Maddox trotted down the moonlit path, sliding seamlessly through the brush as Percival yelped behind him, another burr clinging to his snout. He shook it off, wiping his nose;

  “Are we almost there? I don’t see why we had to leave the village just to meet Sylvie and Trench…” Percy glanced over his shoulder, his brows furrowed in a worried stare.

  “You’ll be fine you overgrown fluffball, it’s not like the whole valley will burst into flames.” Maddox rolled his eyes, even if Percy had grown, his childish whining had yet to retire. He shook his head, unable to hide his smirk— “You remind me of myself when you first came into my care, every time I looked away you’d be off somewhere doing who knows what.” —he shook his head. “I still remember when you and Kip got Amber’s staff, don’t you, Percy?”

   Fortunately, Percival faced him, treading faster to match the fox’s pace. “Heh, yeah...” He raised a brow at Maddox. “...you looked super weird without your messy tail…I don’t know about you but I prefer your current over the former.”

   Maddox rolled his eyes, scrunching his nose. “Of course you would, you know how hard it is to get spacedust out of merchandise?”

   Percival laughed, bumping Maddox’s shoulder he almost knocked the fox over. “Can’t be any harder than somehow dropping an entire box of fresh Essence!”

   The older nebulruff huffed, flicking a burr onto Percival's head. “The only reason I dropped that crate is because you—” A branch snapped, and the pair threw their heads up to look further up the path. Percy puffed up his chest, his jaw tightening as the rumble grew closer.

   “...Maddox? What are you doing out here you ol’ herring!” Trench appeared between the spruces, a ruffled, mud-covered Sylvie at his tail.

   “Walking all this way to make sure a certain fish-faced behemoth doesn't hurt himself.” Maddox met the pair, inspecting their current status. “What did you do? Drag yourself through thorns, swim through the infested rivers, and finish off rolling in some onions?” He reached Sylvie’s side, the phoeline trying desperately to pick a rather large branch entwined with a knot in her pelt.

   “Mm, basically.” Trench shrugged. “Sylvie can handle it can’t you?”

   “No!” Her yelp made Maddox and Trench burst into laughter, Percival rushing forward to help clean the foliage.

   “...I thought the onions bit was just a joke…” Percival scrunched his nose, the already chuckling pair falling into another fit of howling. “Poor Sylvie, suffering the cold, vicious outdoors. “He feigned a pouty lip.

   “Ah shhh, she’ll naturally clean off as we make our way to the town.” Trench waved a paw, him and Maddox matching paw steps as they swapped insults and stories.

   Percival and Sylvie were left to follow, the only sound being Sylvies creaky, hanging-by-a-thread wagon until she cleared her throat.

   “So…how’ve you been? Last time I saw you you were barely up to my shoulders!”

   He chuckled. “You sound like a grandma.” His smile faltered, his expression falling into solemn. “I’m not sure… I don’t think anyone is, to be honest. Well…anyone minus Amber.” His voice hardened with annoyance.

   “Hm? What happened?” Her voice pitched with curiosity and worry.

   “That’s the thing, no one knows. Amber hasn’t left her house in months and Kip hasn’t been talking to anyone. Even when I get him to say anything it’s always dry like I say ‘Hey how’re you doing?’ and all I get is a ‘Fine.’ or ‘Okay.’ or ‘I dunno.’!” Percival shook his pelt, fluffing it up against the cold. “It’s not like either of them and nobody knows what happened!”

   “Hey, relax.” Sylvie hushed his raising voice. “I’m sure it’ll work itself out…if Kip really wants to talk I’m sure out of everyone he’ll turn to you. You’ve got to trust that he’ll find you when he needs you…not you chasing him trying to make him want help.” Her reassurance seemed to help a bit, though worry was plastered on his face. “Amber is her own grown self as well, she has Cherry, Yippers—” She nodded toward the fox ahead. “—Maddox…Trench and I now too since we’re moving in.”

   “Yeah, yeah…you’re right.” Percival sighed, “Moving on, how’ve you been?”

   “Oh y’know, trying to build a business isn’t really the easiest thing to do nowadays.” She softly smiled. “I still love doing it though, even if I’m not the most perfect at it.”

   “Well I’m sure Cherry can—” The ground shook with such force it nearly sent Percy toppling, Sylvie dug her claws into the loose soil, and her wagon screeched a painful metallic rattling pitch.

   Maddox rushed back to meet them, Trench keeping Sylvie steady as Maddox used his body to keep him and Percy on their paws. The rumbling lasted for just a few seconds, ending abruptly a warm breeze whipped through their fur before the scenery settled as if nothing had happened.

   Trench took to first steps forward, dashing up the hill he stood still. The group waited, Percy opened his mouth to ask what in the world was going on before Trench stumbled back, turning back to the crew.

   “It’s a fire! Near the village!!”

   Maddox’s eyes widen, Percy and Sylvie following him as they stood at Trench’s side. Percy felt his heart drop, a rhythmic thrum echoing through his ears. Oh no…

   “AMBER!” Maddox sprinted down the hill, bounding over stones and leaping over fallen debris. “That’s Amber’s home!”

   “What!?” Sylvie gasped, looking on with new-found horror.

   Trench barreled down the hill, quickly followed by Percival and Sylvie as they made a mad dash to save their friend before it was too late.