Chapter Text
In an Alleyway between Lambeth and South Bank of London.
————ᕙ[･･]ᕗ————
London is a beautiful place to live in. Where all life lived in somewhat peaceful harmony, for it was getting cloudy in London and people immediately knew it was gonna rain, and as they quickened their pace they didn't see the glowing light in the alleyway, and as the light left as it quickly appeared, there stood a puppy.
A sleeping pup whose peaceful slumber was about to be awakened by an unpleasant surprise.
Drip Drop
Drip Drop
Drip Drop
Ever accidentally snorted water and it went up inside your nose, then got that weird feeling on the roof of your mouth because you did it? Yeah, sucks, right? Now imagine being woken up like that. Ain't that a way to start your day?
*Snort huh hark*
"Uh!!"
Well, after that horrible awakening, the first thing I noticed was that it was drizzling over my head with rain. Wait, why am I not in my house and on a dirty concrete floor and not my bed? Then I noticed I was in an alley, a big ol' stereotypical alley with graffiti on the walls and trash scattered about, and that they were way bigger than usual... Wait, what? Why was everything big? Isn't it supposed to be normal-sized?! …
"What the..."
…
Was that my voice just now, and why did it sound so... young? I looked around and found myself in a puddle, and what I saw was not what I was expecting. I was expecting myself, my human self, the guy I see in the mirror every morning, the dude who's captured in time in the pictures on my wall, the selfies in my gallery.
I was expecting Daniel.
But no.
It was a dog, more specifically a Dalmatian, a gosh darn cartoon-looking Dalmatian puppy that was staring right at me and not my human self. I felt my breath hitch with shock. I continued to stare at what I think is me but not. I quickly got out of the puddle and scurried away from it until I hit a brick wall. While I was hyperventilating, my thoughts were going a thousand miles a minute from that puddle.
How is this happening?
Is this a dream?
It's a nightmare, isn't it?
Why does everything feel so real?!
Please be a dream!!!
…
....
.....
Wait a minute. If this is a dream, why am I panicking? I mean, it's not like my usual dreams where I feel like I'm just a passive observer to some weird scenario my mind conjured up to make my sleep interesting. But this dream, if it is a dream, feels surreal and different. This is the first time I feel like I'm in the pilot seat, fully aware and in control of my actions.
I started moving around, and boy did it feel weird. It was like I had the muscle memory but not the muscles to back it up. It reminded me of that time when I was on my computer for hours, lost in a rabbit hole of random videos on the internet. When I finally tried to get up and go to the bathroom, my legs felt like jelly from sitting around all day.
In this dream, every movement felt exaggerated and awkward, like I was a puppet learning to walk for the first time. I stumbled a bit, trying to get my bearings. The ground beneath my feet felt solid, yet my steps were unsteady. Each stride was a challenge, as if my limbs were trying to remember how to function properly.
Then I started flexing my hand—I meant paws so I could get the feel of them and surprisingly very fluid in movement and I guess being a cartoon dog gives me thumbs?
Brushing that thought off, I quickly moved on to my new body parts like wagging my tail, moving my head, and standing and sitting on all fours.
I walked around for a bit and tried some light running and almost got tripped over by my own feet? Paws? Whatever.
I decided to explore further, taking careful, deliberate steps.
With each movement, my confidence grew, and my muscles seemed to adapt to the strange yet familiar sensations.
I reached out and touched the alley’s walls, its rough brick grounding me in this strange reality. The sensation was vivid and detailed, unlike any dream I had ever experienced before. I could feel the texture under my fingers, the coolness of the air, and the distant sounds of birds chirping.
As I took in my surroundings, I noticed the vibrant colors and the crispness of the environment. The sky was a perfect shade of blue, with fluffy gray clouds drifting lazily across it. The concrete beneath my paws was cold and rough. I could even smell the fresh scent of the earth and the faint aroma of flowers nearby.
Curiosity began to replace my initial panic. If this was a dream, it was the most lifelike and immersive one I had ever experienced.
Everything was so... real.
After doing that for what felt like an eternity, I decided to try speaking.
"Um, uh... What up?" The sound of my own voice startled me. It was strange hearing words come out of a dog's mouth.
"Huh, okay, don't know what to do with that," I muttered to myself, half-expecting someone to respond. "But I just hope people won't freak out about a talking dog in this alleyway that I hope is a dream."
Feeling a bit more adventurous, I tried barking next.
"Yip Yip."
...
The sound that came out was adorable.
"O! M! G! AAAWWWWWW!" I exclaimed. Never thought I'd say this about myself, but dang, do I sound cute!
Feeling more comfortable in my new form, I walked over to the puddle to see my reflection again. I was a Dalmatian puppy, and I had to contain myself from cooing audibly because gosh darn, it's a crime to be this cute!
My right ear was black with a couple of white dots on it, while my left ear was the opposite, mostly white with a black tip. Between them, a tuft of fur acted like my hair, predominantly white but speckled with black spots. My face had two distinct spots: one that looked like a mole below my left eye, and one on the right side of my left eyebrow.
I almost couldn't stop myself from booping the nose of my reflection in the puddle.
I was just that cute!
My left paw was black, resembling a glove, while the rest were white. As I continued to examine my body, I saw that I was covered in dots in random places, adding to my overall adorable appearance.
"Oh! That spot looks like Mickey!" I said to myself as I spotted a silhouette of an iconic mouse.
As I continued to gaze and marvel at my body, I suddenly heard a deafening boom in the sky. Thunder. It rumbled again, and this time it was followed by heavy rain. I knew I needed to find shelter quickly. Dream or not, I didn't want to be stuck in a cold, pouring alleyway.
I looked around frantically, and my eyes landed on a huge pile of boxes. They looked sturdy enough to provide some cover, so I made my way over there. Instinctively, I tried to wipe the rain off with my paws, but then I realized I could just shake it off. So, I did, sending water droplets flying everywhere. It was kind of fun, actually, but the box I had chosen was now wet. Fortunately, there were plenty more boxes to choose from.
I explored my options. Some boxes were filled with styrofoam beans, while others were stuffed with junk. I decided to go for the styrofoam, hoping it would provide some insulation and comfort. As I nestled into the box, the beans shifted around me, creating a surprisingly cozy nest. I lay down, feeling a bit like a prince on a very lumpy bed.
I closed my eyes, the sound of the rain creating a soothing backdrop. Despite the bizarre situation, the rhythmic patter of raindrops was comforting. It reminded me of rainy nights at home, snuggled up in bed. Maybe this dream was just a strange way for my mind to cope with everything.
As I settled in, I thought about my life and how strange it was to be a dog in this dream. Was my subconscious trying to tell me something? I pushed the thought aside, too tired to ponder the mysteries of my mind. Instead, I focused on the present moment. The rain was calming, the box was surprisingly comfortable and everything felt okay.