We've spent around an hour in the city before I finally begin losing it. All of the bright lights start swirling around and the figures rushing past all look the same. I wander around aimlessly, not looking where I am going.

Then I almost crash right into a pole. I stop and just stare at the pole as if it's an extremely impressive piece of art. I reach out and finger the pole.

Then, I suddenly snap out of my weird daze. I stare around and realise that I can't see Vincent, Kinsley or Joy anywhere. I panic and run up to the nearest passerby. I ask him if he have seen a blonde man with two little girls, but he shakes his head and tells me he hasn't seen anyone matching that description today. I gaze around in despair. Am I really lost in this horrible city all by myself? I start trying to retrace my steps and find the edge of the city, but I keep getting mixed up. I wander down street after street and up lane after lane, but endless buildings stretch away in every direction. I am almost in tears as I walk past an elementary school and turn a corner.

Then I see a flash at the edge of my vision. I turn and frown. There's a dog running towards me. I stand there in confusion, before a huge relieved smile spreads across my face. "It's you!" I exclaim before rushing forward and scooping up the fluffy little pup. I cuddle him to my chest, and blink away a sudden haze of happy tears. "I can't believe you came to find me. Thank you so much!" The pup wriggles and then starts vigorously licking my hands. I walk down a quiet street with him in my arms but when we reach the next lane he wriggles again. I carefully put him down on the ground and he immediately starts running back the way we came from. "Hey!" I call as I give chase. We run past an old lady who stops, eyes wide, to watch us pass. It's fine for a few blocks, the pup seems to have enough sense to stay away from the road, but then we round a crystal fountain. We are now in the city centre and it is busier than ever. Then the pup goes dashing across the street. "No!" I yell as I double my pace. Even so I don't manage to stop him in time. He dodges under cars and runs in the intervals when the traffic comes to a halt at the nearby traffic lights. People pay me a bit more attention. They honk their horns as I chase after the little furball. I finally reach the other side of the road and I am panting heavily, but the dog is still running. He turns off the street and is now hurtling along some street called Sunset Valley. I frown at the name, since there's no "valley" anywhere in sight. I always hated city names. They never made any sense. I set off after the dog again but I am running slower now. Still I somehow manage to keep my eyes on him through the crowds of people.

Then we turn into a housing estate and the noisy bustle is left behind us. I sigh in relief but now that the crowd has dispersed, I suddenly get the strange feeling that I'm being followed. I stop in my tracks and peer around suspiciously. That's when I spot someone behind me, a girl. I spin around and narrow my eyes at her. I feel nervous, but I'm careful to present a brave face to her. "Who are you, and what do you want with me?" I ask briskly. The girl just stands there, staring at me. My frown deepens. "Well?" "I... am, just... c-can I pet your furry animal?" I blink at her. "What?" "You know, him?" I follow the finger she points and see that her gaze is focussed on the puppy, who had come back and is now cuddled up to my shoe. I had been so focussed on the girl that I hadn't even noticed him. "Oh, him! I guess you can pet him." I'm not sure if I am making the right decision, letting this stranger pet my, no, THE dog, but I have the strange feeling that I can trust her. The girl smiles and bends down to ruffle the pup's ears. She looks quite ordinary: fair hair tied back in a plait and hazel eyes. But she's wearing a cloak, of all things. It's a deep blue, and is embroidered with pieces of gold. A pouch is tied round her waist, and she has a huge cut on her cheek. "He's so cute. Is he some kind of wolf pup highbreed?" I blink. "Huh? Wolf pup? What are you talking about?" The girl sighs. "Why does everyone here act so strange? First you're all travelling around in strange metal boxes, then you don't know what a guild is, and now you have never heard of a wolf pup before? What's wrong with all of you?" I stare silently at the girl, wondering if she has lost her mind or something. "Are you feeling okay? You sound absolutely crazy right now. And by metal boxes, do you by any chance mean cars?" I point to a silent Toyota with tinted windows driving slowly by. The girl nods. "Yes. This city must be really advanced. I've never seen this much human technology in one place." I frown. "Watch it, your sounding mad again. Do you need a doctor?" She blinks. "Doctor? Do you mean a healing mage?" I grit my teeth impatiently. I am getting really annoyed with this person. Where is she from if she doesn't even know what a dog is?

Before I can start telling her that I think she should go see a psychologist, suddenly I see a movement to our left. I turn to see a group of around twenty soldiers marching towards us. They wear full suits of armour, and heft heavy swords. I gawk at them as they continue steadily towards us. They do not look happy at all. Then I spin around and stare with new shock at the girl, for I now recognise her as the person who was running from these same soldiers in my dream.