Lost in the Stars

Preamble

"That's what's going down in Bright county tonight folks! Up nex-"CLICK. The paw of the brown furred 22-year-old cat went from the volume dial and back to the steering wheel. The abrupt lack of noise saturating the air suddenly brought ear flicking clarity to small sound all throughout the cramped van. The sounds were familiar, comforting, 'family'. The sound of the nearly bald tires rolling against the pavement dulled by the passing air and dark black exterior of the van as it sped through the night. The insistent cacophony of rain as it drummed away on the vehicle, while the quiet motors of the wiper hummed away fighting their battle against the midnight rain. The quiet jostling of boxes and music equipment in the back. The gentle breathing of his sleeping band mates and the moderate snores of a particular deer laying on a guitar case. The cat's eyes darted from the dull glow of the headlight illuminated road and trees to the review mirror. The mirror was nearly an inky black in the darkness, but revealed a familiar scene, the faint outline of the white furred dog half laying half leaning on a kick drum, his lock of purple hair standing out surprisingly well in the darkness. 'Wonder how long Danny is going to keep the purple this time.' A deer lay next to him, his oversized black hoodie rendering his torso nearly invisible in the night as he snored softly on the guitar case. 'TJ better not drool on my case again. Those stains are hard to explain.'

A gentle murmur from his right took the cat's gaze from the mirror and to the shotgun seat. A mouse sat, leaning sideways with her head against the passenger window, black and dark blue hair covering most of her features. Her arms were drawn up against her body under a denim vest plastered with stickers and patches. She lay still, the muttering being a product of some restless dream. 'Veronica kept the vest huh? That would make Sid happy... No stop it. That's the last thing you need to think about Jon. Just focus on the road. It can't be much further now."

Jon brought his attention back to the road, glancing at the blurry shapes of the woods flying past. He felt his eyelids grow heavy as he glanced at the orange glow of the lcd clock on the radio. 11:54 P.M. Jon gave his head a good shake in an attempt to ward off the sleep the called out to him.

'Not now. We can make it this last night. This will be the last time I nearly fall asleep in this damn drivers seat.' Jon threw glance to the passengers in the van, the only people in the world he had. The only people he had left. His only friends his only family. 'We've been doing this for seven years. We have to stop and find a place to settle. Its time. I know this isn't where they want to be. But after what happened to Sid... The Harbor just... we can't it isn't safe. This isn't what they want... but its what we need. Sid would agree....'

The fur on Jon's arms raised as he tightened his grip on the wheel and bit his lip.

'Fuck. Sid, I miss you. I wish you were here for this.'

Jon's vision blurred for a moment as he wiped away at his eyes, and glanced down at the clock radio again. 12:00. He strained to keep his eyes on the road as a large sign reflected the light of his van back into his eyes. 'This is it'

"Hey guys. Guys we're here. Get up!" Jon bellowed into the previous silence of the van, rousing the three groggy 20 somethings. They all muttered some kind of response, weather angry or curious Jon couldn't tell. He was focused on the lights that lay beyond the ever approaching sign.

WELCOME TO POSSUM SPRINGS! THE PREVIOUS CAPTITAL OF BRIGHT COUNTY.

YOU'RE NOT LOST - YOU'RE HERE!