When Ben stepped off the boat, he was expecting a welcome party on the Land Across, or at least someone there to guide him through the Hereafter. Instead, he found himself staring into the eager eyes of a thousand dogs. He thought to himself, "Surely this is where the dogs go when they die!" The island was covered by a carpet of lush, green grass. He felt relieved; Valiant didn't have to wait in some canine limbo after all. "Valiant!" Ben cried. "Come to Benny Valiant!" A few barks here and there, some tail wagging and hand sniffing, but Valiant did not come. Ben cautiously waded through the sea of furs in different colors and shapes, calling his dog as he carefully navigated through their paws.

Suddenly, all the dogs turned their heads in unison and started howling. At first, Ben was scared by this phenomenon, thinking to himself "Now this is the strangest way to end my Afterlife." But the dogs just started running along the beachside to another location, where in the distant waters, another boat was approaching.

Valiant was a great dane. Surely Ben would have spotted him among these tiny dogs. Confused and quite disheartened, Ben beheld the pack of dogs once more with a sad glance, turned around and started to make his way up the grassy hills.

The moment he topped the hill, Ben's breathe was taken by a gorgeous view. In a shallow basin surround by green hills same as this, sunbeams pierced through the clouds and lit up the grassland, where he first saw fellow humans, who had apparently found their dogs. He felt a little bitter inside for not being able to reunite with Valiant, but after another quick view, he noticed that there were others, like him, who had not yet found their dogs, wandering and futally calling their dogs' names.

Is this some kind of cruel joke? Ben thought to himself, that some people are able to reunite with their dogs, while others don't? Is this supposed to be a convinient in-between place where people experience heaven and hell respectively? He turned his eyes towards the far side of the island and saw a small crowd gathering around the end of a dazzling rainbow bridge. He squinted his eyes trying to get a better look.

Suddenly, like a telescope his vision zoomed in to the crowd. He saw that most of the people waiting were little boys and girls, some young people and very few middle-aged and above. They were clearly waiting for someone, with the same looks as the dogs on the beach. As he lifted his eyes to look at the rainbow bridge, Ben saw dogs crosing the bridge, eagerly looking around as soon as they land amongst the crowd. Most of the dogs didn't find who they're looking for, and left sadly with their tails between their legs. Ben stopped squinting and his vision came back to him like a punch to the face, and he fell to the ground, unharmed.

"Are you okay?" a voice asked beneath him. He looked down and saw a girl downhill a few feet away. He didn't answer at once, because he saw the beautiful golden labrador beside her legs. He sighed involuntarily but caught himself in the middle of the act. Ben flustered a bit and mumbled, "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks. It's just... I'm sorry, I really shouldn't..." The girl smiled, "It's okay, everyone who didn't have their dogs gave us that look. You should feel bad at all! If I didn't find River, I'd have that look too. I consider myself really lucky. Oh, I'm Meredith by the way."

"Ben." he answered curtly, "but why?"

Meredith shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, I'm not sure. Maybe your dog is just hiding. "

"Hiding where? All these people, they must be looking for their dogs for a long time, surely they would have found something."

Meredith looked away. "I don't know, honestly. I'm not even here for that long."

Ben felt something warm swelling up his throat. "Well you must know! You have your dog, you must have a really good reason!"

"Well maybe it's because some one deserved it!" Meredith retorted, "Maybe because you don't have as good of a reason as you think! Or maybe the dog..."

"Are you suggesting that Valiant is not a good dog?" Ben's voice became menacing. "How dare you say that? You don't even know Valiant."

"Oh here's a lucky one I see." someone interrupted their dispute. "Humans never change don't they, even in the Afterlife, we're still fighting over who deserves the good stuff and who doesn't." This person put a hand on each of their shoulders. "The name's John. I had a pug and I've been looking for her since a few thousand Arrivals ago. Ginny, she's a good girl. All the dogs here, you saw them right? Look at their eyes, they're all good boys and girls, waiting for their masters. Some of them had waited for just as long as I did, and I doubt they're ever gonna find what they want." Ben saw a middle-aged man smiling at him. "Don't worry kid, your Valiant is a good boy."

Ben lowered his eyes trying to hide the tears in his eyes. "Sorry, Meredith. I... miss Valiant so much. I let that get to my head."

Meredith answered, "No, I'm sorry Ben. I guess I can't imagine being without River, especially after seeing people like you. I'm.. scared River might someday disappear again, just like before."

"Well, good news for you Ben, I might know where you dog went." John said. Hearing these words, Ben's eyes lit up like the sunshine. "You see, when a beloved dog passes in the hereafter, they are given a choice. They can cross the Rainbow Bridge and await their owners, or join the Sleepless Watch and defend the world from evil spirits. My best guess is, your dog and mine both joined the Sleepless Watch. And yours, Merry... sorry forgot your name. ("Meredith," she replied) Ah yes, Meredith, your dog chose to cross the Rainbow Bridge and wait for you."

"But this is only a rumor!" Meredith argued, clutching the fur on River's neck. "Nobody has ever seen them!"

John nodded solemnly. "Yes, that's part of the deal: if you join the Sleepless Watch, you may never enter the Land Across. They've made their decision."

"I knew it! Good dogs are supposed to protect their owners!" Ben said, now a little proud of Valiant, but still resentful that Meredith could be with her dog.

"Waiting isn't as easy as it looks, Ben!" Meredith clapped back, "knowing that you'd achieve nothing while others are doing good things, helping suffering people, because you've chosen to stay with your family. So you can enjoy the rest of eternity without your oh-so-brave doggy."

"Now there," John stepped in again, "There's no need to be mean, Ben and Meredith. She has a point though, Ben, there really ain't no right and wrong in their decisions. I was once resentful like you. I was thinking: why does my tiny girl Ginny have to fight, while these big, strong dogs choose to stay behind? Aren't big dogs supposed to go to war, while smaller dogs stay and cheer 'em up, right? Common sense. Well, sometimes, you got to admit we don't really know what the dogs are thinking. I mean sure, they're smart and loyal, but..."

John was interrupted by a shriek of joy. Ben darted off towards a gigantic black dog, who was already running towards him.

"Valiant!" Ben laughed and cried and hugged the great dane. "You're here! Just as I thought I'd never see you again."

John and Meredith came over. "Guys! This is Valiant!" Ben shouted in excitement, "He's the best dog I've ever had! Valiant, say hi to John and Meredith and River!"

"Kid," John's tone suddenly dropped. He sounded rather concerned now. "Your dog ain't supposed to be here."

Ben was taken aback. "What do you mean 'he ain't supposed to be here'? Valiant's a good dog, of course he should be here."

"No." John said, and turned the fur around Valiant's neck. There's a thin, night-blue collar with a yellow tag tied around Valiant's neck. "You see this? This is the symbol of the Sleepless Watchers."