The four stopped to rest at a bench outside a supermarket. Rory seemed quite at peace with this new place, while Meerjou was bored out of her mind.

It was a foggy day out, which meant it would be difficult to fly. But that wasn't what made Meerjou sad, it was that she felt separated from the sun whenever it was foggy out.

"Gray day today huh," Rory said thoughtfully, looking up at the darkened sky.

"Yeah," Meerjou sighed.

"No flying for us today," Pyraxis sighed.

"I think it's okay," Rory shrugged.

"But it just sucks," Pyraxis said bluntly.

"Why?" Meerjou asked.

"People hate it, despite it acting like a blanket. Covering the area in a safe, warm blanket. Shielding the people from the scorching sun. Yet, it's so unappreciated by so many. Fog is like the storm that calms the sea," Rory sighed.

"You had me until the last bit where you sounded like the captain of a pirate ship," Pyraxis said. Meerjou chuckled.

"I'd get sea sick," Rory grumbled. They all sat in silence for a bit.

"Well Scrooge! Think you have enough courage to go in?" Meerjou asked jokingly. Rory shivered, and stood up.

"Wish me luck," Rory sighed.

"Ace speed Rory!" Pyraxis shouted as he walked into the supermarket. Kitty hopped up on the bench, taking Rory's place on the far left of the bench. Meerjou rubbed Kitty's back and leaned against the brick wall of the supermarket, looking out onto the parking lot. Out of about a hundred parking spots, only nine were full.

"Do we have any idea where Stellarax and Synth are?" Meerjou asked with a sigh.

"Pft. Hell no! But I trust Stella to figure it out," Pyraxis smirked. "I'm sure we'll run into them when it's convenient,"

"Yeah..." Meerjou sighed. Kitty huffed, and leaned over to lick Meerjou's face. "D'aww, who's a good boy?" she cooed, scratching behind his ears.

Pyraxis cautiously offered her hand to Kitty, in which he responded by snapping his jaws at her. Pyraxis jerked her hand back and scooted away from him on the bench.

"Why does he like you and not me?" Pyraxis asked.

"I dunno, maybe cause he sees Rory get mad at you all the time?" Meerjou guessed.

"What?! He's not mad at me just-" Pyraxis started. Meerjou smirked, and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah... I don't think he likes me very much," Pyraxis said with a sheepish grin.

Meerjou sat there playing with Kitty for a couple minutes until Rory finally came out of the store. Empty handed.

"Well?" Pyraxis asked. Rory made an awkward face, and looked away from them.

"I uh- couldn't do it," Rory mumbled.

"Heh. Alright, I'll go get some food," Pyraxis grinned, getting up and walking into the store.

"So how'd you get Kitty?" Meerjou asked as Rory sat down, trying to make conversation.

"He rescued me," Rory said dryly. Meerjou raised an eyebrow. "He found me when I was thirteen. Protected and stuck by me ever since," Rory grumbled.

"That's some undying loyalty right there," Meerjou said, mostly talking to Kitty as she gave him more pets.

"He doesn't usually take kindly to other people," Rory said, looking over at Kitty and Meerjou.

"Certainly not Pyraxis, that's for sure," Meerjou chuckled.

"Oh?" Rory asked.

"He snapped at her while you were gone," Meerjou smirked. Rory leaned over and fed Kitty a small biscuit. "What was that for?" Meerjou asked.

"For being a good boy. I also promised I'd give him one every time he snapped at Pyraxis in specific," Rory explained, petting Kitty on the head before returning to his original sitting position. Meerjou paused, suddenly caught up in a question she'd been meaning to ask.

"How- how do you do it?" Meerjou asked.

"Do what?" Rory asked.

"Consistently not smile, consistently only care for a select few, how do you not-" Meerjou started. "How do you manage to not smile?! Surely you do it accidentally?" Meerjou asked. Rory sighed.

