Marlos

Trust

The evening settled over Auradon, casting a soft, golden glow through the windows of Mal and Carlos's dorm room. The atmosphere was relaxed, a welcome respite from the tensions of the day. Mal and Carlos were discussing the situation on the Isle, their conversation a mix of concern and determination.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Luna bounded into the room, her white fur a blur of energy. She wasn't her usual graceful self; she was agitated, her ears flattened, her tail thumping against the floor with an unusual urgency.

"Luna, what's wrong?" Mal asked, her voice filled with concern. She knelt down, trying to soothe the usually calm Samoyed.

Luna whined, her gaze darting between Mal and Carlos. She then turned and looked back towards the door, letting out a series of short, sharp barks. It was clear she was trying to communicate something, but her usual vocabulary of soft nudges and gentle licks was failing her.

Carlos, who had a surprisingly keen understanding of animal behavior, watched Luna intently. He noticed the direction of her gaze, the specific way she was barking, and a strange glint in her usually placid blue eyes. He could almost feel the urgency emanating from her, a desperate need to convey a vital message.

"I think she's trying to show us something," he said, his brow furrowed in concentration. "She's not just upset; she's directing us. It's like she's trying to lead us somewhere, and it's important."

Mal exchanged a puzzled look with Carlos, then nodded slowly. "Okay, girl, show us," she said to Luna, her voice softer now, filled with a growing sense of intrigue. Luna immediately turned and darted out of the room, her white tail held high, her movements conveying a sense of purpose.

Mal and Carlos followed, their curiosity growing with each step. Luna led them through the familiar corridors of Auradon Prep, her pace urgent and determined. She bypassed their usual route, leading them down a long, forgotten hallway they rarely used. Her barks became more insistent, almost like she was saying, "Hurry! This way!"

Finally, Luna stopped in front of a large, ornate tapestry, its colors faded and its edges frayed. She pawed at the tapestry with her front paws, letting out another series of insistent barks, her body trembling with a restrained energy. She looked back at them, her eyes pleading.

Carlos approached the tapestry cautiously. "This is... incredibly strange," he murmured, his voice filled with a growing unease. "She's practically pointing at this. It's like she knows what's behind it."

He reached out and pulled the tapestry aside, revealing a dark, imposing entrance. It was the entrance to the ancient vault, the place where the kingdom's most dangerous secrets were kept.

Mal gasped, her eyes widening in shock. "The vault? But... how? What's she trying to show us?"

Before they could speculate further, Luna nudged Carlos's hand with her head, her gaze fixed on the vault entrance. She seemed to be urging him to open it, her agitation growing, her whole body language screaming, "Open it! You have to see!"

Carlos hesitated for a moment longer, then, with a deep breath and a sense of growing dread, he reached out and touched the ancient seal on the vault door. The seal hummed with power, and the heavy stone door slowly creaked open, revealing the darkness within.

Inside, bathed in the faint glow of a magically lit alcove, lay Jafar's staff.

Mal and Carlos stared at the staff in stunned silence, their minds reeling. Luna whined softly, her gaze shifting between the staff and Mal and Carlos, her expression a mix of anxiety and a strange, mournful knowing, as if she understood the danger it represented. The message was clear: This is bad. You need to know about this.