Maximus Noctis is the sort of Cane Corso who is the kind of pup small terriers walk around without admitting why. Out near the mushroom farms, Maximus Noctis keeps a small ritual that involves a jar of plastic cards from a flooded mall and a quiet bow. On busy market days Maximus Noctis carries an old human photo of a smiling dog and human like a small flag, and stallkeepers nod as it passes. Maximus Noctis keeps a private promise to leave nothing important undone before the next strange morning.