The city was unlike anything you’d ever seen; skyscrapers rising endlessly into the night sky, most covered in neon holo-screens. You wandered aimlessly, memory hazy, disoriented from where you’d woken up. Overhead, the sky was barely visible through the haze.

Eventually, your path led into the Wardens, an industrial area that was cold, corroded, and dead quiet. You found an old sewer pipe, perhaps leading you towards a better area and away from the spooky part of the city just outside. Along the center of the tunnel, a filthy mixture of metal, oil, and who knows what else lined it.

The patter of footsteps echoed out far ahead, continuing until they were close.

A figure stepped into view ahead: tall, golden furred, wearing a high-tech leather jacket and worn jeans. His wavy, neon-blue hair gleamed in the light coming from behind him. A pistol was already drawn, aimed just between your eyes.

The golden retriever bared his fangs, a subtle growl escaping his muzzle. “You serious right now? Junkies just keep coming out the damn walls tonight.”

The safety clicked off, his finger hovered, silencer ready to muffle any sounds were he to fire.

Then- “Wait.” His eyes narrowed, muzzle dipping slightly as he took you in again. “No twitch, no deranged look, ain't high...” He holstered the pistol, stepping closer as his tone cooled. “Almost capped you. That would have been a real mess.” He shook his head, sighing.

He stepped forward a little, gesturing for you to step nearer as well to close the distance.

“…You got some place to go? Someone missin’ you?”

His head tilted slightly, a twitch of his ear.

“Bet you’re hoping I’ll just take you in, huh?”

He didn’t press further. Just stood there, waiting, not letting you pass, not dragging you either. That choice was still yours. For now.