For RJ, getting back to sleep after his terrible nightmare was surprisingly simple. He had drifted off to sleep fairly quickly and woke up the next morning to the sounds of Bucky, Quillo, and Spike playing. The others around him were still asleep. He was surprised to see that Hammy had released his grip on his paw. He was half-expecting to lift his right arm and find good ole Hammy still hanging on. He figured that at some point in the night, Hammy woke up and seeing that RJ was peacefully resting decided to let loose. RJ rose up and stretched as he made his way out of the log, being careful not to wake anyone else. Upon seeing him exit the log, the three little porcupines ran up to greet him.

Bucky: RJ you must come see this! I just topped your high score for Auto Homicide 3!

Spike: No you didn't! It was me, I got the top score! I'm the one that did most of the driving after all.

Quillo: No you didn't! I did!

They continued arguing the point. RJ looked on with amusement mixed with a little bit of sorrow. He had never known what it was like to have a sibling or two to squabble with. The closest thing he had to that would have to be Cobalt and Travis. "Should I tell them about those two and the rest of their pack?" he thought to himself as the others began to stir in the log. "No!" he exclaimed to himself. "I must leave as I have decided in order to avoid this past coming back to hurt this family."

RJ: (to the three porcupine kids) Hey guys…settle down a bit. I'm sure you all contributed equally to posting the new high score. You guys are the greatest in my book. Now would you help your ole Uncle RJ gather everyone together? I have an important announcement to make to everyone.

Bucky: You got it chief.

Quillo: Yea…we're on it.

Spike: No problem.

The three set about getting everyone gathered after they had awakened. The only delay being Hammy having to make his usual couple of trips to "go wee-wee" as he put it. RJ checked to see that all were present and started his announcement, not at first seeing that Vincent had made his way down from his cave to join the gathering.

RJ: Glad to see that everyone had a restful night after getting that rude awakening from me last night. What I have to discuss you guys may not like but it is for the… (with puzzled look in his eye) Vincent? What are you doing down here?

Vincent: Well this morning when I woke up I had one of them…what do the humans call it...starts with a P…

Heather: A premonition.

Vincent: Yea…one of those things. Sorta like a voice in the back of my head telling me to come down here. Must be that I'm supposed to hear what you have to say too eh RJ.

RJ: (sighs) Well I guess it wouldn't hurt for you to hear this too. (to everyone) You see, after that nightmare last night I have made up my mind that the safest thing for this family would be to just leave here for good.

With that proclamation, all gathered gasps and then came the many questions they had for him.

Heather: RJ…we don't want you to leave us.

Verne: Who knows where we'd be now if it wasn't for your help in foraging from the humans. We may not be alive now if not for you. Why do you think we'd be safer without you?

Ozzie: Yea RJ…you've been a masterful addition to this somewhat unorthodox family grouping. Not only that but you've help save my sweet Heather from the clutches of that evil human, the Sniffer.

Stella: Before you came here RJ, I was a mess. I was always down on myself for my stink. I never knew I had such inner beauty till you came along and helped me see it. Now I couldn't be a happier skunk.

All continued to pour on pleas for RJ to stay, all but Hammy who to this point was too stunned for words. He finally approached RJ and wrapped his arms around him and began crying into his chest.

Hammy: (sobbing) Don't…leave RJ. You're my…best friend. I don't want you to go.

RJ: (embracing Hammy and thinking to himself) I knew I should've just left without an announcement. I just couldn't do that to them. (addressing them all) Please guys… (getting teary-eyed) don't make this any harder than it has to be. You guys (sobbing) just deserve…much better than me. I…only bring pain and death. Just like what I did to Cobalt and his pack.

Verne: Cobalt? Who's Cobalt?

Vincent: I can answer that one for you amphibian.

Verne: (annoyed) Reptile.

Vincent: Whatever…anyway Cobalt is a coyote. Couple years back his pack was my biggest competitor for stealing food from the humans.

Lou: Pardon the interruption there but did you say was?

Vincent: Yea I said was. See all of em had disappeared. I can only assume the Sniffer got to them and that they are dead, Cobalt included.

RJ: (sobbing uncontrollably) It's…all my fault. I should have done something.

Vincent: Jeez RJ…what could you have done? (to the rest) RJ has always fixated on that pack of coyotes. I thought maybe he'd move on now that he found the family he never had in you guys.

RJ: (still crying) They could have been my family but…I let them down. Giving the opportunity I'll probably let you guys down again. If I stay…I can't bear to think what will happen.

Then behind the brush came a voice that none of them could identify, none that is except for RJ and Vincent.

Voice: Foolish raccoon. Haven't you learned anything from your past? Death came when you left us. As far as you know, death may have come to your first family when you got separated from them. If anything, leaving may be the thing that brings death to this your new family.

All except RJ and Vincent were frightened to hear this new voice come seemingly out of nowhere.

Ozzie: Huhhh… (faints).

RJ and Vincent: Cobalt?

RJ: It…it can't be.

Cobalt: (emerging from the brush) Oh but it is my old, masked friend. I am here and quite alive.

The stress was apparently too much as RJ curled up into a ball and began to weep loudly and without restraint. No doubt recalling with full force his past actions.

Vincent: (approaching Cobalt with a threatening gaze) Listen here Cobalt. I don't know why you've decided to show up now but you're not about to make trouble for RJ and the rest of my new friends here so I suggest you just go back to where you came.

Cobalt: (backing away from the menacing bear about 5 times his size) Take it easy there Vincent. I'm not here to make trouble. I just feel that it's time that RJ's new family learns about his past family…my family.

RJ: (still sobbing and balled up) Please…Vincent. Let him speak. You guys need to hear this. I'm in no shape to tell it. (to Cobalt) Tell me something first Cobalt, are they all dead?

Cobalt: I'm afraid so. All at the hands of the Sniffer.

RJ: Travis?

Cobalt: (nods solemnly)

RJ: Katrina?

Cobalt: (eyes well up) I'm…not too sure bout her. I can only assume that she didn't make it. I've been searching for these past couple of years but have come up empty. That's when I turned my attentions to finding you. Now there's no need for alarm. For now I would like to inform your friends of the past and then maybe there will be time for healing. Just rest my old friend and all of ya'll gather round. I have a story to tell of RJ and me and our family.