Marlos

"Rest"

The afternoon sun streamed through the dorm window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Carlos sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes closed in concentration. He had been experimenting with his newfound powers, trying to understand how they worked, how to control them. He had managed to levitate a few objects, make objects disappear and reappear, and even grow a few extra-large tomatoes in the dorm's potted plants.

He focused his mind, channeling the divine energy that still pulsed within him. He imagined a small, furry creature, playful and energetic. He pictured its fur, soft and fluffy, its eyes bright and curious. He imbued the image with life, with joy, with the essence of pure puppyhood.

With a surge of energy, he willed it into existence. A small, golden puppy materialized in front of him, its eyes still closed, its tiny paws twitching. Carlos gasped, his heart swelling with a mixture of wonder and disbelief. He had created life.

The puppy whimpered, opening its eyes and looking around with wide, curious eyes. It wagged its tail, a tiny, excited thump against the floor. Carlos reached out a tentative finger, and the puppy nuzzled it playfully.

"Hey there, little guy," Carlos whispered, his voice filled with amazement. "What should we call you?"

Mal, who had been observing Carlos's experiments with a mixture of amusement and apprehension, walked over. "How about... Helios?" she suggested, looking at the golden pup. "After the sun. Because you're like a little ball of sunshine."

Carlos grinned. "Helios. I like it." He picked up the puppy, cradling it in his arms. The little creature snuggled into his chest, purring contentedly.

Mal reached out and gently stroked the puppy's head. "He's amazing, Carlos. You created him."

Carlos looked at Mal, his eyes shining with pride. "I did."

Helios, true to his name, was a burst of golden energy in their dorm room. Once Carlos set him down, the little puppy bounded around with boundless enthusiasm, his tiny paws clicking on the wooden floor. He chased his tail in dizzying circles, yipped excitedly at sunbeams dancing on the walls, and pounced on stray socks as if they were the most fearsome of beasts.

Carlos and Mal watched him with wide smiles, a lightness filling the room that had been absent in the tense weeks following their battle. Carlos tossed a small, enchanted ball and Helios, with surprising speed, darted after it, tumbling head over heels in his eagerness to catch it. He'd return, tail wagging furiously, dropping the glowing orb at Carlos's feet before erupting in another flurry of playful energy.

Mal knelt down, and Helios, sensing her gentle nature, scampered over and licked her hand with his surprisingly large puppy tongue. She giggled, stroking his soft fur. "He really is like sunshine," she said, her eyes sparkling with joy.

Carlos joined her on the floor, and Helios immediately tried to climb into his lap, a wriggling ball of warmth and affection. They took turns playing tug-of-war with a rope, Helios's tiny growls sounding comically ferocious. He'd chase after their fingers, nipping playfully, his little teeth surprisingly sharp.

They discovered Helios had a particular fondness for Mal's magic. When she flicked her wrist, creating small sparks of emerald light, his head would cock to the side, his eyes wide with fascination. He'd try to pounce on the glowing orbs, sometimes even managing to catch them in his mouth, only for them to harmlessly dissipate.

As the afternoon wore on, their laughter echoed through the dorm. They taught Helios simple tricks – sit, stay (which he mostly ignored), and shake paw (which he occasionally got right, usually out of sheer excitement). Each small success was met with enthusiastic praise and belly rubs, which Helios seemed to adore, rolling onto his back with his tiny legs kicking in the air.

Even the lingering tension with Evie and Jay seemed to ease slightly as they poked their heads in, drawn by the commotion. They couldn't help but smile at the sight of the energetic puppy wreaking adorable havoc in the room. Jay even knelt down to play with Helios for a few minutes, a rare soft expression on his usually mischievous face.

By the time evening approached, Helios, worn out from his afternoon of playful antics, finally curled up in Carlos's lap, letting out soft puppy snores. Carlos stroked his golden fur, a deep sense of contentment settling over him.

Just a few peaceful minutes later, a soft whimper broke the gentle rhythm of Helios's puppy snores. His tiny nose twitched, sniffing the air with increasing intensity. His eyelids fluttered open, revealing bright, inquisitive eyes that quickly scanned his surroundings. He stretched, a tiny shake rippling through his golden fur, and then let out a louder, more insistent whine.

Carlos, still stroking his soft back, chuckled softly. "Looks like someone's awake," he murmured to Mal, who was watching them with a fond smile.

Helios, now fully alert, scrambled out of Carlos's lap, his tail wagging tentatively at first, then picking up speed as he took in his surroundings. He padded around the room, his little nose twitching again, this time more purposefully. He sniffed at the base of the bed, then at Mal's discarded jacket, his whimpers growing more insistent.

Suddenly, his nose locked onto something, and he let out a sharp, excited bark, a sound that belied his small size. He darted towards the small table where they sometimes left snacks, his tiny paws skittering on the floor. He stood on his hind legs, his front paws reaching up towards a half-eaten bag of apple slices.

Carlos and Mal exchanged amused glances. "Looks like our little ray of sunshine has an appetite," Mal said, giggling.

Carlos picked up the puppy, who was now wriggling in his arms, his nose practically glued to the apple bag. "Alright, alright, I think someone's telling us it's snack time."

He carried Helios over to the table, letting the puppy sniff the bag to his heart's content. "Apples?" Carlos said, holding out a small slice. Helios's tail wagged furiously, and he gently took the offering with his tiny teeth, his eyes widening with delight as he chewed with surprising enthusiasm.

Mal rummaged through their mini fridge, pulling out a small bowl of leftover cooked chicken. "How about some real food for our little god-dog?" she said, offering the bowl to Carlos.

Helios's nose twitched again; his attention immediately diverted to the savory scent. He whined and wriggled in Carlos's arms, eager for the new offering. The peaceful interlude was over, replaced by the adorable chaos of a hungry puppy demanding his dinner.