Specifica is a world shaped like Earth, with the same oceans, continents, climates, and natural landmarks—yet its borders, nations, and city-states formed under entirely different banners. The dominant people are anthropomorphic land mammals: upright, hands capable of fine craft, expressive faces, and voices built for language. Humans never existed, and no one is considered “animal” in the way a separate species would be—these mammals are simply people.
Two brother bandits, Jared and Jos, known as the ‘The Sack Brothers’, roam the kingdom of Merrivane, trying to stay alive and cause their own chaos. They kidnap high-ranking / well-known canines for ransoms, who their boss, Hemlock, takes care of.
Bartholomew is getting ready for a royal event. The Sacked Fangs, at that time break in for a robbery, but are mortified to see the king in the room at that time. Bartholomew, however, assumes them to be servants, and requests he helps him get dressed. The Sacked Fangs play along, and ‘help him get dressed’, as they really add clothing and accessories that restrain and gag him, with Bartholomew assuming they know what they’re doing. Soon, once he is restrained to their satisfaction, they lead him out to their getaway carriage they stole and force him in the trunk (which is about when Bartholomew realizes this is a kidnapping, and is very annoyed at the embarrassing nuisance).
Two brother bandits, Jared and Jos, known as the ‘The Sack Brothers’, roam the kingdom of Merrivane, trying to stay alive and cause their own chaos. They kidnap high-ranking / well-known canines for ransoms, who their boss, Hemlock, takes care of.
When Henry returns to his chambers after a long night of meetings, a bandit duo, Jared and Jos, ambush him in his room, (entering through the window) and kidnap him. The bandits tease Henry, while he is stubborn and sassy (Henry acts annoyed and offended). They escape through Henry’s window, however as they reach the forest edge, they’re stopped by David.
Henry is speaking with a group of nobles he wants to impress, with David walking beside him. During the conversation, Henry makes an offensive joke. The nobles laugh, but David is clearly hurt. When David tries to explain why the comment was wrong, Henry refuses to apologize and instead defends himself. The argument escalates until Henry, in front of other castle workers, remarks that he should find a new guard who doesn’t question him, then dismisses David.
The world of canines is a full civilization where every dog breed is an upright, talking person, and there are no “normal” dogs at all. Canines build cities, run kingdoms, sail ships, argue in parliaments, and scroll through phones, just like humans in our world. They age in human years and have human-length lifespans.
Late on Henry’s birthday night, David slips into Henry’s chambers. He talks with Henry about the day, then admits he got Henry a gift. David says his gift isn’t grand, and produces an authentic working cloak from the Averwick estate, the kind Henry always joked about wanting, that isn’t a costume. Henry doesn’t hesitate. It’s his favorite gift.