Hearing more splashing upriver, Gidget tilted her head. What was going on? Was there an animal in distress? A scream followed. Jumping to her feet in an instant, Gidget ran towards the sound. Someone was in danger! She rounded the riverbend, ready to leap into action when she stopped. She saw no danger.

There were a bunch of humans playing in the river. The screaming was coming from some younger people, who were jumping off a muddy cliff overlooking a deeper part of the river. They all seemed to be having fun. Watching from a safe distance, Gidget couldn't help but wag her tail. She wanted to join in on the fun.

"Hey!" someone called. Her fur fluffing up in fright, Gidget turned to her right. Another dog, this one a Jack Russell terrier, was trotting up to her. The Pomeranian told herself that she should probably be running. But her feet wouldn't move, planted firmly into the fresh mud. All the while the other dog was getting closer. Finally stopping a foot away from Gidget, the terrier barked, "I'm Max, what's your name?"

"Oh! I'm... I'm Gidget..." Gidget stuttered, pinning her ears back bashfully. She lowered her gaze, unable to look Max in the eye. There was something wrong with her, she had a weird feeling in her chest. It was like her heart was fluttering. What was wrong with her?

"Where's your owner at? Are they in the water already?" Max asked. His brown eyes scanned the river, watching the people who were playing around. Following his gaze, Gidget frowned. Owner? Did she ever have one? She searched her memory, struggling to remember. Biting her lip, she mumbled, "I don't know where-"

A kid screaming in delight interrupted Gidget. A moment later, a young boy ran past the dogs and into the water with a splash. Max laughed, watching the boy. Gidget, on the other hand, yipped with fright. When she saw the kid's parents walking over, she bolted. She needed to hide. Running into the woods, she only stopped once she couldn't see the river.

"Gidget, wait up!" a voice cried out. Gidget's hackles rose. She had been followed. She whirled around to see another dog, a Jack Russell terrier, running up to her. The Pomeranian first got into a defensive position, fearing she was going to be attacked. But once she saw the peaceful expression on his face, she relaxed and allowed her tail to wag as she yipped, "Hi, I'm Gidget! What's your name?"

"What?" the other dog questioned, tilting his head in confusion. When Gidget stood there looking at him expectantly, the Jack Russell terrier cleared his throat and pointed out, "Um, we literally just met by the river, like... I don't know... five minutes ago?"

"We did?" Gidget asked. When the Jack Russell terrier nodded his head, she lowered her head in shame. "I'm sorry, I suffer from short term memory loss..." the Pomeranian whimpered, staring at her paws. She closed her eyes, wanting to drown out everything right now. How could she have been such an idiot?

Something touched her paw. Flinching, Gidget opened her eyes. The other dog had his paw gently holding hers. Looking up at him, the Pomeranian saw no anger or annoyance, only calmness and peace. "Hi Gidget," the Jack Russell terrier spoke softly, booping their noses together, "I'm Max." A small smile growing on her face, Gidget booped noses again as she replied, "Hi Max."