Gary had always lived in a small town on the edge of a thick forest, where the days

were long and the nights were peaceful. The sky was clear, and the stars twinkled
brighter than most places. It was the kind of place where everyone knew each
other's name, and the world seemed to move at its own comfortable pace. Gary was an
adventurous boy, and his dog, Henry, was the perfect companion. Henry was a golden
retriever, and though he was getting on in years, his fur still shone in the
sunlight, and his eyes sparkled with mischief.

Gary and Henry were inseparable. Since the day Gary’s parents brought Henry home as
a puppy, the two had been joined at the hip. Whether it was running through the
meadows, exploring the woods, or simply lying on the porch watching the sun set,
they shared a bond that couldn’t be broken.

One crisp autumn afternoon, Gary and Henry were sitting on the porch steps of their
little home. Gary was reading a book, his legs stretched out, while Henry lay
beside him, resting his head on Gary’s foot. The air smelled of pine and wood
smoke, and the sounds of the wind rustling through the trees and the distant calls
of birds filled the air.

“Hey, Henry,” Gary said, looking down at his dog. “Do you ever wonder if there’s
more out there?”

Henry’s ears perked up at the sound of his name, but he simply wagged his tail,
oblivious to the deeper meaning behind Gary’s words.

Gary sighed and turned his gaze toward the forest. He had always been curious about
the thick woods that bordered the town. He had heard stories about hidden places
deep in the forest—old ruins, mysterious creatures, and treasures lost to time.
Gary’s imagination was always running wild, and lately, he had been feeling the
itch for adventure.

"I think it’s time," Gary murmured to himself. "It’s time we went exploring."

Without waiting for another second, Gary jumped to his feet and began running
inside. Henry, seeing the sudden rush of activity, bounded up beside him, his tail
wagging furiously. The two of them moved quickly—Gary grabbing his backpack, a
water bottle, and a few snacks while Henry ran circles around him, barking in
excitement.

“Ready for an adventure, buddy?” Gary asked as he tied his shoes.

Henry gave a bark of approval and trotted to the door, eager to get going.

The town was quiet as they left, the streets empty as people went about their usual
business. The small town wasn’t far from the edge of the forest, so it didn’t take
long before Gary and Henry found themselves standing at the edge of the trees. The
forest loomed ahead, dark and mysterious, its thick canopy casting shadows on the
forest floor.

“Let’s do this,” Gary said, his voice filled with both excitement and nervousness.
He felt a thrill in the air, like something important was about to happen.

They ventured in, the path barely visible beneath the overgrown grass and fallen
leaves. Henry led the way, his nose sniffing the ground, picking up scents of
animals and plants. Gary followed closely, occasionally checking the map he had
drawn from memory of the town’s layout.

The deeper they went into the forest, the quieter it became. The usual rustling of
the wind through the trees had died down, and even the birds seemed to have gone
silent. Gary felt a shiver run down his spine, but he didn’t let it stop him. After
all, what was an adventure without a little danger?

Hours passed, and Gary began to feel as though they were wandering aimlessly. The
trees all looked the same, and the path had long since disappeared. But Henry
didn’t seem to mind. He was in his element, sniffing and exploring every nook and
cranny of the forest.

“Where are we going, Henry?” Gary said, looking around. He had no idea how far they
had traveled or where they even were. The sky had begun to darken, and Gary could
feel the chill of the evening creeping in.

Just as he was about to suggest turning back, Henry let out a low growl. Gary
looked down at his dog, who was standing stock-still, staring into the thick
underbrush ahead.

“What is it, boy?” Gary whispered, a knot forming in his stomach.

Henry’s fur bristled, and he took a cautious step forward, ears pinned back. Gary’s
heart began to race. Something wasn’t right.

Slowly, Gary followed Henry’s gaze, and that’s when he saw it. A faint glow
emanated from behind a cluster of bushes. It wasn’t the warm, natural glow of
sunlight filtering through the trees. No, this was something different—something
unnatural.

Gary took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. “It’s probably just some kind
of firefly or reflection…” he muttered, though he wasn’t entirely convinced.

But Henry wasn’t having it. The dog took another step forward, and Gary, trusting
his companion, followed. They moved carefully, pushing through the brush and closer
to the source of the glow. As they drew nearer, the air grew warmer, and the light
intensified, revealing the source—a large, moss-covered stone archway, standing
tall among the trees.

The arch was unlike anything Gary had ever seen before. Its stones were ancient,
etched with symbols and carvings that seemed to shift when he looked at them. The
glow emanated from within the arch itself, casting an ethereal light around the
area. It was as if the forest had parted to reveal a secret hidden for centuries.

Gary’s heart pounded in his chest. “What is this place, Henry?”

Henry, for once, seemed hesitant, his tail drooping slightly. He let out a low
whine, but still, he stepped forward, as if beckoning Gary to follow.

Gary hesitated for only a moment before stepping toward the arch. As he approached,
the air seemed to hum with energy, and an odd tingling sensation ran down his
spine. He reached out a hand, touching one of the stones. The moment his fingers
made contact, the ground beneath him trembled, and the forest around him seemed to
shift. A low, rumbling sound echoed from deep within the earth.

“Gary, don’t,” a voice suddenly whispered.

Gary whipped around, but there was no one there. Henry had backed away, his eyes
wide with fear. The voice had been so real, so close, but it hadn’t come from
anyone he could see.

He felt a coldness wash over him, and instinctively, he took a step back from the
arch. But before he could turn and leave, the ground beneath his feet cracked open
with a loud snap, and a swirling vortex of light appeared in the center of the
arch.

Before Gary could react, Henry let out a loud bark and leaped forward, disappearing
into the light.

“No! Henry!” Gary cried, reaching out in desperation.

But it was too late. The dog had vanished, and Gary stood alone at the edge of the
arch, unsure of what had just happened or where his friend had gone.

His heart pounded in his chest as he stared into the swirling vortex, knowing one
thing for certain: his adventure had only just begun.