Chapter 1

Brandy Cattle made a few calls to people and worked overtime to ensure she had enough savings to cover any adoption fees, even having help from her father, sister, and even brother-in-law just in case. She even aced the examination by a social worker, who gave her a glowing review after walking around her condominium near the heart of Brisbane.

Such kindness from them surprised her, even though for her sister, Chilli, Brandy felt a sinking guilt in her stomach.

'Did I really deserve this?' She thought to herself.

Then the call came. Her phone buzzed on her kitchen counter, and it broke the silence of her condo as she ran to it, her heart hammering in her chest.

"Ms. Cattle?" The social worker asked on the other end.

"You've reached her." Brandy's anxiety sunk inside of her, as she sweated bullets.

"You've been approved!"

Brandy's eyes widened, gasping.

"Oh my God!" Brandy's eyes welled up in tears. "This is the best day of my life, thank you, thank-"

"I'm happy for you," The social worker chuckled. "But please, lower your voice."

"Sorry." Brandy smiled, "It's just, I feel like you know, how a neighbor of mine puts it," She put her hand on her chin. "Uh, I rolled a natural twenty?"

"Maybe I should see if your neighbor would let me play some D&D, then!" The social worker chuckled. "Though, let's get down to business, ma'am."

"Of course." Brandy's face hardened, as she moved to her living room and saw on her couch, she turned her head to look out her window into the heart of Brisbane, the great Brisbane River snaking across the cityscape.

"You know, this would be a breach of protocol but considering everything," The social worker on the other end sighed. "You're lucky to have been selected even every string you could've pulled."

"I know." Brandy laid on her couch as she sighed, her eyes looking at the ceiling.

"Just know, this is a highly unusual case," The social worker said, Brandy imagining them waggling their finger at her. "He doesn't seem unusual, despite his origin."

"I know," Brandy shook her head. "When do you want me to come over?" She asked.

"ASAP." The social worker hung up.

Brandy immediately grabbed her purse and made for the door.

Josiah's gloved fist banged against the door to the escape pod. "Hey," Even though this pod had no windows, he knew who it was on the other side. "If you shoot this off, they'll-"

Josiah felt the pod go loose, as he ran down the aisle and sat down, fixing the five-point harness onto him as the vehicle tilted and let out a screech.

A nearby monitor displayed "MALFUNCTION! STAY SEATED UNTIL LANDING."

"Aw, hell." He muttered to himself, afforded only a few seconds of calm before secured in his seat, Josiah was jostled around like a ragdoll, as the pod went into a spin and everything went black.

The last thing he heard was the whining and creaking of metal, along with the sound of a klaxon as Josiah let out a weak groan.

The first thing he saw was a ceiling with blue patterns that reminded him of the tides at a beach. He looked to his side and an electrocardiogram beeped beside him, with an IV hooked into his arm.

Wait a minute.

Did his arm always have fur? He held up his arm, the tube following his arm as he wiggled all four of his fingers.

'Hold up.' He thought to himself.

He let out a scream.

Two nurses came in, as Josiah's eyes looked to them.

Both nurses were staring at him, as Josiah's screaming stopped, his eyes widening. They stood there, looking back.

Josiah was tempted to pinch himself as he saw the nurses as both of them were dogs standing on two legs, one of the nurses holding onto the lever of the door to his room as he saw she had a hand not unlike a human's.

"You're awake," One of the nurses said, as she turned to the other. "Get the doctor, he's up." The nurse nodded as the other approached Josiah.

She had black and brown fur with floppy ears, and Josiah knew she was a beagle as she approached. She wore scrubs as she kneeled down.

"Hey, kid," Her voice was soft and quiet. "The doctor will be with you in a minute, but I just want to check up on how you're doing." Josiah noting she spoke with an Australian accent.

Josiah gave a nod, rubbing his head, feeling fur and a pair of large ears as he looked at the nurse.

"Do you know where you are?" She asked.

Josiah shook his head.

"Can you give me your name?" The nurse held out her hand.

"Josiah." He said as Josiah realized the voice that came out of his mouth wasn't quite his.

"That's a nice name, Josiah." The nurse smiled, as she nodded. "Do you know where you're from?"

Josiah finally noticed his muzzle before looking to the nurse, as he shook his head.

"A shame." The nurse rubbed the back of her head. "Do you know where your mum or dad is?"

