Warning: animal death by car and a nonfatal hit involved in this story. If you're sensitive to those sort of things, you may not want to read.

It had been three sunrises since the presence had visited with its warning. I gazed up at my human, who met my eyes and reached down to scratch my ears as I remembered its words. Soon, great suffering will come to your human. You have a choice; leave and take some of the misfortune with you, or stay with him and try to comfort him through seemingly endless trouble. I leaned into his touch, but even the bliss of my human's love and affection couldn't shake the thoughts from my mind.

...what exactly do you mean by leave?

You know, Mage. In your heart you know what I'm telling you.

He leaned back up to his work, a beautiful smile on his face as I shook my head to remove the memory from thought. Heavens above, I don't know what to do. With a huff I lay my head onto my paws, uncertain to my core. Could I really leave him on his own? It would be so selfish to stay with him and cause him more pain when he could be better without me. Nothing's changed since it came; maybe it was wrong?

"Mage, wanna go for a walk buddy? We can stop by that new park you like!"

I looked up excitedly at the work 'walk', my all-time favorite activity. My tail waved furiously as I saw him holding up my black leash, and I leaned to my feet and began circling around him excitedly, slowly bringing him closer to the door and panting in joy. As he clipped the leash to my collar and we made our way outside I wondered if we would meet his friends too. They sometimes came to meet us there, and he loved talking with them while I ran around the enclosed area meeting other dogs and exploring the new spots and old scents of dogs who had been there before. I hope Max's person isn't there today though. Max had to be about the rudest excuse for a dog you could meet, and neither my human nor I liked him very much. That's what you get with a whiny, yapping chihuahua I guess.. I'm glad not all of them are as mean as Max.

While I had been thinking about all of the fun stuff I'd do when I got to the park, we had been getting closer and closer to the busiest road on the way there. The noise was insufferable and could be heard from blocks away, cars honking angrily at each other as the zoomed by. I always got scared crossing, as the cars seemed to throw caution to the wind. My human knew it was coming and let me comfortingly.

"It's okay Mage, I know you hate this road."

I nervously looked up at my name and gave a light wave of my tail to show I heard. We reached the side and waited for the cars to stop, as they always did eventually, while the mysterious presence's words came back to mind.

Could I really leave him?

I shook my head again, shoving the thought away with a shiver. He needs me to take care of him. I can't leave him all alone. Just then I felt someone step beside us and I snapped my head over to see who it was. Max gave me a sharp glare as his human greeted mine. How such a kind, fun human as her was happy with a dog like Max was beyond me, but she somehow managed. She and my human were exchanging words in their human language of strange noises, and i found myself once again thinking about my choice. He wouldn't be completely alone here, with his other humans. Am I just being selfish?

"Hey scaredy cat, we're going!!"

Max's annoying yap cut through as I felt a light tug on my collar and began crossing the road. I rolled my eyes as I caught up before I replied.

"I was just thinking about something."

"There's a brain in that hollow skull of yours? I'm shocked; it must've taken a long time to get it to work to form thoughts!!"

"Quit yapping, Max. I may not be the very smartest, but at least I have a personality that doesn't shrivel the ground I walk on!"

I stumbled as we reached the opposite side, Max snorting in a high pitched squeal of laughter. I regained my balance before I could fall and huffed, passing him to walk on the opposite side of my human. He gently pat my head and continued chattering with Max's human. The park began to come into sight and I began trotting in front, letting out an excited whine as we neared it. My human laughed and picked up the pace, leaving Max and his human behind as we reached the gate and I bounced on my paws as he worked the latch open carefully.

"Go ahead Mage!"

The gate opened and I burst through excitedly, forgetting my leash before it caught in a nearby bush as I passed and tugged me to a halt. My human laughed and ran in after me, unclipping my leash as he freed it. I took off again, relishing the wind in my fur as I raced around through the lush grass. I bounced around yipping like a puppy before tripping on my own paws and landing heavily in the grass. Not to be put off by a fall, I stood and shook out my coat before racing off again panting happily. Reaching the center, I flopped down and rolled over the grass, gathering the park scents that flooded the air and relishing the moment. I sat up, tongue lolling, at the sound of my human's laugh and noticed that more of his friends had joined and were now talking as they walked over, a few with other dogs of their own and Max.

"I'll never understand how a halfway decent human like yours stands you, Mage."

Max sniffed in an attempted dignified manner before Sarge shoved past him and ran to join me. His longer grey hair bounced a bit as he approached and his long tail waved proudly behind him. He came to a stop, standing slightly taller than me and let his tongue hang loose to match mine.

"Hiya Mage!! Ignore Mr. Grouch over there; how are ya today?"

I waited to reply, my eyes following Max as he rolled his eyes and stalked the other way. Finally I turned to Sarge, happy to see my dear friend.

