The golden rays of sunlight peeked through the curtains. casting a warm glow across the room. Cedar awoke with a start, his heart racing. For a moment, he didn't remember where he was or what had happened. Then, the memories of the storm and his escape rushed back to him like a tidal wave. He glanced around the room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings, before focusing on Sheldon, who was still fast asleep in bed. The worry that had been gnawing at him all night began to subside slightly, if only for a moment. The fact that his older half-brother is still out there and exiled alone didn't seem so bad. At least he was safe for now. Cedar slipped out of bed and padded over to the window, pushing aside the curtain to reveal a breathtaking view of the ocean. The waves crashed against the jagged rocks below, the salty air filling his lungs. He couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty before him. This was the first time he had ever seen the ocean, and it was a sight he would never forget.

"It's so beautiful," he whispered to himself, feeling a lump form in his throat. "I've never seen anything like it." He glanced over at Sheldon, still sleeping peacefully, and smiled. "Maybe," he thought, "this is a new beginning for us. A fresh start in a place where nobody knows our past, and we can finally be free." He let the curtain fall back into place, closing himself off from the outside world for a moment longer. "If only mom could see this beauty..." he trailed off, tears welling up in his eyes. He wiped them away quickly, not wanting to disturb Sheldon's slumber. There was no point in dwelling on the past now. The future was uncertain, yes, but it was also full of hope and possibility.

Cedar quietly padded back to the bed and gently nudged Sheldon awake. "Morning," he whispered, his voice still rough from sleep. Sheldon opened his eyes groggily and looked around, taking in the view of the ocean before focusing on Cedar. "Good morning," he replied, smiling tiredly. "Sleep well?" Cedar nodded, swallowing hard as more tears threatened to spill over. "I had the strangest dream," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I dreamt that we found this beautiful place by the ocean, and we were finally free. Just the two of us." Sheldon sat up straighter, a strange mixture of hope and uncertainty in his eyes. "Do you think..." he started to say before trailing off. "I don't know," Cedar said honestly. "But I think we should at least try to make it happen." Sheldon nodded, a determined look spreading across his face. "Alright," he said, "let's see what the day brings us." They both got out of bed, washed up, and dressed in the clothes they had been given by their new guardians. As they made their way downstairs for breakfast, Cedar couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building in his chest. The world was still a dangerous place, and their situation was far from ideal. But for the first time in a long time, he felt like there was hope. And as long as he had Sheldon and Dexter by his side, he knew they could face anything that came their way. "Should we get Dexter? He overslept again. " Cedar nodded, smiling. "Let's wake him up gently. We don't want to start our new life with a fight on our hands." Sheldon laughed softly, following Cedar into the kitchen. They found Dexter sitting up on a comfortable-looking chair, his fingers tapping his phone rhythmically as he didn't see his best friend and the new kid watching him. With a sigh, Cedar walked up to the distracted older male and flicked his fingers to get his attention with a jolt. Dexter's eyes finally saw the young male wake and well, and he yawned quietly, revealing a perfect set of pearly, white teeth. "What time is it?" he asked groggily. "Time to start a new life," Cedar replied with a grin. "Are you ready for an adventure?" Dexter sat up straight, his ears perking up. "I've always been ready," he said proudly. "Let's do this." And with that, the three of them headed down to the beach, ready to embrace whatever fate awaited them.