"Max, Max! You're okay!" Duke's voice shouted at Max as the Jack Russell terrier cried out. His eyes frantically looked around at his surroundings. Panting, the small dog realized that he was back in his apartment with Duke. It was morning. A light rain fell over the city outside. His bowl was filled with dog food while Duke's was empty. An indicator that the mutt had already eaten that morning. Everything seemed alright.

"You okay?" Duke asked, snapping Max out of his daze. The terrier looked up at his brother as he repeated his question, "You okay?" There was concern in his voice. Taking in shaky breaths, the terrier quietly and slowly nodded his head. Finding his tongue, he mumbled, "Yeah... I'm fine..."

"Nightmare?"

"You could say that..."

"Guess you still have Snowball's story stuck in your head from last night."

"Yeah... I guess so..."

"Don't worry dude, it's just a dream. Nothing to be scared about. Now eat your beakfast before I do. I'm starving today."

Padding over to his bowl with timid steps, Max wanted to believe what Duke had just told him. He wanted to believe that it was just a dream. But for some reason, the terrier believed and feared that it was more than that. He felt like something was going to happen.

And he was right.