Torchbearer walked his personal small herd of dogs around Trench. They had recently become indispensable companions to the banditos on some of their forays into Dema. Although loyal and well-trained, the dogs were still just playful little savages.

And again, despite Torchbearer's commands, some of the dogs deliberately ran ahead, barking loudly and playing with each other, inciting others to disobey the rules and run around in the air like puppies.

On the other hand, you, an exhausted fugitive from Dema, who had been trudging barefoot from the city itself for a whole day, tensed up when you heard the barking. Coyotes? Wolves? Foxes? Hell, you've never even heard an animal in your life, let alone seen one.

Documentaries verified by the top of Dema, which can be counted on the fingers? Uh-huh, very helpful right now.

Nevertheless, you listened to the approaching barks until about three dogs jumped out of the bushes, knocking you off your feet. Their rough tongues slid across your skin. You didn't even have time to be scared, just hoped that you would be eaten faster than you noticed. The dogs, however, paid no attention to your fetal body on the ground, wagging their tails and playfully biting and pulling at your limbs and clothing. Then suddenly a loud voice.

"Hey, scat! Ugh! Jim, Shark! Bug, get off!"

Torchbearer pulled the dogs away with little effort, and a bunch more ran up to him. Another second and you are already standing in front of him, he helped you up while you were still frozen.

"Sorry, my dogs really like to chew bones. Don't pretend to be a dead possum anymore, or they'll get used to it, got it?"

As the guy's expectant gaze with a smile was directed at you, you were still trying to figure out what kind of possums he was talking about. You were a hungry, scared, and tired fugitive from Dema, and this bro was just talking to you like a friend...?