[ 𝙶𝚘𝚕𝚍 & 𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚎 ] ~ 𝙱𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚡 𝙾𝙲

VI - Morse Code

"You're positive that was Dart?" Lucas asked as they walked.

"Yes. He had the same exact yellow pattern on his butt." Dustin confirmed, sure of his words. 

"Well- He was tiny two days ago." Max barked out.

"Well, he's molted three times already." Dustin defended.

"M- Malted?" Steve asked, his voice unsure and slightly shaken. 

"Molted. Shed his skin to make room for growth. Like snakes." Lucy said. It was the first time she had said anything since they left the junkyard, Rylie was starting to get worried she about her. . .More worried.

"I- I was gonna say like hornworms. . .But yeah, snakes do it too." Dustin stuttered on his words.

"Well, when's he gonna molt again?" Max followed up.

"It's gotta be soon." Dustin told them. "When he does, he'll be fully grown, or close to it. And so will his friends."

"Yeah, and he's gonna eat a lot more than just cats." Steve sighed with a slightly annoyed undertone.

"Whatcha think, Stevie? Think we'll be first on his meal ticket?" Rylie quipped, walking backward to look at her best friend. Her and Russell were standing on either side of Lucy, knowing she didn't want to be by her friends and the looks they kept giving her but still wanting to make sure she wasn't alone.

"Wait, a cat?" Lucas made his way in front of Dustin, stopping him from walking anymore. "Dart ate a cat?"

"No, what? No." Dustin lied, shaking his head with feign shock at the audacity of the question. 

"What are you talking about? He ate Mews." Steve blanked, everyone stopping to look at the two boys.

"Mews? Who's Mews?" Max questioned.

"Dustin's cat. Err. . .former cat." Russell mumbled sleepily.

"Steve! Russell!" Dustin yelled at them, his arms coming up at his sides before falling back down.

"I knew it! You kept him!" Lucas shoved Dustin in the chest, making him stumble slightly. 

"No! . . .No. . .No, I- No, I- He missed me! He wanted to come home."

"Bullshit!"

Lucy ran over, standing in front of the curly haired boy. "Calm down, Lucas. He didn't mean to hurt anyone."

"Oh! So Lucy knew too!? I should've known." Lucas scoffed, he looked pissed.

"Hey! She only found out yesterday!" Dustin stepped defensively in front of Lucy.

"Guys, who cares? We have to go." Max urged.

"I care!" Lucas yelled. "You put the party in jeopardy! You broke the rule of law!"

"So did you!" Dustin shouted back.

"What?"

"You told a stranger the truth!" Dustin pointed his flashlight at Max's eyes.

Max scoffed, "A stranger?"

"What about Russell?!" Lucas waved in the brunette's direction.

"We couldn't find any of you guys! We needed help!" Dustin argued back. "We both broke the rule of law, okay? So we're eve. We're even." Steve, Russell and Rylie all heard something screeching in the distance, heading toward the noise.

"No, no! We're not even, don't even try that. Your stupid pet could have ate us for dinner!"

"That was not my fault!"