eye stared directly at Alex, “Or you may not.”

There was an awkward silence, which Erin broke by coughing. “So, which path should we take?”

“Well, that’s up to you,” Chase smiled. “Go to the cafe if you wish to take the calmest path, go to meet Everest if you’d be interested in taking the most adventurous one.”

Erin perked up at the sound of the word “adventurous”, he leaped up out of his seat, nearly knocking Alex off his shoulder.

“Alex and I will go meet Everest then!” Erin nearly sped out the door, but Chase held him back.

“Ah! But I haven’t even given you the reading yet,” Chase laughed nervously.

“Oh! Right, sorry,” Erin sat back down on the stump. Chase directed him to close his eyes and put his paws on the ball.

Chase closed his two main eyes but kept the third one open. The iris began flashing with images, they were too small for Erin to make out completely, but he recognized himself and Alex along with Everest.

“The path you’ve chosen holds many dangers,” Chase took a deep breath in, “A war.”

“A war? What’s that’s supposed to mean?” Erin frowned and looked at Alex, who seemed entranced.

“Well, I’m not sure actually,” The tiny dog before Erin squinted his third eye as if he was trying to focus on something. “I’m getting- Oh! Oh dear.”

Erin flinched at the sound of fear in Chase’s voice. “What does it say?’

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that,” Chase shook his head. “That’s up for you to discover.”

“Discover? Discover what?” Erin rose to his hind paws, slamming his forepaws on the wooden table furiously, immediately snapping Alex out of his daze.

Chase stared at the large coyote thoughtfully. “Well, make your way to the Tree of Time. You should find your answers there. Giving out what’s going to happen would probably end up disrupting the whole adventure.”

Erin sat back down, seemingly disappointed. “Okay, so we’re going on this adventure, right? And a war is going to happen?”

Chase’s third eye stared at him emotionlessly. “Correct.”

“And we have to figure out what all of this is about by going on the adventure?”

“Yes.”

Alex looked up at Erin expectantly. “Deal,” Erin perked up again, leaping to his paws, accidentally knocking Alex into the air.

“Are you serious?” Alex looked up at Erin in shock.

“Yes! It sounds like fun!”

“War? Fun?”

Erin thanked Chase and bounded out the door, Alex gripped the fur on the back of his neck to keep hold.

“Do you know where Everest would be right now?” Erin stood among the bustling crowd of eager animals who were weaving in and out of stores.

Alex scrambled up onto Erin's head, standing on his hind legs to observe the surrounding area. He perked up when he noticed a cat with a peculiar navy blue arrow marking on their forehead.

"Found him," Alex pointed over by the cafe where Everest was standing.

Erin squeezed through the crowd of critters and made his way to Everest, who was doing nothing but examining the crowd in front of the cafe.

"Hi, Everest! Want to go on an adventure with us?" Erin smiled like a toddler.

"Erin, no, that's not how that works," Alex shook his head, apologizing to Everest.

Everest stared at the bickering animals in front of him absolutely dumbfounded. He smiled awkwardly and coughed to grab their attention.

"So, um, what is it that you're talking about? An adventure?"

Erin jumped in the air with childish excitement. "Yep! Alex is coming with me too."

"Okay," Everest raised his eyebrow thoughtfully. "Where to? What for?"

"The Tree of Time!" Erin's eyes sparkled as he said 'Tree of Time', Alex simply rolled his eyes.

Everest took a deep breath in, closed his eyes and scrunched his face up as if he was thinking really hard about something.

"Okay, I think I know what this is about," He bit his lip and opened his eyes again, nodding his head. "Sure, I'll tag along."

Alex widened his eyes in surprise while Erin bounced in circles around Everest cheerfully.

"Hooray! This is going to be so much fun! Do you know which way the Tree of Time is?"

Everest shifted uncomfortably. "Yes, but I have to go temporarily appoint someone as mayor while I'm gone. I'll be back in a bit. Wait outside the gates of the village."

Erin nodded his head, making his way to the gates. Alex grunted, slightly annoyed at Erin's overwhelming joy.

"Why are you always so happy? Why are you happy about this, especially? There's going to be a war! Do you hear me Erin? A war!"

"Well, then we can just settle it!"

Alex huffed and rested his head in the tuft of fur atop Erin's head. "You're an idiot."