It's in the eyes. Always the eyes.

Chapter Nineteen| Rescue Mission

        With Dingodile's help, Penny carefully navigated the maze of wooden structures and broken ships that littered the island. Their search for the dimensional tear seemed never-ending. The island was much larger than Penny anticipated, and they quickly realized it would take days to explore every crevice. To make matters worse, pirate patrols seemed to pop up at the most inconvenient times, constantly slowing their progress.

As they cautiously walked along the stone wall, Penny's eyes darted to the barrels of dynamite and cannons lining either side. She kept close to Dingodile, her nerves on edge. If there was one thing she'd learned from Coco, it was to never mess with anything that could potentially blow up. The memory of New Year's Eve came rushing back—Coco had launched a rocket-shaped firework, but the wind had tipped it over mid-launch, sending it careening dangerously close to Penny. She could still feel the heat of the flames that nearly singed her fur.

Yeah, she definitely wasn't going anywhere near these explosives anytime soon.

Dingodile glanced at her, noticing how tense she was. "Don't worry, love. Just stick close, and we'll be fine. I've dealt with worse."

Penny nodded, grateful for his confidence, but still couldn't shake the nervous energy creeping up her spine. She carefully stepped around a barrel, making sure to keep her distance. The thought of one wrong move setting off a chain reaction made her stomach flip.

The island was dangerous, yes, but Penny couldn't help feeling determined. As long as she kept her wits about her and stayed close to Dingodile, she knew they'd eventually find the dimensional tear and get her home.

Penny and Dingodile came to a halt as they approached a daunting sight—a gate crammed with barrels of explosives, so many that it looked like a trap waiting to be sprung. Penny's ears drooped at the sight, anxiety creeping in. How in the world were they supposed to get through without setting everything off?

While Penny racked her brain for an alternative solution, Dingodile, in his usual nonchalant manner, simply grabbed one of the barrels near the gate and tossed it over the wall. Penny held her breath, expecting an explosion, but instead, the barrel hit the water below with a quiet splash. No explosion, no disaster. Just water.

She blinked in shock. Could it really be that simple?

Dingodile noticed her wide-eyed expression and let out a chuckle. "Relax, love. I used to handle explosives all the time. As long as you treat 'em right, they won't bite."

Penny exhaled a sigh of relief, feeling more at ease with Dingodile's expertise. With each barrel he threw over the edge, the path became clearer, until finally, the gate was free of the dangerous load. Dingodile gave the gate a mighty shove, and with an unpleasant creak, it swung open.

Just ahead, the sight they had been searching for appeared before them—a glowing rift, crackling with energy, waiting to transport them back. Dingodile cheered, and Penny's heart lifted in response. After all the obstacles, they had finally found it. They exchanged an excited look before hurrying toward the dimensional tear, eager to return.

But just as Penny was about to step forward, she froze. Her ears twitched, picking up voices—familiar voices that she hadn't heard in weeks. Her heart skipped a beat as she rushed toward the edge of the wall, peering over to find the source.