Three hours after our trek through the trees started, I still felt my arms around Oak as though it happened seconds ago.

Hazel and Leo were in front of me, Hazel nimbly sliding and hopping from branch to branch, Leo kind of flopping around like an overgrown squirrel. It was kind of funny, really.

All of us were getting tired out, and sick of getting bug bites. Hazel and I had been up all night already, and I could see the sun on the western horizon, just beginning to rise.

Just when I was feeling about ready to fall over and sleep forever, Hazel said, "There, I see it!"

With a last burst of speed, we hurried down the last tree branch and found ourselves looking over a familiar wasteland. I squinted into the dark and thought I could just see the building where we beat Gen.

"There's another ladder," Hazel whispered.

"We can stay in the ruins for tonight," I whispered back. I didn't know why we were whispering, but it seemed right.

We all shimmied down the ladder, feet first, and landed on ash covered ground.

"It may just be me, but I think we ssshould ssstay in the treesss," Leo said.

"I agree," I told him. The creepy burned out ruins did not help my general sense of foreboding.

We set up a "camp" next to the treeline. Leo curled up with his diamond-shaped head resting on a rock. I watched him for a moment, realizing how different he was from the stereotypical Zorg image I had in my brain. Maum, now he definitely fit the stereotype, but not this scared, skinny, rather sweet Zorg. Why was Leo helping us? I desperately wanted to question him, but his breathing was already slow and deep. I didn't want to disturb him.

I glanced around for Hazel. She was nowhere to be seen. Thankfully, I had a hunch that I knew exactly where she went.

I got up, taking my backpack with me and leaving my bow behind, and walked through the ruins, using the sunrise to follow Hazel's light footprints. Even years after the city was destroyed, the air was still ashy and it was slightly difficult to breathe.

I came to the building where we fought Gen. I ducked through the doorway and climbed up the steps to the roof.

Hazel sat in the middle of the roof, staring at the growing light. The wind was blowing her hair out behind her.

"Hazel," I said, "You alright?"

It was a stupid question, of course she wasn't alright.
Hazel took a deep, shaking breath. "I don't know."

"Do you want to talk?" I asked.

She shrugged, "I'm just worried about Remi, and I'm hungry, but mostly I miss Remi."

"I might be able to help with hungry," I said and slipped my backpack off of my shoulders.

I rummaged in the small front pocket and fished out a granola bar that hadn't been taken out of my backpack when the elves took our food from them so it didn't spoil.
I handed it to Hazel and she took it with a muttered thanks.

I waited until Hazel had finished, then opened my arms for a hug. She hugged me quick and we then got up and made our way back to camp. I could tell Hazel felt a but better.

About halfway there, I noticed a noise in the trees. Sort of a cluck-snort.

Hazel grabbed my arm as I started toward the noise to investigate.

"No," she said, "Nick, that sounds almost exactly like the Rhiniken did."

I paused. She was right, but also not right. The noise did sound like the chicken-rhino we had faced on Dorian's border, but softer, kinder in a way.

"I'm just going to take a peek," I promised, "I'll try not to antagonize whatever it is."

She sighed, but followed me as I advanced.

I crept to the edge of the trees, trying to make my footfalls as light and silent as possible. I wondered how Oak did it. Sometimes, it seemed like he was gliding, he was so quiet.

The sound came again, more like a whimper this time. It came from a clump of bushes.

I pushed aside the scraggly limbs of a bush and uncovered something very unexpected.

"Awww," I said, my heart melting, "It's kind of cute!"

"A baby Rhiniken?!" Hazel said as her light fell onto the creature trapped in a net under the bush.

It was tiny. Hard to believe that something like this could grow into a giant chicken-rhino killing machine. It's four chicken feet were snarled in the net. I got a closer look at the thing. I couldn't the first time because I was too focused on staying alive and trying not to wet myself.

It's two heads each had a perfect little yellow beak and a single tiny horn on each one. Small puffs of smoke rose from it's nostrils and its hide was thick and gray.

"We have to get her out of here," I said.

"A Rhiniken?" Hazel said, "But they're dangerous. Also, how do you know it's a she?"

"It's part chicken," I explained, "The dangly red thing under its chins is really small, so it's a girl."

"Do you mean the wattle, miss know-it-all?" Hazel asked jokingly.

"Yes," I said with a laugh, "Now help me get it out of here."

Together we freed the Rhiniken from the net.

The Rhiniken laid there for a moment, shivering and looking up at us with its four big eyes.

Then it hesitantly got to its chicken feet and stumbled over to us. Its two heads rested on my knees.

"Aww, I think she likes you!" Hazel said.

"Well then I'll keep her," I said, surprising myself. "I've always wanted a pet, and a pet chicken-rhino who can destroy my enemies is a better pet than most."

Hazel looked like she was trying to keep a disapproving face on and trying to hold down a laugh at the same time. "But a wild animal?" She said.

I thought about this for a moment. "I guess. "

I gently picked up the baby Rhiniken and turned her around to face the forest.

It looked back at me with baleful brown eyes.

"Go," I told her, "Go find your mom, I can't keep you, no matter how awesome of a pet you would be."

I sighed as we walked away from the creature. It was cute.

We reached camp. Leo was still snoozing away, his leaf hair askew and his face peaceful.

We laid down quietly, so we didn't wake him, and bade each other goodnight (or good morning in our case).

I was just about to fall asleep, when the sharp point of something jabbed my shoulder.

I lurched upright with a gasp and nearly bowled the baby Rhiniken over.

"Hazel, it's back," I sighed.

Hazel sat up too. "Well, you may have to keep it."

I smiled, "What should I name her?"

"I don't know," Hazel said and laid back down, "Something that you wont regret when it grows up and isn't so cute anymore."

I thought for a moment. "How about Gray?"

"Gray, I like that," Hazel mumbled as she slipped into sleep.

"It's decided then," I said to myself. I picked Gray up and settled her into a patch of soft grass next to my backpack.
Gray immediately began to snore, small smoke rings puffing out of her nose.

I smiled as I laid down next to her. I had a feeling this little creature would be a large help.