"I don't." Josiah said, raising an eyebrow. He actually did, but he didn't think the nurse would humor him if he said the truth.

"Hmm," The nurse put a hand on her chin pulled out her phone typed something on it, and showed Josiah a picture. "What would you call these?"

Josiah's eyes narrowed as his stomach growled. "French fries?"

The nurse nodded and showed him another picture.

"Cookies?"

"One more." She said, before showing him her phone's screen.

"A gas station?" Josiah's eyebrow raised.

"Well, we at least know you're an American, then." The nurse said as a black lab in a coat walked in with a stethoscope hanging from his neck. "Hey, doctor, Josiah here is awake."

The black lab looked at Josiah, as he smiled. "Ah, Josiah, then?"

Josiah nodded, his expression relaxing. "Where am I?"

"Josiah, you're in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia." The doctor said, his accent thicker than the nurse's. "Specifically you're in River Davis Hospital in the pediatric wing."

Josiah's thoughts raced as he realized. He found an alternative Earth, one where the dominant species of were canines. In a way, he was grateful to not have found an alternative Earth that was dead or unsuitable for human life.

Though, there was a slight problem.

He was literally a child again, as he felt his stomach churned with anxiety. The doctor and nurse spoke to one another before facing him again.

"You okay, kid?" The doctor asked.

"I'm..." Josiah grabbed the blanket close to him. "Fiiiiiiiiiiiine."

"You don't seem to be." The nurse pointed at him.

"Josiah, it's okay to be scared." The doctor kneeled down to Josiah's level. "If I were in a strange city with no apparent recollection of what happened, I would be too."

Josiah looked back at the doctor, silent.

"Well, Josiah. We'll look into finding your mum and dad or if not, a relative." The doctor smiled as he put a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, you're safe here. We'll take care of you however long it takes, okay?"

Josiah nodded as the doctor and nurse left.

Josiah was left alone as he looked at the IV in his veins.

A part of him wanted to escape, another chided him for withholding information from them, and a part of him was screaming.

He sighed and shook his head. A part of him wanted to give that doctor the benefit of the doubt since he was at a hospital after all.

From looking around the room, the walls were painted with a reef motif, and various colorful fish swimming around. Even as someone who wasn't an artist, the mural was done with care and it in a way, made Josiah feel a little calmer.

He leaned back in his bed.

If he tried to escape, he might've sealed his own death considering the IV anyway, were it to be unplugged.

Brandy walked into the hospital, purse in hand. If she weren't sweating from the Queensland summer, she was sweating bullets from the anxiety of the chance to meet her new child.

One of the nurses led her across the hall as she held onto her purse with both hands. She let out a sigh as the nurse looked at her.

"Are you alright?" The nurse asked.

"Just nervous." Brandy looked over to her.

"You'll do good," The nurse said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "With time, you'll get better."

Brandy gave a weak smile at that before her ears perked up.

"So, Josiah," A voice came from the room. "We'll be handing you off to a foster parent, considering we cannot find records of your parents or any relatives you might have."

There was silence.

"So, the moment she comes by, we'll hand you off and you'll be on your way to your new life."

Brandy then rounded the corner.

"Ah-ha!" The doctor said as he looked at Brandy. "Speak of the devil, there she is!"

Brandy waved, smiling, as her gaze looked to Josiah, the young Akita looking back at her as he tilted his head.

"Josiah," The doctor held out his hand. "Say hello to your new mum."

Josiah rubbed the back of his head.

"I'm sorry," The doctor turned to Brandy. "He's not too talkative."

"Oh," Brandy smiled. "That's fine," She chuckled, looking at Josiah. "I'd be shocked too if I were in his place!"

"Indeed." The doctor said, as Josiah got off the bed and landed on his feet. Brandy's eyebrow raised up, as he seemed surprised about something Josiah looked down at himself, as he hesitated before approaching her, the pair walking into the hallway together.

"So, Josiah," Brandy said, looking down at him. "Right?"

Josiah looked up at her, nodding.

"Are you scared?" She asked.

Josiah's mouth hardened into a line before he shook his head.

"You don't have to lie," Brandy looked to the hall. "You don't have to be scared." She smiled. "How about Macca's for dinner?"

"What's Macca's?" Josiah asked.

"Oh," Brandy facepalmed. "What we call McDonald's here in Australia."

"..." Josiah looked down. "Sure thing... Mom."

Brandy beamed, smiling as she led him out. "I think we'll get along fine, then."