When humanity is threatened only the super powered might of the Toronto Maple Leafs can be counted on to save the day. But can the Maple Leafs be counted on? Time will answer all questions. But not yet, not for a long while.

The sun begins to set on the long and dusty road. Alone with his self, Mitch Marner walks into the darkness pondering the value of his quest. Will he ever find the sign that he has been dreaming of, and if he doesn’t, how can he go back. The simple answer is that he can never go back. But life is never simple, even for the great and the powerful.

Mitch is conflicted. He knows what he wants but he also knows what is expected of him. How can following your heart be the right thing when it leads to so many people feeling hurt? Mitch doesn’t have any answers, all he has is questions, so he walks and he watches for a sign. He knows he will take a sign to the face any day now and he is eager to get the signing done with. Eager to move forward. As the darkness thickens Mitch decides that forward progress can wait. Hard to see a sign when you can’t even see your hand in front of your face. Stepping off the road into the ditch, our hero finds a small dry spot under a bush and curls up for a few hours of rest.

A high pitched whimper brings Mitch out of a strange dream and into a cold and wet dawn. A light drizzle has managed to saturate every stitch of clothing Mitch has, so it is a cold and wet Marner that stretches, getting up slowly to listen for the source of the noise. It is sporadic and soft enough that it almost blends into the typical noises of wild, except that in between the soft shushing of the leaves in the breeze is a discordant note. Mitch follows the sound until he comes to the base of a large old willow tree. The noise is coming from a deep hole in the roots of the tree. Peering in, Mitch sees a small puppy, scrambling to keep its head above the mud that is slowly filling the hole.

Mitch reaches down and lifts the puppy out of the mud. “Here you go buddy, You’re okay.” Reaching into his bag, Mitch pulls out his towel and wraps it around the dog. What he thought was a puppy turns out to be a mini Pinscher, fully grown but tiny. He snuggles the pooch close in an effort to warm it up. “There there, you’re okay.”

“Thank you.” The dog replies.

Mitch stares, shaking off his incredulity. He looks closely at the dog, who returns his intense regard with a serene coyness. Mitch can’t find anything about the animal that would indicate any sort of mutation or augmentation. Almost instantly he decides that he likes this dog and accepts that he would like a new best friend.

“I’m Mitch.” He says with a smile. “You’re very special. What should I call you?”

“Why thank you.” The dog replies, grinning. “My name is Zoeastrozalerastallentromathadan. You may call me Zoe.” She lowers her head in a dignified bow.

“Zoe.” Mitch smiles. “I’m special too, would you like to see?”

Instead of speaking, Zoe wriggles out of the towel and scampers away to sit in a puddle, staring at Mitch with her tail wagging hard enough to make a wake. Mitch stands and rolls his shoulders twice, then he splits into two Mitches.

“Whoa!” Zoe is shocked, and shocking a talking dog is not easy.

They spend the rest of the otherwise dreary morning playing tag or hide and seek, jumping in puddles and generally  frolicking along the road. Mitch stays mostly the in the singular, only pinching off a few copies to surprise or delight Zoe occasionally. The time passes swiftly. The drizzle briefly becomes a rain before the clouds slack off and the pair sit down for a small lunch as the sun finally decides to peek out.

“Can I ask you a serious question?” Mitch asks.

Zoe tilts her head and waits. Her tail wags which shakes her tongue. Her eyes are deep wells of primal compassion that look ready to pop off her tiny head at any moment. Mitch can feel the love building between them. He didn’t even know he wanted a companion on his signing quest, but he does. He clears his throat and the moment almost becomes awkward.

“Would you like to be my best friend and come with me as I wander the long and lonely road? I’ll buy salami.”

Zoe tilts her head the other way. Her smile fades. “I am sorry Mitch, I cannot be your companion on the lonely road you travel. I have my own work to do. For three years I have wandered this planet. Three of my years, so about six months on this Earth of yours. And in that time I have not met anyone with the kindness and open joy that you have displayed today. You have swayed my heart. I must return to my home world and do everything I can to stop the invasion of your planet before it is devoured by my empire. Wish me luck human.” A portal opens and the dog steps through, disappearing before Mitch can move.

“Good luck saving the world, I’ll miss you.” A single tear builds up in Mitch’s eye. He just carries it, a precious memory that he refuses to brush away.