"I had a feeling this would end up being a talking point," he grumbled. "I don't have much to smile about," Rory said simply.

"You've got Kitty," Meerjou offered. Rory shuffled his position anxiously.

"I guess I just don't feel like it," Rory sighed, crossing his arms.

"Just don't feel like what? Feel like being happy?" Meerjou asked, running her hand along Kitty's back. Rory ran his fingers through his hair, shifting his position again.

"I haven't been 'happy' in a long time. So whatever 'happy' feels like, I've long forgotten," Rory grumbled. Oh... damn that sucks. Meerjou thought, having difficulty understanding what Rory meant. Never in a million years could Meerjou imagine not remembering what it's like to feel happiness. In fact, it was a core part of who she was.

Without happiness. I think I'd just be a husk. Hollow of personality or life. Meerjou thought. Is that what Rory is? No, he still has personality... maybe not so much life but... he's surviving. Meerjou sighed, and Kitty rested his head on her lap.

"Hey Rory?" Meerjou asked.

"What?" Rory groaned, hanging his head back.

"Have you thought of getting a haircut? Y'know, so you can see?" Meerjou asked, reaching over to move Rory's bangs. Rory grabbed her hand and gently pushed it away.

"I'm overdue for a haircut, but my eyes are covered for a reason," Rory said. "Geez, is it that bad already?" he asked, scratching the back of his neck.

"I mean, when we first ran into each other it didn't look like you were trying to grow an afro," Meerjou laughed.

"Not going for one now either," he grumbled. At this point, Meerjou had sort of learned how Rory worked. If you touch him at all, he'll get pissed at you.

Disrespect his boundaries, he'll break your arm. Hurt Kitty? May as well just kill yourself then and there.

The last thing Meerjou had learned about him was how many questions he could handle at once. No more than two major questions in a day, and no more than five small questions.

"What do you think's gonna happen if we survive this?" Meerjou asked.

"More challenges. Temptations, betrayal, bloodshed, and tears," Rory grumbled, looking over at Meerjou. "That's all that ever comes of anything as sketchy as this," he added bitterly.

"Betrayal? Temptations?" Meerjou asked, squinting at him. I thought he'd tell me what mission he thought we'd do next but... Meerjou thought.

"Betrayal. Is a result of succumbing to temptations, and I may not be a fortune teller but... Avenfrol is probably going to give us all tempting offers. Play with our minds," Rory said. "All we can do is resist,"

"What kind of temptations?" Meerjou asked.

"That, I can't even begin to guess," Rory grumbled. "Maybe he'll offer freedom in exchange for the life of a team mate? Maybe he'll just start searching for all of our flaws until he finds the weakest link, and twist them into something else," Rory leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, resting his chin on his fists.

After an everlasting moment of silence and contemplation, Pyraxis walked out of the store wearing a pair of slick, black shades.

"We don't have the money to buy sunglasses, Pyraxis!" Meerjou exclaimed, politely removing Kitty from her lap and standing up.

"Relax! It won't happen again," she grinned, putting the bagged food in front of Rory.

"Beans?" he asked, searching through the bag.

"Who the hell willingly eats cold beans?!" Pyraxis asked. Rory raised his hand. "Whatever, I got you the beans," she said, tossing a can at Rory's head.

"Ow," he grunted, picking up the can of beans and putting them in the bag.

"Did you follow the list?" Meerjou asked Pyraxis.

"Yeah, yeah! Got a couple extra things too," she grinned, pulling the list out of her pocket. She handed it to Meerjou, to which Meerjou read the list.

In pencil;

Dog kibble

Granola bars x9

Bag of baby carrots

Canned baked beans

Can opener (A metal one)

Canned tuna in vegetable oil x9

Container of lettuce

Canned soup (preferably clam chowder)

Sugar cubes

Eggs

Double A batteries+flashlight

Was written on the list. Each item except 'eggs' were crossed off in red pen, and written below all that in the same red pen;

Dope sunglasses

Cheese

Salted butter

Candy apple (cause why not)

Mentos

Gummy worms

Pre made sushi

Meerjou sighed with disappointment, and handed the list to Rory.

