Janus left the cave after Zeus. It didn't feel right, leaving Maximus behind. Already, Janus wanted to go back for him, but he was already Cerberus. The thought dismayed Janus.

She collapsed on the ground, tears shedding. Her heart throbbed over what she had done. She tossed the panpipes on the ground in front of her. Anger thrust in her heart!

She did not want to look at the panpipes again.

She looked up, even as Zeus opened the gateway to the Underworld from the cave. Pan, the God of the Wild, returned. Pan picked up the panpipes, telling Janus in shock, "I thought you wanted these panpipes! They're my gift to you!"

"Keep them! I don't want them!" Janus snarled in anguish and fear. She took one look at Zeus, before departing.

However, Zeus instructed to her, as she ran away, "The Gateway to the Underworld is opened! Don't you want to see what awaits us there?"

It was too late. Janus was gone, fled away from the campsite, heading straight towards the beach, with its white sandy shores protruding all around her. She didn't care, even as the crystal-clear waves thrust themselves upon the shoreline. She dived for the water, not daring to look back and see what awaited her there.

The waves were too powerful. They drew Janus back to shore! At least, until some of the bigger waves careened into her, sending her hurtling into the water, uncontrollable beyond her reasoning.

Janus nearly drowned that day.

Her life flashed before her eyes. For a moment, she thought this was the end! The end that she would see Maximus and God. But lo! God would always be around. But Maximus… no, no she feared the worst for him.

She couldn't save him! What more could she do for him?

She was about to die!

She closed her eyes, feeling the water engulf her. There was no time to look up and around her. This really was the end for her.

Breathe.

Janus opened her eyes. She witnessed the sea bed, fishes with their bright, shiny colors. She saw the coral standing about on the ocean floor, enjoying its nutrients from the water. She could see many ocean creatures floating around her. Some sharks dived towards her.

Oh no! They were about to eat her!

She looked up. The sharks darted off, scared at something or someone.

Janus didn't even know what frightened them off. She looked up, noticing she was grabbed by someone, who pulled her to shore. Janus breathed fresh oxygen, the moment they were back out of the water.

Janus looked up at her savior, but only saw a masculine Dalmatian face, looking back at her. He was rugged and handsome, and that was all she could think about as she drifted off into a deep slumber… only to be awakened moments later, spitting out water!

She turned her head from side to side in pain. As she looked up, she was brought onto a stretcher and taken back to camp, where the citizens of the First World awaited her.

~o~

Janus awoke from her sleep.

She was lying on top of a nice, warm dog bed, just her size. She looked around. There were other animals treated for injuries. She noticed she was wearing a plastic cone, wrapped around her neck, protecting her head from scratches and her biting her wounds.

She gazed at the male Dalmatian who saved her life. It made her wonder why he was wearing dark robes.

Was he a Sith? Janus heard about the Sith somewhere from the locals, at least when she was aroused, but she couldn't imagine meeting a Dalmatian who was a Sith Lord, let alone Sith.

Just who was her savior? Was he friendly?

The male Dalmatian approached her. He walked on two legs, something she prized doing, too. He was so charming and mysterious. Just who was he, this savior? He must have been someone special to save her from drowning.

"Who are you?" Janus asked, curious about him.

"I am Jock," the male Dalmatian introduced herself. "And yes, I am a Sith Lord, newly recruited by Aslan to keep watch over you. I heard you were in danger. Facing off against Maximus must have been tough." He lowered his head in shame, as he sat down next to her. "You mustn't be too hard on Maximus. He betrayed us all, long before we came to the First World. He allied himself with Lucifer. That's why he seemed off to you. You needn't fear him. He'll do fine. I'm sure he has life lessons to learn, too. Just don't blame him. We'll need him sometime soon."

Janus froze in anger. She didn't want to talk about Maximus. The thought scared her.

"What's wrong? You fought Maximus in that cave? How was he? I'm sure he must have packed a punch. He's a great fighter!" Jock said, intrigued by her and Maximus.

Janus shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it. It's too painful."

"Try me," Jock said, resting a paw against her paw. "Please."

Janus stared at Jock with fiery eyes. Should she tell him what she did to Maximus? "I used Pan's panpipes to put Maximus to sleep."

"Oh!" Jock moved his paw away from hers. He gulped, unsure what to think about this, "I'm sorry. I know he was a good friend."

"A friend? No. We weren't friends. We were acquaintances," Janus said, intriguing Jock again. "I hardly know him. What should I do? I feel so much guilt over what I did."

