Another dog races over, a tough-looking German shepherd wearing an impressive glow-in-the-dark vest and some bootie things to protect her feet from the rubble, but I hold my ground.

This is my friend we’re talking about.

I lick Ivan’s hand. His fingers twitch.

Well, that’s all it takes to get both of us barking like maniacs.

More people gather. I see Maya next to Ruby, which makes me feel better.

“Name’s Xena,” says the shepherd.

“Bob.”

I nudge Ivan’s fingers with my nose. Nothing.

“And this is Ivan. My best bud.”

“Sorry to hear it,” she replies, and I don’t like the sound of her voice.

With great care, and far too slowly for my taste, rescue workers begin removing chunks of the wreckage and tossing them to one side.

Xena and me, we mostly stay outa the way, but every so often I lick Ivan’s hand, just so he knows we’ve got him covered.

I glance over at Maya and Ruby. Maya is wiping tears from her eyes while she strokes Ruby’s ears. Ruby is giving Maya a comforting trunk-hug.

Good ol’ Ruby. Wise beyond her years, that gal.

I check the crowd again. Still no sign of Julia or George. And that’s when a sickening thought hits me like a bite to the belly.

What if Ivan isn’t the only one under the rubble?

dragon

More police cars and ambulances arrive at the park. A handful of keepers stream in, too, looking frantic and confused.

The weirdest thing of all? Wandering through all the destruction are random park residents. Animals. Birds. Reptiles.

Residents who most definitely do not belong in Gorilla World.

A police officer is chasing an armadillo.

A great blue heron watches the mayhem from her position atop a giraffe statue.

A wallaby pokes his nose out of a bush, his saucer eyes catching the fire engine lights.

“Nets!” someone yells. “We need more nets!”

An older gentleman holding a blue umbrella lets out a bloodcurdling scream. “Dragon!” he cries. “I swear to you I just saw a baby dragon!”

“Sir,” says a keeper named Malik, “no worries. That’s actually a Gila monster. His name is Gilligan.”

A paramedic raises his hand. “They have, like, venom, don’t they?”

“They say a healthy adult won’t die from it.” Malik shrugs. “Although they’ll be in some serious pain.”

“Wonderful,” the paramedic mutters.

I glance over my shoulder to see Sara running toward Maya. I can’t hear her words, but I can definitely see the worry in her eyes.

Xena’s ears tip forward. “They’re getting the cutters and the jaws of life.”

“Jaws?” I repeat. Don’t like the sound of that.

“Spreads metal. They’re probably getting close. C’mon. We need to get outa the way.”

“I ain’t going anywhere.”