Author's Note : Thank you for those who keep commenting! :D It means the world to me because I can actually see that someone likes the stories I write! :D It makes me so happy, please don't stop. How about telling me your favorite character in Arrow's group, including himself? It would be awesome to learn who was the most liked. Hehe. (I have a feeling it is not Bing. Hehe)

~Chapter 14~

It was a glorious night for the three creatures. The dinner they had eaten had come from a big trashcan outside a restuarant where most people apparently through out most of their food. Maybe it was because the food sizes were so large. You never know.

And now they were watching fireworks light up the sky and a hotel's tall water fountain raise higher and higher until it almost touched the sky with it's droplets. It was a magical moment for all of them, but especially Bolt who had never experienced something like this in his entire life.

Mittens looked happily at him, noticing again for the second time that night that his man-made lightning mark was almost completely erased. The journey was taking a turn for the better, turning Bolt into a normal dog was much more fun than searching for scraps of food and trying to live on her own. Against her better judgment, she was beginning to warm up to the fat hamster and the white dog by her. She actually had friends now.

At this thought, she looked happily back at the sky where the colorful fireworks popped and spread through the dark night sky, making everything in the world feel right.

"There is a pack somewhere in this city," Arrow said as they walked alongside the highway, which was busy for the time of night it was. "We can stay with them until morning, then leave and continue on. We're almost there back to HQ."

"Well that is great to know," Carter barked cheerfully. He was at the back of the group with Bing, annoying him to death over everything. Carter would see a bird and yell into Bing's ear, "Look! It is a fried dinner just waiting for me to put my jaws around it!". Or if he saw a moth get hit by a car, which was not at all rare, he would scream, "Oh my! I just watched death happen before my eyes!" and Bing would just sigh and continue moving.

Rain and Sypher were discussing many things, walking just a little slower than Arrow. Whether it was fighting positions, speed endurance, or the correct way to tackle a dog, it was covered by their talk. Arrow did not mind any of the noise, any of the talking or screaming, in Carter's case. He was lost in thought about everything.

Before long they were on the city's outskirts and could easily see the lights in the dark night. Cars whizzed by, the headlights bright, but the group was traveling in the same direction they were so it did not bother them much.

"Are there bears in the wilderness?" Carter asked Bing with a bright look on his face. "I mean, in California. Could we be attacked by a bear?"

Bing, fed up with the constantly bothersome dog, grumbled, "Yes, there are wild bears in California and here, where we are. And they love to eat little white dogs with black spots - mmm, their favorite."

"W-w-what?" Carter stuttered, his eyes growing wider than a saucer.

"Yeah, they eat 'em all the time," Bing sped up slightly, noticing that they were lagging behind from the rest. "I once had a friend like you, a Dalmatian. Poor fellow, he got to cloe to a bear and just like that he was never seen again."

Carter shivered and slowed down, then looked around and hurried back to Bing's side. "S-s-so, there might be bears out here?"

Arrow who had heard everything they were saying started laughing. "Yes, there might be bears out here, Carter, but don't forget that we have Sypher and Rain. They can fight of a couple of bears. And we're near a city. Bears won't travel close to humans with guns."

"You're telling the truth?" Carter asked, swinging his head from Bing to Arrow. "We are really safe out here?"

"Yep."

"Phew," Carter exhaled and wagged his tail. "That was a close one."

"Thanks, Arrow," said Bing dryly. "Now that you have bursted my bubble, could you tell the crazy dog to leave me alone?"

"Carter, why don't you walk up with me for a while," Arrow suggested. "Let Bing have a moment of silence."

"Ok," Carter ran up to him and started talking a mile a minute again. And in this way, with Bing lagging behind, Sypher and Rain discussing procedures to escape from a locked cell, and Carter blabbing to Arrow, they entered the town.

He watched as Arrow and Gina - this S.S.A.O.N.A camp leader - talked about changes and updates. He turned his head slightly and saw Sypher trying to convince Carter to leave Bing alone so he could rest. Carter, however, was not feeling tired since he had thought of a brilliant new game that he wanted to play. The game had been Rain's suggestion, actually, one meant to keep Carter busy while they traveled through town. It was simply called I Spy.

As he saw all of this, he knew he should be tired from the trip. He knew he should be feeling like he always did after he and Sypher talked in length about training, all happy and ready for action. But he didn't feel like that, didn't feel all excited to begin training again, but not tired either.

His mind was awhirl with everything, trying to keep up with what was happening. Ever since he had seen Volt's agents in the alley that one night something had clicked on inside him. Something other than the hatred for those agents - those agents who were trying to kill Bolt, kill Arrow, kill all of them. They were not sent to attack, to fight, but when they found S.S.A.O.N.A members, they could attack without permission. It was not really admiration for them, because Rain knew that would be pushing it to far.

It would be more of jealousy. They could easily just attack at any moment, be able to use their skills at any time. Volt's agents weren't restricted.

Rain sighed and layed his head on his paws. Arrow doesn't allow us to attack anyone unless it is an urgent matter. I want to use the skills Sypher has taught me, but not on him. He is stronger than me, despite his older age. Not that he is really old. This thought, the thought of Sypher being considered 'old' made Rain smile. Maybe it will all change when we get closer to Hollywood. Volt's dogs might be out looking for us.

Arrow snapped him out of his thoughts. "Earth to Rain. Come in, Rain."

When Rain focused his eyes, he saw the Shepherd smiling down at him. Apparently during his thoughts Arrow and Gina had stopped talking and Gina had left the room. The damp, barely lit room. "Wait, what?"

"Did you not hear what I was just telling you?" Arrow chuckled.

"Um . . . no, sorry," Rain tried to think if his subconscious had picked up on anything Arrow had said, but finding no results. "Could you repeat that?"

"It's okay, pup," Arrow patted Rain's head in a teasing way. "We have all had a long day."

"Yeah, sure," said Rain, hoping he hadn't missed anything important. "Where did Gina go?"

"That was just what he was telling us, then telling you because you still seemed fazed," Carter said, bouncing in place, up and down. "She went to go talk to some of the guides that might know the quickest way to get back to Hollywood."

"Thank you for the summary, Carter," Arrow nodded and went to sit down by Sypher. "Tomorrow we will have a safer trip, most likely without running into anymore of Volt's dogs. Less encounters with them, the better."

"I agree." Sypher said, laying down. "It will be quicker to get back when we don't have to watch our tails the whole way."

"But why stop there?" Carter asked, cocking his head to the side. "Why not watch our whole bodies!"

"You're ridiculous, mutt," Bing sighed. "Now why don't we get some sl-"

A small buzzing noise sounded from Arrow's paw-cam. He brought his paw up closer and, after seeing who was contacting him, accepted it.

"Maria?" Arrow called into it, squinting at the small screen.

"Arrow, hello!" Maria, on the screen, said. "Where are you?"

"Another pack camp," said Arrow.

"I see," Maria said, then looked around as if trying to see the rest of the room from her limited screen. "Is everyone there?"

"Yes, they are." Arrow replied.

"Hello, guys!" Maria called to them, loud enough for them to hear. "How are y'all?"

"Awesome," Rain said, smiling.

"Exhausted," Sypher replied, sighing.

"Happy!" Carter barked.

"Ready to see a moth live in front of a truck's headlights." Bing grumbled.

"What?"

Arrow smiled and looked into the camera. "He's been stuck with Carter all day."

"That explains everything."

"Yes, it does."

"Arrow, we have news on Bolt," Maria grinned.

"Really?" For once that day, Arrow looked hopeful. "What is it?"

"He was spotted by an S.S.A.O.N.A member."