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't worry!" Jock said, calming her down. "Listen, since you're free tonight, I'd thought I get you your dinner. We can chat after you eat. Learn about each other. What do you say?" Jock smiled at her with kind eyes. Janus almost wanted to believe him.

But the notion that not all smiles were pleasant sent Janus reeling. She did not want to go through what she went through with Maximus again.

"I'm sorry. I need to sleep," Janus said, resting her head against her dog bed.

"Oh," Jock said, smiling back at her with pleasantness in his eyes. "That's fine. I'll sit with you."

Janus smiled. Maybe she did find the right dog after all for her. "Thank you, Jock. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Jock said, pleased to have made a new friend.

~o~

God met with Aslan in the healer's tent. There, they observed Janus with Jock, who watched over Janus while she slept. It really was a sight to see that Janus had found a new friend. It made God happy.

God looked at Jock, instructing him, "Take care of her. Treat her well and with kindness."

Jock nodded. "I'm not like those other Sith Lords, Lord. I'm a different kind of Sith."

God nodded. He turned to Aslan, who instructed Jock:

"The Force brought you here, Jock. It created you to become its first Sith Lord of the First World. Don't forget that."

Jock nodded a second time. "I won't forget. I remember what happened." He shrugged, admitting to them, "I know the paths of the Dark Side, but I don't forget my place in the Light Side. I just hope I am created to combat both the Light and the Darkness."

"Hmm… why would you do that?" Janus asked, cautious towards them now. She sat up, surprising Jock. "What use is there for me? I have no Jedi powers. No Sith powers. I'm just… me."

"Hmm… that can be arranged," Aslan said, getting Janus' attention.

Janus looked at him with confusion, "What? Me? Force powers? I don't know."

"Just try to heal yourself," God instructed her, concerned for her, but also curious about her Force powers.

Janus sighed. She shook her head, as if to make her statements clear. "No. No! Sorry. I can't do it."

Jock huffed. "Listen, if you don't try it, then how will we know what to train you for?"

"He's right," Aslan stated. He sighed, admitting to them both. "I may not always be with you."

Jock and Janus looked at Aslan with confusion now. "What? You're not?"

"But Aslan, we—"

"Janus, that's enough!" Aslan said, keeping her from speaking further about the subject. He sighed, telling her and Jock, "Listen, the Lord will keep you safe. I have my own world to make. Narnia. It is due to be created soon."

God nodded. "Then go. It is time for you to begin your journey."

Aslan nodded. "It is. Farewell, to all of you. I shall go now." He vanished out of sight.

Janus turned to God in wonder.

"Where did Aslan go? Will he come back?" Janus asked, right as Jock wrapped his arms around her for support.

God looked on at Janus and Jock, knowing this was right. "You two rest here. I have preparations to finish. It will be a new day for all of us. I promise you." God vanished, leaving Janus alone with Jock.

~o~

Janus sat by the windowsill a few days later. She hadn't come out of the healer's tent, since she was first brought here. Her bruises healed, and healed rapidly. In no time at all, her cone was removed, leaving her to scratch her neck at last. She wandered over to the windowsill, sitting down and observing her surroundings.

Jock joined her in moments, leaving Janus with much to contemplate.

"Do you think he'll be all right? Maximus?" Janus asked Jock, concerned.

Jock shook his head. "I don't know. Hades tricked him. He's a victim inside that cave. We're not ready to go there again… yet."

"Then what should we do?" Janus asked, confused.

Jock shrugged. "Well, first, we need to see if you have Force powers. Then we'll determine where you belong: with the Jedi or with the Sith. Whichever you feel at home will be right for you. But for right now, we can see those Force powers."

Janus shrugged. "No. You know I'm more Sith than Jedi."

"Try it," Jock said, serious now.

Janus sighed. "All right. I'll try." She snapped her fingers, stunned to see prickles of energy grasping her paws. She looked in disdain and confusion. She didn't have Force powers! Did she? This made no sense! "No. No, no, no! I'm not a Jedi! I'm a Sith! What is this?"

Jock laughed. "Welcome to the Jedi order, Janus." Jock laughed some more. He was certainly intrigued by her.

"No! Nooo!" Janus screamed, knowing this was wrong. Oh, what was she to do? Oh, dear her!

And that is where the events in my fanfic, The First World, ended. This story is not over yet! There's more to come! :)