"I'm okay, how about you? And how's Grace doing with her pregnancy so far?"

"I'll admit that it's tiring on both of us preparing for the pups, but it'll be worth it! They should be coming any day now."

"I'm glad to hear! Actually, there is one thing that's been bothering me lately; could we walk for a bit?"

"Of course!!"

I stood, giving my coat a quick shake to remove the loose pieces of grass. Sarge began walking towards the east fence where less dogs hung around, and I quickly fell into step with the Irish wolfhound.

"So what's up Mage?"

"Well... you remember the stories about the guiding spirits? I think one came to me."

"Woah, really?! What did it say, what was it like?!"

"Well, that's where the trouble is. It told me that my human was going to have to face a lot of problems and hardships soon, but it also said I had a choice: stay with him and have his struggles worsened or leave and make them easier."

"Oh geez, that's definitely gotta make things hard. How long ago was this?"

"Three sunrises. Nothing's happened so far, but I'm scared Sarge. I don't want to leave him, but I'd hate for my selfish feelings to cause him more pain when I could make things easier on him."

"Hold on a moment, what exactly did it mean by 'leave'?"

I stopped walking and stared at him with a hard expression. His expression shifted from one of slight concern to horror as he stiffened. I broke eye contact, the fear in his gaze unbearable to see.

"Mage. Don't tell me-"

"I'd have to die."

"Oh Mage!!!"

Sarge ran into me, burying his head in my shoulder as he whimpered. It took me by surprise and I stiffened before slumping into my lifelong companion. My eyes watered as I heard him sniff and I drew him in with a paw placed gently on his shoulder. He was practically shaking.

"Mage, p-please don't leave me... if you're still here, at least he won't be facing anything on his own-"

"But Sarge, he won't be alone. He had human friends, and your puppies with Grace are coming soon; he could adopt one from your litter!"

He stepped back and stared at me, his gaze hard.

"You're really willing to die for him to suffer a little less without your comfort? What if you're wrong?! What if it wasn't one of the guides after all; what if you didn't see what you thought you did?! What if it was all just a dream, and-"

I stared pointedly at him, hackles slightly raised as the tears freed themselves from the corners of my eyes.

"I know what I saw, Sarge. I'm not wrong, but do you think I WANT to leave him?!"

"Then don't!! What would I do without you here with me?!"

"You have Grace, and soon you'll have the pups. Your humans will still be there, and Max, as annoying as he is. You'll find a way. I can't let my selfish feelings cause my human more suffering than necessary!!!"

"Oh really? And what do you think your death will do to him?! He LOVES you Mage, as much as you love him!!!"

Both of us were now crying harshly, our tears watering the fresh grass below our paws. I stood there shocked. I truly thought that Sarge, out of all dogs, would support my decision to make my human's life easier and leave him.

"I have to do this..."

"Mage, if you do he'll be so hurt!!! Don't become part of his pain!!!!"

Those words struck home, and I heaved myself to the ground, sobbing bitterly as a fresh breeze began blowing.

You can watch over him from above, secretly guard him and greet him again the day he joins you in the sky. Don't you want to ease his struggles?

I threw my paws over my ears and whimpered loudly, trying my hardest to block out the presence's words. I felt the grass shift as Sarge hesitated before gingerly placing a comforting paw over my own. He whined too, lapping gently at my face and ears.

"Just wait Mage, don't do anything yet. Give it more time, and then... then, if things start going downhill, we'll figure it out from there, okay? Just don't leave me, don't leave him yet..."

Sniffling and slowly uncovering my ears, I nodded. I'm sorry spirit, I must see for myself that things will truly be better. Sarge helped me to my paws, and we trotted over to the gate where Max and our humans were waiting.

"Send my wishes to Grace, but don't tell her about this please. I don't want extra stress on her shoulders."

Sarge nodded, shooting me a last glance before walking up to his human and whining. He clipped on the red leash and lead Sarge away, waving to the rest. I passed Max, who sneered at me, and gave a short wag to my human. He clipped my leash back on and Max and I led the way out of the park. Max seemed confused at my lack of response to his provocation, and silently glanced at me during the silent walk to the road. Finally reaching it, I met his gaze.

"Promise me that whatever happens in the future you'll make your human visit mine. That you'll take care of him if anything happens to me."

"What are you-"

"Please Max, please just promise me!"

"I-I guess fine!! What are you going on about Mage?! Did your brain quit working or something?!"

I simply returned my gaze to the path as we waited for a break in the cars. It finally came, and I lead my human on ahead to put distance between Max and I.

"Slow down a bit Mage, we're leaving them behind!"

I ignored my name and the tug of my leash, my ears suddenly picking up on a rumbling approach. I looked back down to see a truck barreling down towards where Max and his human were walking.

