Just as I recognize the Twanlad, its heads loosed two chillingly deep barks. I'd hardly call it pleased to see me, and worse still, there was no fencing between it and myself now.

Running isn't an option either, not with the kids right there. Still, that is something I can do something about.

I shoved Aster toward the kids. 

"Get them inside!"

Even as I finish speaking, I move into the center of the road.

Dammit, Endurance, if you don't want me to think you are completely useless, now's the time to get to work. 

Nothing but silence. Yeah, fighting is out as an option. A glance toward Aster showed that she and the kids were already rounding the corner. In a few moments, they'll be safe in the building.

With them gone, at least I can run.

But run where exactly?

I brought up locations after another and just as quickly shot them down.

The training grounds? As its morning, it's likely filled with primarily those of the purple, and they'd probably get slaughtered.

The square? Plenty of foot traffic, but it wasn't like one could guarantee the skills of those present would be enough to drop the canine.

The detainment pits? Not a bad choice if someone could figure out how to get the thing to jump into the damned hole.

The Wishing Tower? Yeah, right. My- Vandel's brothers would kill me for endangering the King, especially while he's mourning his son.

Could I even make it that far, though? Even If I were attempting to use the more cluttered side-streets and cornered often, it has seven legs while I've just the two.

Shit, where was I supposed to take the thing?

"Don't just stand there, idiot! Move!" Ryver yelled.

The Twanlads eyes, all four of them, were locked firmly on me.

Suddenly its path to me had a handful of warriors in it. Three carried long spears, two wielded swords. 

"Get back, Highness! We'll stop this beast!" One of the spear warriors said.

Of course, that statement would be a lot more believable if they weren't all garbed in the purple. 

Gods, why did they have to show up? And while I'm at it, I wish the world would slow around me. So I'd have more time to think things through and make the best choice.

Of course, no answer came, and honestly, I'm not sure if they can see where I'm at? Scratch that. I'm right here. 

Grabbing the spear, I shove its holder to the side and rush ahead. I never had more than two or three lessons with the spear in my world, but that's fine in this case. No one knew the animal in front of me better. 

I barely had the time to set my feet before swinging. For all that it could track anything through the desert day or night, it failed to see the spear sweeping toward its legs. It couldn't do a whole lot with a broken leg after all.

Or that's what I thought.

One of the two heads grabbed the spear's shaft in its mouth and yanked it from my hands. Luck is definitely not on my side.

In that instant, my chances of survival plummeted, but I'm not done yet. Granted, getting to its brain at the center of its body, just behind where the two heads connected, wasn't that difficult, but the veritable cage of bone surrounding the thing. It'd be easier to go for the veins offered by the heads.

And I would if I had something sharp or the least bit pointy. But I don't, so I can't.

Straightening, it cast the remains of the spear away.

The spear is too far away. Strangling the thing it is.

My heart pounded so hard in my chest I thought it was going to stall or burst. I just have to move fast enough to get between the heads and give both of them the biggest hug ever.

Tensing, I prepare to lunge.

Then a tongue slipped from the side of one of their mouths. At the same time, it dropped its body down on top of mine as it shifted back and forth.

Is it trying to get comfortable? I vaguely remember my buddy Dan's dog, Penny. I think her name was, laying down on top of him like that. So, it doesn't want to eat me?

"Highness!" One of the purples cried, "hold on, we'll be getting that thing off of you soon!"

So the Twanlad can eat me because you pissed it off? Yeah, no. No way, not happening!

Carefully, slowly, I raised a hand and waved the soldier back. I think he gets my message cause no one attacks. The Twanlad is staring at my hand, however. Extending my fingers to it, I watch as it presses its nose against my fingers before snuffling and dropping its head onto my chest.

"Well, Here's hoping you want to be my friend," I mutter and start scratching at its ears.

The head on the right chuffs and makes a rumbling sound. 

I don't think it is a bad thing, though. Its eyes have closed. So the question now is was it responding to something I didn't see, or was it directed at me, so I asked.

"Can you understand me?"

The right head opened an eye and chuffed again before snorting. 

Surprise swept through the crowd.

"We must inform the King! The mother has a chosen!"

Rue stepped forward and gestured at the monstrous dog that thought itself a puppy.

Narrowing my eyes, I pray for the super-powered ability that seemed to be gifted to those forced into other worlds.

Please, just this once, if some diety remains somewhere, anywhere that can hear me, give me power!

Alas, my plea to be given the ability to blow people up with a thought, isn't answered.

Damn.