"Today I'm outside my office waiting to go home."

"Hmm,I think I'll go buy something before I go home." Sierra said to herself.

"I was on the same old road,walking home like I always do.

"Both of my parents died on early death.I have no siblings, and I have no significant other either.

"I lived every day by myself, freely on my own.

"Come to think of it,there's that new coffee shop that just opened up one street over." Sierra said to herself.

"The project I was working on at my job had settled down for the time being.

"So I figured I'd treat myself to a nice cup of coffee to drink on the way back home.

"I deviated from my usual path home and began to head for the coffee shop when...something zipped past me right before my eyes.It was a small dog.

"The puppy was dashing straight for a busy road.

"Stop!" Sierra said out loud.

"My body reacted before I even realized it.I reached out and shoved the puppy off the road and onto the sidewalk.

"Having fallen down onto the street because of the momentum I put into the shove,I saw a car zooming towards me.

"It's so dark...

"Odds are the puppy is safe.

"It had landed on the sidewalk and given me this terrified look.Poor thing.It was so cute.

"So...dark...

"Did I just die?

"Well,if I did I don't really have any regrets,I guess.

"I mean,I did save that puppy.

"Aahh,l wanted to try that coffee though.

"There was that one fantasy novel I was in the middle of reading too...

"-ven't. done...anything." A strangers voice.

"I haven't done...anything wrong.

"What's wrong?" Sierra said to the stranger.

"Help...please..." A strangers voice.

"Sure, I'll help you." Sierra said to the stranger.

"I'm dead after all! Leave it to me,I'll come save the day!"

"...Something's cold." Sierra said

"When I came to my senses,I realized most of my body was touching a very hard,cold and bumpy surface.

"I opened my eyes slowly to find out that it was a stone floor.

"I looked around me.It was a place I was completely unfamiliar with.I presumed it to be a cave.

"I was just in town,wasn't I?If I got ran over by a car and died,then this must be the afterlife." Sierra said to herself.

"Hey,who are you?Where'd you came from?" A strangers voice.

"Suddenly, an animal that looked like a tiny dog with bird wings appeared before me,flying above in the air.

"Most shocking of all,it could speak.

"Um,hello there,mister...bird?Dog?" Sierra said to the stranger.

"Hey now,who are you calling a dog?!" A strangers voice.

"Are you an animal from the afterlife? Like...are you dead?" Sierra said to the stranger.

"Dead?! Ha! No,no,no.You however are dead wrong,my friend!" A strangers voice.

"The strange creature tumbled about,spinning playfully in the air.

"First of all,I'm no animal! I'm a great beast, known as none other than—" A strangers voice.

"The flying"beast"had been yipping away,when suddenly he just...stopped. It was almost as if his batteries ran out.

"Once he suddenly came to,he was livid. I thought he might even try to bite me.

"You! You took my power!" The stranger said

"Your"power"? What are you talking about?" Sierra said to the stranger.

"Don't play dumb! You're already suspicious as it is with those strange clothes you're wearing!" The stranger said.

"Strange? These clothes are totally normal." Sierra said to the stranger.

"Today,I was wearing something one would usually wear to the office.Nothing out of the ordinary.

"Wait! Did you..." The stranger said.

"He circled me a few times,coming to a stop right in front of me.

"...Did you came from another world?" The stranger said.

"Another world...?" Sierra said with confusion.

"What does he mean...?

"Yes,it's true that where I came from there are no animals that can talk or dogs that have wings.

"But I'm pretty sure I died after getting run over by a car after saving that dog.

"If this isn't the afterlife, then that must mean..." Sierra said.

"I was reincarnated in a different world.

"I've read about this in fantasy novels before! I see,I'm in a different world now!

"It was then that I remembered I had heard a voice calling out in the darkness.

"Hey,can I ask you something?" Sierra said.

"What do you want?" The stranger said.

"Where you in a really dark place asking me to help you just a minute ago?" Sierra said.

"Me? Ask for HELP?! Are you mad?" The stranger said.

"He flew straight to me to headbutt me,but I just put a hand on his head to stop him from coming any closer.

"How dare you,you worm!I'm the great,wonderful,magnificent —" The stranger said.

"He stopped speaking again.This time he floated slowly to the ground.

"Let me guess. You can't remember who you are,right?" Sierra said.

"He started at the ground, motionless. He must be feeling down.

"I could tell because his tail was dropping.

"This won't do.I'm anxious as it is suddenly living in a different world.

"It won't do us any good if the both of us are feeling down.

"My name is Sierra! What's yours?" Sierra said.

"I cheerfully asked for his name,and his cute little eyes looked up to me.

"I don't know...You're the one who stole it from me,so you give me a name. The stranger said.

"Hmm,I don't think I did,but..." Sierra said.

"A name...Right,a name.I better make sure it's cool one.

"Jacob Doug Evan Jonas Allen Owen Marple Zeus the Fourth." Sierra said.

"Whooooa,thats way too long! And wait a second, how am I suddenly the fourth?!" The stranger said.

"I know coming up with a fitting name can be tough, but wow you're bad at this." The stranger said.

"Hey,I think it sounds cool." Sierra said.

"He let out a big sigh.

"A splendid, beautiful, grandiose name that would pierce the hearts of mankind and leave its mark in history for the ages to come!" The stranger said.

"He stood up straight with his paws on his hips.

"A name...A name..." Sure? Sierra said while thinking.

"Max...Yeah,Max! What do you say?" Sierra said.

"Max...?Meh,that'll work, I guess." The stranger said.

