Purrfect Apawcalypse - A Purrfect Road Trip!

Chapter 3 - 18 Wheeler

Brownie rested on Patches' shoulder, having gotten tired after eating two burgers and an entire thing of fries plus half of Patches'. Ginger had only gotten something to drink, she didn't really like fast-food after all.

They had gotten back onto the highway headed South to California, Ginger felt weird being able to see the tops of all the cars, though she often forgot that she was driving a vehicle so large.

"How are you two doing back there?"

Ginger asked, without turning around.

"Brownie's falling asleep."

Brownie slightly perked her ears up and spoke in a drowsy tone.

"No.... i'm not...."

She then yawned, and rested her head back onto Patches' shoulder.

"What about Coco?"

"I don't know, she hasn't said anything."

Patches looked back towards where Coco was. She had lied down on the small bed, one leg up in an arc and the other crossed over her knee. She looked like she was reading a book, or just staring at the ceiling.

Patches turned back around.

"She looks fine."

Ginger sighed in slight relief and continued driving. The highway wasn't very packed, there was plenty of room for activities for the cars that were on the highway.

Ginger was staring to think she had the hang of driving the RV, feeling confident in herself. That is, until a giant truck on her left blew its horn. It was deep, but harmonic, and it rattled the RV.

"W-why are they honking at me?! Did I d-do something wrong?! I'm s-sorr-"

Her panic was interrupted by the sound of laughter coming from behind her. She quickly whipped her head around to see Brownie and Patches both leaning on each other, laughing.

"Relax Gingie! You didn't do anything hehe!"

"Yeah, you didn't do anything wrong, don't worry."

Patches turned to see another truck behind the first, and turned back to Ginger.

"Watch-"

Ginger watched, using her magic to make the RV stay in its lane for a moment. Patches stuck his arm out of the open window on the side of the RV, and pumped it like he was pulling a cord above him.

As the truck passed, it too blared its horn, this time sounding more like a ship than a truck. Ginger suddenly understood the cause of the honking, and was very much relieved that it wasn't her.

She softy laughed, the turned back to drive.

"Well... you two have fun with that."

And so they did, as more trucks passed they did the same arm movement, all of them blaring their horns in an almost rhythmic fashion. Old trucks, newer trucks, trucks with logs on the back, trucks with giant chrome gas tankers, even pickups trucks and the odd car joined in the parade.

Brownie and Patches were having the time of their life in the back of the RV, laughing and smiling together. Ginger was happy that they were having fun, until-

"COULD YOU TWO STOP WITH THE FUCKING TRUCKS."

The laughing stopped and everyone turned around to see Coco sat upright, book held to her side, furious. She was staring daggers at Brownie specifically, like the aimed turret of a tank staring at an unfortunate soldier.

"I... s-sorry..."

Brownie's voice was shaky, Patches didn't dare say anything to upset Coco even more.

"God, you're insufferable."

Brownie flinched at those words, as if Coco had just stabbed her with a needle. Coco lied back down on the bed and continued to read, everyone else turned back around. Patches looked down at Brownie, she was sulking, looking as if she was about to cry.

"Hun, it's okay."

Patches kissed Brownie on her forehead, holding her paw. Brownie leaned into him, closing her eyes.

"I-I'm just gonna take a nap... wake me u-up when we get there..."

She then drifted off to sleep. Patches shifted his body to make her position more comfortable. Ginger felt upset at Coco, but she didn't want to confront her about it.

The RV continued along the highway, humbly putting along as the scenery shifted from green plains with snow-capped mountains to walls of blue-green pine trees.

Patches had wrapped his arm around Brownie, resting his paw on her waist and pulling her closer to him, she was softly sleeping leaned against him.

Ginger looked down at the gauges moment to asses the state of the van.

Low fuel.

"Hey, looks like we're gonna have to make a gas stop."

She began to scan the side of the highway for any sign that said there was a gas station up ahead. But alas, no sign came up.

The fuel needle slowly ticked downward towards the bold, red 'E.'

Ginger began to worry.

"Can you l-look up if there's a gas station near here...?"

Patches obliged and pulled out his phone, but as he did, the engine shut off with a sputter and a wheeze. The tank was empty. The van coasted for a good forty feet, Ginger slowly pulled it to the narrow shoulder, and flicked on the hazards.

Cars and trucks roared past, maneuvering around the bulk of the RV while trying to stay in their own lane.

"Now what-"

Ginger was mildly annoyed as she got out of the van on the passenger side, as to not be mowed down by a tractor-trailer. She searched the storage cabinets on the side of the RV for any spare fuel, but to no avail.

"I can call us a tow truck."

Patches said while holding up his phone.

"But it'll take a while for one to get out here."

Ginger sighed.

"That would be helpful, thanks."

Patches nodded and dialed up a tow truck, Brownie was still clinging to him, just half awake now. Ginger looked at her with worry, the tension between her and Coco was strong, and the situation certainly wouldn't help. She just hoped that Coco wouldn't do anything stupid...