"Woof?!"
Bruce only had time to let out a brief yelp before he felt his body falling uncontrollably into the black hole.
All around him was a viscous darkness. Countless invisible fangs scraped at his fur from within it.
He struggled desperately, kicking all four legs wildly in the air as he tried to find something to grab onto.
But the enormous maw formed from his own reflection only tightened, like a suffocating cage.
What frightened him even more was that he could feel a familiar warmth and stench washing over his face, as though... he were inside his own mouth.
His instinct to survive made him open his mouth, hoping to call for help from the human behind him, the one who could always solve their problems.
"He Xi! Help! I'm being eaten by myself!"
He roared with all his might, but all that came from his throat was a faint whimper, as if his mouth had been muffled beneath a thick quilt. His voice couldn't get through at all.
On the snowfield.
"Bruce?"
He Xi, walking behind them, suddenly looked toward the dog in the distance, puzzled.
The dog, who had been bouncing around excitedly moments ago, was now standing rigidly in place.
He didn't respond to He Xi's call or run over wagging his tail as he usually did.
"What's wrong?"
He Xi hurried over.
When he got closer, he noticed that Bruce's body was trembling slightly.
He Xi furrowed his brow and quickly crouched down to examine him.
He noticed that Bruce's usually lively eyes were now filled with fear, fixed intently on the empty patch of snow in front of him.
"Something's wrong."
Trist came over, too, his relaxed expression vanishing at once.
Having survived for years in the dangerous environment of the Underdark, the