"MAX!!!! RUN MAX RUN THERE'S A TRUCK COMING!!!!"

He looked up with wide eyes at the sight and tore his leash out of the female's grip, skittering forward to reach the other side. His human however was thrown off-balance by the sudden action and stumbled, falling onto her hands as my human caught on to what was happening. He howled for her and tried to race in, but it was too late. There was a thud as the truck hit, nearly rolling over her as it's brakes screeched too late, and a burnt rubber scent filled the air. My wide eyes met Max's, and we both dashed to join him as the truck backed up and pulled to the side.

"No no no!!!"

My human was in tears, rapidly pulling out his phone and calling the police as Max hesitantly stepped closer, his entire body quivering and afraid for what he would find. I whined desperately, nudging my way to sniff her before Max growled halfheartedly in my direction and I backed off to my human. I whined and stayed at his side, licking his hand when I could reach it.

"She's not dead!!!"

Max's yap startled me and I sprung over to him, sniffing around. Faintly she was breathing, though she was clearly injured. Relief surged through me, as well as fear at her lack of movement. I barked to my human, calling his attention over as he realized she was still alive. He ended his call and the driver approached. He hesitantly spoke and my human turned to him, rage clear in his expression though he kept from yelling. Suddenly the breeze from the part returned, more urgent this time.

This is only a small bit of what's to come. Your time to make your choice is running short Mage. Be careful what you decide.

I stared at my grief stricken human, now kneeling by the female's body. Max too sat there, and his own horror filled eyes met my tears ones.

"Remember you promise for me, Max."

I turned and ran, heading for the middle of the busy road. I'm sorry Sarge, human, I can't wait any more.

"MAGE!!!!"

I have to do this for you, please understand. I love you, but I have to leave to protect you.

"MAGE PLEASE!!!!! COME BACK!!!!!!!"

"MAGE WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!"

Ah Max, I'm counting on you to keep your promise. I'm sorry we always bickered, I never really got to know you.

"MAGE!!!!!"

I felt intense pain as a car rammed into me, knocking me off of my paws and flying over my limb body.

"NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"

I... I have made my choice...

"Mage, Mage, Mage, oh Mage, what were you thinking?! Oh lord Mage!!! Stay with me buddy, stay with me!!!"

I whimpered; my side was on fire and my bones ached. I was growing lightheaded and panting heavily. Please spirit guide... let him know I did it for him... I couldn't let him suffer more because of me.... Max had reached my side at this point as well, shock keeping his eyes wide open.

"Mage why would you do something like this?!"

"R...remember you-your promise..."

"I-I do Mage, I will, hang in there he's calling the vet or something just stay with us y-you're going to be okay I promise-"

I had never seen Max so concerned for me; t would've been laughable if it weren't for the intense pain everywhere. My vision blurred in and out, white rimming the edges. I'm glad it's not black rimming the sides.. that'd be such a sad last thing to see. Amazing what goes through one's mind when they're on the brink of death. I was panting heavily, my eyelids growing heavy.

"Mage, Mage, Mage.... buddy, stay with me please!!!!"

I let out a whimper. I'm doing this for you... your suffering will be less with me gone.... please human, please don't be sad... I can guard you from above now... He was looking around in shock before staring at me in disbelief.

"M-Mage?!"

Ah, so you can hear my thoughts...

You're making a big sacrifice... you deserve to be able to say goodbye. Not everyone can....

Thank you. And thank you, human. Your kindness and love meant the world to me; rest assured I'll be waiting and watching for you.

"Oh Mage... now that I have the chance to hear you, I can't think of any of the things I would've wanted to say."

He laughed, tears streaming down his cheeks. I wanted to get up and wipe them away, but moving was an impossible task. Blinking was already difficult, and everything stung as bits of the road dug into my fur. My neck ached dreadfully and I barely thought of one thing.

So... what exactly is your name, human?

"Oh, you never knew?"

Well I can't exactly understand your language very well as a dog, other than a word here or there like my name...

"Luke's my name. Lord Mage, what am I going to do? Why would you run out like that?"

Your time is short, Mage.

Human- Luke, it's too long a story to explain-

I could feel myself spasm painfully as Luke placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, making sure he wasn't touching a wound and being as gentle as possible. I whined weakly, the white closing in further.

"It's okay Mage, it's alright. I love you so much buddy, so, so much. It's okay."

T-Thank you Luke... Max will take care of you, he promised. Sarge knows what-

Another spasm gripped me, shaking my thoughts away like dead leaves. Only one remained.

I-I... love y..ou... too.....

A/N
Not exactly short, but I'm proud I got to writing again! Sorry it's so emotional, I got the idea of a dog sacrificing itself for its human and then what happened happened and it got more detailed. Hope you still enjoyed~
-Cavy
(7/29/18) - total 3142 words