“Hey there, it’s Athensa from Pawsburg – the spy tailed furry. Just cracked the case of the Liberty Sausages smuggled in by Scruffy McTerrier. Sniffed him out in Golden Gate Gardens and saw him through his Web of Barks. Sparrow helped relay the goods under the table at Pooched Potatoes. For a spy, found myself too poetic admiring Pawsburg’s charm and the weight of a rubber duck. Cheers for now, till there’s more fur to the fire. – The Sapphire-Eyed Spy”

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I find myself in Pawsburg at the brink of midnight. Athensa, my Carmen Sandiego of the canine world, curls up next to me, her sapphire eyes glowing under the ghostly pallor of the moonlight. I scratch behind her obsidian ears, savoring the silence that surrounds us.

We’re undercover, see. A foreign agent, goes by the name of Scruffy McTerrier, apparently smuggled a batch of ‘Liberty Sausages’ into Pawsburg. Highly illegal chew toys that give dogs, well, let’s just say too much firepower.

Someone dropped the dime at Paws On The Grill. Accidental information, they claimed, overheard during a supper squabble between terriers. I glean three things from the chatter: Scruffy, Liberty Sausages, and the Barking Boutique.

At the break of dawn, we slip into Lower Golden Gate Gardens. Athensa’s nose is in overdrive, her jet-black tail a ticking metronome as she sniffs out our lead.

Hours tick by. She suddenly freezes. I follow her gaze to Golden Gate Gardens. It echoes the color of the sun, a spectrum of hues spotlighting the silhouette of a certain terrier.

We tread carefully, avoiding the Web of Barks, an intricate network of canines who work as Scruffy’s eyes and ears. Athensa’s prowess stands tested as only she can go places without drawing suspicion. In the midst of this town populated by dogs, a human is as inconspicuous as a clown at a funeral.

My heart beats to the rhythm of the waiting game. Finally, a tap on my shoe. A shopping bag. From The Barking Boutique, nonetheless. It’s her: the sapphire-eyed spy. Within it, our Liberty Sausages.

We make our way towards Pooched Potatoes. I book the corner booth, where I know Sparrow’s waiting inconspicuously. Apparently, Athensa’s inside job isn’t as inside as we’d thought. The food’s lousy but it’s neutral territory. Better still, they’ve no qualms about food for the sidewalk surfer alongside. In lieu of payment, chunks of sausage change paws under the table.

We report back to Woof and Whisker Wellness Center – Our hideout. Athensa collapses onto her bed, utterly spent. I revel in her innocence, the squeaky rubber duck by her side. Tonight, we rest. Tomorrow, another game awaits.

Pawsburg may be quirky, and more often than not, utterly implausible. But its charm grows on you as does its espionage. Poised in chaos, fueled by bonds of undulating loyalty, I take a look at Athensa, fast asleep, as silent shadows loom above us. It’s crazy. But again, so is life. As far as stories go, this is every bit as enchanting as the city of Athens itself… only, this one has a lot more fur.

The End.