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chapter 2

The thick chilled air settles around us as we walk through town. All the buildings were pretty run down and have plants growing wildly all around. Vines grew up the walls as flowers pushed through the cracks in the concrete. Wolves howl in the distance, making everyone turn their heads to the side of the street and stop in the center of the road. Standing on a pale and faded once-yellow line waiting to tell if the wolves were getting close to us. Plenty of wildlife are choosing to reclaim their land and are never to be meddled with, not now. The wolves howl once more but closer this time.

"Everyone in here! The old Tim Hortons." Twenty ushers everyone into the building leading us to the back where the wolves wouldn't see us.

"We can double-check for any good food here while we wait?" Storm suggests placing Queenie down on the ground to wander the shop.

"I highly doubt it. We've been here before and if we did miss something what are the chances it's still edible or useable." I speak up sticking out a hip and placing a hand upon it.

"True, but imma just double check for canned food items since were stuck here anyways. Doesn't hurt to check while we're stuck." Storm sighed rummaging the shelves trying not to drop anything and alert the wolves of our whereabouts.

I watch Queenie wander around the corner and kneel. I hear her small voice speak to something as she picks it up.

"Hi! Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you! Aw your soooo cute!"

"What did you find Queenie?" I ask looking at what she has. She looks up at me excitedly holding a rat. The rat was black and white, chubby, and clean, considering these days events. She was friendly and was cuddling up to Queenie. Queenie stood up and ran towards Storm. Her hair bounced in the pig tails Storm had done up for her. Her smile grew wide, and her cheeks glowed a rosy pink as she giggled.

"Look what I found! imma name her Impa! She's so nice and cute!" Queenie shrieked receiving a look from Angle Blade wanting her to quiet down. "I love her." She spoke softly this time to herself as she hugs the animal closer.

A smile creeps onto my lips at her happiness, until Storm kneels in front of her.

"Queenie, you know we can't just adopt wild animals we find. Put her back and help me look for anything useful, ok?"

Tears gather up in her eyes as she held Impa farther away from Storm but still against herself not wanting to put her back.

" She won't survive on her own!" She cried tears starting to stream down.

" Look how big she is, she's doing fine on her own now come on we need to look around." Storm speaks as softly as he could even though you could tell he was getting annoyed.

"Let her keep the rat. It's hard finding what makes us happy and if she's happy with a pet rat that she's willing to take care of and can just sit on her shoulder as we go, let her. It seems oddly friendly and isn't biting or harming her. I'm sure we can all benefit from a cute friendly rat running around our group." I say placing a hand on Queenie's shoulder not hiding my annoyance with Storm. "You go ahead and place Impa on your shoulder and go help Storm. I used to have pet rats, so I'll help you learn to care for her." I talk to Queenie ignoring Storm's piercing eyes firing daggers my way.

Queenie's grin quickly returns as she places Impa upon her shoulder. She races into me with poor Impa clinging for dear life. Queenie latches her arms around me. I catch Impa from slipping off then returning the hug.

Once she pulls away, I speak up, "Actually here I'll hold her as you help Storm." I smiled

"NO! SHES MINE!" Queenie pouts crossing her arms, Impa bounces on her shoulder with her quick movements.

"SHH!" Angel Blade annoyedly hushes us.

I let out a slight laugh into the cool air, "Alright just be careful not to let her fall!" I whisper.

"OK!" She smiled walking back to Storm to help in the search as I looked over at Twenty and Angel Blade. Angel Blade has a slight smile on their face and gave me a nod telling me they agree with what I said and did. Twenty has a kind smile following Queenie and her new rat.

"Alright while Storm checks for nonexistent food and Queenie carries a rat that clings to her shirt for dear life, Angel, how do you think we are with those wolves." Twenty snaps his head back towards us.

The room fell silent for a moment before Angel Blade let out a sigh into the still air. "We should be fine when Storm is finished, I saw them pass by the window and leave a while ago, right before the rat."

"You didn't think to warn us that they followed to the window!?" I try not to yell.

"Why do you think I was glaring at Queenie to get her to quiet down?"

"How about next time you... I don't know... say something!?" I whisper yell shooting my arms up then allowing them to drop at my sides.

"Why? I thought you'd know something is up by my look. That's the look I give every time...?" their heads tilt's in confusion as I face palm with a sigh.

"K awesome but we're not going to know there's wolves outside from a glare you give an 10-year-old." I throw my hands through the air as I spin on my heels and walk towards Storm to see how he's coming along in his search. Angel Blade looked to Twenty with a puzzled look. Twenty only offered a shrug of his shoulders before checking the outside world again.

Storm, Queenie, Impa, and I all return quickly ready to leave. As expected, nothing useful was found due to us already being here.

"Alright, any and all assholes this way!" Twenty calls walking out the door and back down the street where they were heading with Angel Blade closely following behind pushing ahead to the front to check for danger. With a sigh Storm reached over to pick Queenie up.

"No!" She screams, rushing ahead carrying Impa as her own child to catch up with the others leaving me and Storm behind.

"Thanks for making me the bad guy..." Storm Spoke under his breath barely loud enough for me to hear.

"Maybe don't deny her a single friendly rat that makes her happy in a world of misery." I pat him on the back before pushing past to the door following Queenie out. He follows me obviously salty as he marched forward.