"You didn't get my eggs," Rory grumbled.

"Yeah, what were you gonna cook them with?!" Pyraxis asked.

"Wasn't gonna cook them," Rory mumbled.

"We're not letting you go in by yourself next time," Meerjou sighed.

"Good call. Maybe that way I'll get my Ace damn eggs," Rory grumbled, glaring at Pyraxis.

"To be fair, you chickened out about four minutes after you went in. If you want something done right then do it yourself," Pyraxis said, pulling a small container of sushi out of the bag.

Both Meerjou and Rory seemed to have the same two thoughts on the matter. How much did that cost and can I have some?

"Hey Pyraxis, could I have some? Please?" Meerjou asked with a sheepish smile. Pyraxis sighed.

"Alright, fine. You can have two, but that's it," Pyraxis said, putting two pieces of spicy tuna roll in the palm of Meerjou's hand.

"Thank you!" Meerjou beamed, chucking one of the pieces in her mouth.

"We should get going soon," Rory grunted.

"Yeah, but we gotta eat first. We haven't eaten since yesterday!" Pyraxis exclaimed.

"Speaking of which. Rory, could you toss me a granola bar?" Meerjou asked. Rory handed a granola bar to Meerjou and opened the bag of dog kibble.

"Pyraxis, when you finish that sushi, give me the container," Rory grumbled.

"Will do!" Pyraxis smiled, eating the last piece of sushi, and handing the container to Rory.

"You're not gonna eat the wasabi or ginger?" Rory asked.

"Nah, not really my-" Pyraxis started. She paused for a second, and so did Meerjou as Rory rolled the wasabi in the ginger and ate that.

"What the heck," Meerjous started, at a loss for words.

"First you try to get raw eggs and now this?! Should I even ask how you're gonna cook the clam chowder?!" Pyraxis asked with a concerned expression.

"You shouldn't. Already know the answer," Rory explained, pouring dog kibble into what used to be the sushi container. Kitty got down from the bench and sniffed the dog kibble, then looked up at Rory with disappointment in his eyes. "I know it's not the usual, but it's the best I could do," Rory grumbled, stroking Kitty's back as he started eating the kibble. Meerjou started eating her granola bar, when she thought she saw Rory eat a piece of kibble out of the corner of her eye.

"Why?!" Meerjou asked. "I could handle everything else but- why?!" Meerjou asked desperately.

"You've never had to sit down and eat dog food for dinner before?" Rory asked. "You learn to like it,"

"Who was feeding you dog food?!" Meerjou asked.

"For ten dollars it can feed four people for a week," Rory shrugged. I feel bad now. While I'm living a modest lifestyle, this guy is genuinely okay with eating dog food. Meerjou thought.

"We should get going now. California won't walk to itself!" Pyraxis grinned.

The three of them started picking up their trash, and put the sushi container in their bag for later.

"I'll carry the bag," Meerjou offered, slinging it over her shoulder.

"Alrighty gang! We're on our way to California!" Pyraxis grinned. Rory pulled out the map, taking the lead. Pyraxis, Kitty, Rory and Meerjou walked for hours.

What Allen didn't mention was that humans walked much slower than hybrids.

"Hey... guys?" Meerjou asked. Rory mumbled something to himself under his breath.

"What?!" he grumbled.

"Wussup Meer?" Pyraxis asked.

"Are we sure Stellarax and Synth are okay?" Meejou asked.

"Even if they aren't, we'd have no way of knowing. Our best bet is to get to California and hope to see them there," Rory said, not looking up from the map.

"What if they're missing?!" Meerjou asked. Or dead. she thought.

"What if all of existence was in danger? Oh wait. It already is," Rory grumbled.