"He gracefully jumped up into the air.

"Then it's settled! Max it is!" Sierra said with a smile.

"I held out my hand,and he put his paw on it.

"Sierra! Max shall grace you with his presence." Max said.

"Thanks! So...Where are we,anyway?" Sierra said.

"I'm positive this isn't the afterlife, but I still don't know where we are." Max said.

"I can't remember anything before meeting you." Max said.

"Oh..." Sierra said feeling sorry for him.

"That might actually make his argument of me taking something from him possible.

"Okay then,well,why don't we go outside." Sierra said.

"We can probably find out something if we go visit a town." Sierra said.

"Outside...?" Max said.

"Yeah,Together." Sierra said.

"Max wagged his tail and began to think.

"Maybe he doesn't want to go with me...

"However,he immediately leaped up and stood on my shoulder.

"Let us depart!The great Max shall accompany you outside!" Max said.

"He he,you lead the way! Sierra said with excitement.

"We exited the cave without much trouble.

"Being in a fantasy world and all,I thought we'd encounter a lot of monsters, but I was unexpectedly mistaken.

"Upon leaving the cave,we found a straight, well traveled path that was thick with trees on both sides of it.

"Maybe we can find a town if we go down this path long enough.

"Wow,there's so much nature!" Sierra said with her eye's sparkling

"Do you not have any forests where you're from?" Max said.

"Not many, no.If you go far enough you can find some,but I was mainly surrounded by buildings." Sierra said

"I walked up to one of the trees and touched a leaf.You could tell it wasn't fake.

"Agh!" Sierra's hurt.

"I cut my finger. I could feel the pain creep up from my fingertip.Well,at least I was now certain this wasn't a dream.

"I smell blood...What,did you hurt yourself?" Max said.

"Yeah,not so bad though." Sierra said.

"Max started at my fingertip which had already stopped bleeding.

"Huh,he must be sensitive to the smell of blood because he's. beast.

"Hmm...From the looks of it,I don't think you've been poisoned." Max said "he's worried".

"Max took his eyes off my cut.

"You were worried for me?Aw,Thank you." Sierra said with a smile.

"Worried?! Yeah,worried I wouldn't have a chauffeur anymore!" Max said while blushing.

"Max hopped onto my shoulder again.

"However,he quickly jumped back off at the sound of a growl.

"...What was that?" Sierra said

"It's coming from over there.Stay on your toes." Max said "still worried".

"I followed after Max into the forest and we found a huge wolf.It had a star shape on it's forehead.

"His legs were caught in a bear trap.

"Oh no..." Sierra said "feeling wanted to help the wolf"

"Watch out,that's a savage beast. Don't get close." Max said.

"The wolf noticed us looking at him and gave us a nasty stare as it growled, eyes full of rage.

"The teeth of the bear trap had sunk deep into his legs.That beast was going nowhere.

"Why would anyone do this...?" Sierra said.

"The people of this world must view these beasts as enemies they can hunt." Max said

"Come on,let's just go." Max said.

"Max turned the other way and headed back for the path we came on.

"I,on the other hand,couldn't simply leave the wolf there all alone.

"I'm going to save him." Sierra said.

"You what?! Are you crazy?!" Max said.

"Make one wrong move and you're done for!" Max said.

"I know he might attack me,but I want to help if he's hurt." Sierra said.

"Even if he is a beast...

"Max let out a sigh. It looks like he gave in.

"You sure are strange." Max said.

"Come to think of it,you weren't afraid when you first saw me,either." Max said "surprised".

"Well,that would be because you're quite cute,Max. Sierra said with a smile.

"How dare you call me cute,vermin!" Max said while blushing.

"Max gave me the evil eye.The gaze of the wolf before me,however, was ten times scarier.

"Nrgh...Very well. I shall lend you my assistance." Max said.

"So how do you want to do this?" Max said

"The bear trap was pretty rusty and weak,even I could've broken it with my own straight.

"I'm the one who said I'd save him,so I'll do it on my own." Sierra said "being brave".

"Whoa,are you serious? All right, do things your way,then." Max said.

"I crouched slightly and slowly approached him.

"I heard before that if you are too fast to pet a dog when you first meet them,they become really cautious.

"The wolf beast growled at me an bared it's white fangs.

"It's fine.I'm just going to take the trap off of you,that's all." Sierra said.

"If it weren't for the trap holding him down,I'm sure he would've already pounced and attacked me.

"Don't worry,I'm not going to hurt you." Sierra said.

"...Wait.You can't speak?" Sierra said.

"The beast said nothing and simply continued to growl.

"Beasts usually can't speak with humans." Max said.

"What?You can speak with me,though!" Sierra said.

"Well,yeah.That's because I'm special... Maybe." Max said.

"Max's tail dropped down pitifully.

"Whatever... Here goes nothing!" Sierra said.

"I started to reach for the trap.The wolf stared at me as if it were going to jump and bite me at any moment.

"Hey,you! That's right! You,you beast! Look over here!" Max said.

"Max jumped right in front of the wolf.Its eyes shifted off of me to him.

"Now's my chance!

" I grabbed the trap and opened it up with all my might.

"It broke with a loud noise,and the wolf who had been set free jumped nimbly to the other side of it.

"Alright, you're free!" Sierra said.

"It was a pretty old trap,so getting that thing off was a cinch." Max said.

"The wolf looked at us silently.

"Then it faced the other way and ran off into the forest.

"I wanted to heal his wound..." Sierra said " feeling a bit sad".

"We decided to head back to the road we had originally started out on.