Disclaimer: I do not own The Penguins of Madagascar or any of its characters, but I do own Alex the penguin and a lot more characters who appear in this story.

They walked all day, and just after noon, their surroundings turned from country life to a busy city. Now the sun was setting and they crossed yet another road. On the other side, Ash halted and gazed up at the sky.

"We should find a place to rest for the night," the gray cat said. "We made good time," he added, as he led Alex to a wooded area. "We should get to the interstate late tomorrow."

Settling down in a grassy spot, Alex looked around. There was a small pool in the clearing, but she was too tired to drink. All she wanted to do was sleep; yet sleep wasn't easy to come by. Her mind was racing.

She watched as Ash settled down farther away. It was strange traveling with someone after many days of it just being her. But she realized that wasn't a bad thing. She kinda liked Ash; he was helpful and nice, and she realized how much she was going to miss him when she was on her own again.

But she told herself that it was her journey, no one else's. It was her father she was tracking down and maybe she'll arrive at the Central Park Zoo real soon. Surely it couldn't be far now? she thought.

At last, she fell asleep, but she tossed and turned all night, her fear and uncertainty about what she'd find at the end of her journey breaking into her dream of endless wandering.

In the morning, they drank from the pool and continued walking, careful not to be spotted by humans, and once or twice they stopped to fill their bellies at food places that Ash told her were called restaurants. The sun was going down, turning the sky a bright red and orange color, when Ash announced that they were close to the interstate.

He stopped and gestured in front of them, and Alex widened her eyes. They were on the edge of a road and ahead of them, the interstate sloped upwards, over a bridge, then it met another road where cars sped onto it.

Alex looked around, spotting a restaurant near the interstate, and she started heading toward it, but Ash stopped her.

"It'll be dark by the time you get there," the gray cat pointed out. "And you can't find a ride in the dark, so why don't we sleep in that cluster of trees over there until morning?" He gestured with his tail to a small forest. "Then you can start your journey afresh at first light."

Alex hesitated, finally nodding, seeing sense in what he said. She followed him to the trees and they settled down together in the grass, curling up close to each other this time, but still not quite touching.

Again, Alex had trouble falling asleep, thinking how much she was going to miss Ash's company when she started her journey again. But she forced herself not to dwell on that and soon she was asleep, for once not dreaming about her long, exhausting journey. And when she woke in the morning, she stretched, feeling more rested than she has been in days.

Then she froze, realizing Ash was gone. Where did he go?

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