^Ever.^ A little woof, while resting her head on her folded up paws. ^Can we go yet?^

  Logan was outside, bringing in tables.

  “Very soon,” he said under his breath. “Thank you for being patient. How’s the food I got you?”

  ^Not bad.^ Panting, her thin tail thumping on the ground. The dry food from the corner store was half eaten in a plastic container, some of it scattered around.

  “Hey, have you finished packing away the ice creams yet?” Logan asked.

  “Yep.”

  “Alright cool.” He heaved the table in, placing it inside, then dusting his hands. “I can take the dog and keep her at my place for the time being.”

  ^No!^ A string of barks. ^We need to go to Mimi’s house.^

  “It’s OK,” Ever said quickly. “I can take her to mine.” He hadn’t even thought that far ahead. A cemetery was definitely not a suitable place for a dog to stay. Plus, he had no way of getting her up into the treehouse.

  “Are you sure?” Logan said, looking at Ever. There was an unspoken question in his eyes, ever since he heard Ever talking to Mimi.

  “Yeah,” he said as casually as possible. His hands became slightly clammy. Being unable to lie to Taylor was a blessing in disguise. Not only didn’t he like doing it, he wasn’t good at it.

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  “OK, suit yourself,” he shrugged. “I’ll see you tomorrow then. Try not to be late.”

  —--

  “How far away is Mimi’s house?” Ever asked. They had been walking for about thirty minutes now. The sun had just set, the street lamps in the suburban street were beginning to flicker on.

  ^Just ahead.^ A couple of assured barks. Despite having such short legs, Mimi moved quite fast. They were a blur as she ran ahead of Ever, looking back every so often to make sure he was still behind her. A car drove by, its headlight illuminating them before taking the light away.

  “Why did you come back to find me?” Ever asked.

  Mimi stopped, doubled back and ran a ring around Ever in the semi-darkness where they stood between the glow of street lights.

  ^You are my savior, I can rely on you.^ A bark and a whine, followed by content panting.

  Ever didn’t know if all dogs spoke so plainly, but it was enormously refreshing to hear simple statements spoken from the heart. Ever squatted and Mimi immediately raised her front paws, placing them on his knee. He grinned in the darkness, cupping the dog’s head and scratching her behind her left ear.

  ^Yep, riiiight there.^ A satisfied growl that sounded more like a purr. Five seconds later, she hopped off and continued running.

  “Mimi,” Ever said, jogging after her. “Why hasn’t your owner been coming with you?”

  The dog didn’t immediately answer. ^She hasn’t been moving for a while. I can see another ‘her’ sometimes, but she’s… different. Like you, when you flew away.^ This came out as a string of barking interspersed with panting as she ran.

  Ever’s reaper senses started tingling. The two of them turned into the entrance of a run-down house, its front gate slightly ajar.