The morning sun reflected hazy light off of the car windows, creating an effect unnatural to the teens sleeping around it.

Atlas was on watch, the girl had managed to climb on top of the red car to sit. She enjoyed her vantage point, feeling like queen of the wasteland.

The thoughts running around her mind we're not as serene, however. She was worried about her power and whether or not it would come back again. She'd been trying to move pebbles and small rocks for hours from her spot, all to no avail.

Jade, who had been sleeping on the other side of the car towards the field, stood up and stretched.

"Good morning, Skips." She yawned, enjoying the stretch of her muscles.

"Mornin', Jade." Atlas have a friendly smile to the girl. "We should wake everyone else up so we can eat. I'm starving."

"Agreed." Jade nodded. The rationing was catching up to her and she was feeling the effects of hunger.

Jade walked a few steps to shake awake Ryft and Silver, who both groaned and tried to swat her away.

"Food, guys. Let's go." Jade coaxed.

Silver rolled to her feet at the mention of this and left to wake Raven and Fang.

"Guys!" Atlas called, startling everyone else awake. She was shaking and standing near the open car door. Her wide eyes scanned the group around the outside.

"What? What?" Ryft sat up straight, rubbing her eyes.

"Cricket's gone!" Atlas was panicking. "Did she decide to sleep outside? She's not in the car anymore!"

Cricket was nowhere to be seen, and the group was noticing.

"Did she bail?" Fang's voice was edged with anger and fear.

"She's here!" Soul said loudly. "She... has to be."

Silver jogged over to Atlas, grabbing her hand and looking up at the taller girl. "We'll find her, don't worry."

Atlas's turquoise-blue eyes stared into Silver's forest-green ones. "We have to."

Raven watched Soul closely. "What do you mean, 'She's here'?"

"She.. well.." Soul's eyes danced wildly around, noticing all gazes turning to her.

"Is there signs of an escape? Footprints?" Spirit tried to turn the attention away from Soul.

"No." Fang stepped towards Soul, dark blue eyes narrowed with suspicion. "You're hiding something."

"You took her, didn't you?" Atlas continued to shiver, and Silver squeezed her hand.

"Why would I do that?" Soul's face loosened with surprise. "What would I gain and where would I hide her?"

"What's everyone shouting about?" A new voice sounded from the car.

"Cricket!" Someone shouted and everyone turned to the car.

No one stood there. It was vacant.

"Uh? I'm over here, guys." The voice came again, though no one could locate a source.

"Where..?" Ryft's hesitant tone was the only one that dared to break the silence.

"In front of the car- are you blind?" It was definitely Cricket's sarcastic tone.

Slowly, a face appeared towards the top of the car. Cricket's face. It was taught with confusion. Her neck and torso were fading into view as well.

"You- your power!" Raven gasped.

"You're a chameleon!" Atlas's voice quit shaking and was placed with a whispery awe.

"What?" Cricket looked down, probably bringing her hand up to look at. "Holy frick."

Almost immediately, she was fully visible. She looked up at the rest of the group, shocked.

A collective cheer rose from the group, everyone moving towards Cricket to congratulate the new mutant.

"You're part of the freaks club now!" Jade pulled a grimacing Atlas closer, which in turn dragged Silver with her.

"We're unstoppable!" Silver giggled.

"And really hungry!" Atlas reminded her.

"Oh, right." Ryft opened her satchel, pulling out a can of spaghetti-o's.

—

Morale was high and the air bubbled with conversation. It was now noon and the teens had left the car a few miles behind. It wouldn't start, so they didn't bother with it.

There were more and more cars scattered ahead, all broken in some way. They stopped near a few to check for supplies, but they were oddly empty.

It was then when Cricket pointed out a skyscraper.

Cheers rose up as the ragged group paused to celebrate.

"We did it!" Raven smiled widely, her gloomy aura fading.

Atlas's cheers were loudest of all. No more walking, no more fear. But suddenly her voiced stopped short as an arm wrapped around her torso and a metal barrel was pressed against her head.