Jack's Arc

Chapter 1 of 2

Jack's paws moved across the guitar strings, testing the tone of his latest build. The small fox sat in his workshop in Rattlesnake Sands, surrounded by wood shavings and half-finished instruments. He dreamed of opening his own shop one day, filled with guitars he'd crafted himself. This one needed work—the bridge sat too high, and the sound came out thin. He grabbed his tools and got back to it. Hours passed as he adjusted the bridge and sanded the neck smooth. The desert sun climbed higher outside his window. Jack set down the guitar and stepped out into the heat. Down the path, he spotted something odd half-buried in the sand. He walked closer. The shape rose from the ground like a giant guitar on its side. The round entrance sat at the base, and a wooden pathway led to the door. Jack's ears perked up. This could be his shop. This could be where people came to buy his guitars. He ran his paw along the sun-warmed wood and smiled. Jack walked inside the guitar-shaped building. Dust covered the floor, but the space was solid. Light came through gaps in the walls. He could clean this up. He could build display racks for his instruments. Customers would walk through that round door and see his work. He stepped back outside and headed further down the path. A sandstone overhang jutted from a nearby cliff face. Stacks of wood sat beneath it, tied with rope and protected from the sun. Jack touched the lumber. It was dry and ready to use. He had his shop. He had his wood. Now he just needed to start building. The fox walked back toward town with his tail swishing behind him. He needed customers to know about his work. Near the town square, he found a wooden bulletin board with colorful posters tacked to it. A small cactus sat at its base. Jack pulled a piece of paper from his jacket and wrote down his services. He pinned it to the board next to ads for other trades. People would see it when they passed through. They'd know where to find him. His shop was real now, and his dream was starting.