I look over at RJ and sigh, pulling my knees up to my chest, "You know…you know you can tell me anything right? I don't judge."

RJ kept his gaze on the ground, "…I know."

I nodded once and turned back to face in front of me, "Okay…so if you ever need to talk to me about anything…you can just…yeah."

I could have sworn I heard RJ chuckle.

"Thanks…"

"So you wanna tell me what's been going on?" I ask, glancing over at him.

His ghost of a smile vanished, "Uh…"

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," I add quickly, raising my paws up defensively.

RJ looked over at me, "I want to tell you…"

"Okay…Go ahead," I wave him on.

"Well…let's just start with Vincent…" RJ says, staring at his paws now.

"Vincent?" I ask.

"The bear," He clarifies, "I may or may not have gotten into a lot of trouble with Vincent…"

"You got into a fight with a bear!?" My eyes widened, "RJ, what did you do!?"

"Doesn't matter," RJ says quickly, "All that matters is that I needed that food to give Vincent. If I can't get him that food…" His voice trailed off into a whisper, "…I'm dead…"

I felt his story suddenly become real when I heard the fear in his voice. I felt the need to reach out to him but didn't know how. My eyes weakened and I slowly spoke, "We can get the food back…"

"How?" He asked, his voice sounding helpless.

"I don't know but we will," I say as if I was trying to convince the both of us, "You're going to be okay."

"No…I'm not…" RJ answers, "We can't get it back. I have to have the food to him by tonight and there's no way that's going to happen."

I reached out and hugged him, resting my chin on his shoulder, "Stop talking like that. We're going to get you that food and you're going to be fine. Nothing's going to happen to you, RJ."

He didn't say a word and then I heard him sigh.

RJ smiled slightly, "I don't think I've ever had a friend like you before."

My arms tightened around him, "Well I'm not going anywhere so get used to it."

I felt his arms wrap around me and he leaned his head against mine, "I'm tired of running…"

"Then don't run," I say, leaning back and place my paws on his shoulders, "You're going to be fine."

He looked at me like he was still unsure but he slowly nodded and smiled weakly, "Thanks."

I smiled back and gazed up at him.

"Shouldn't have taken that food."

The voice made both of us jump.

"What?" RJ asks, looking around.

"I shouldn't have taken all that food."

We look over to see Vern standing next to the charred wagon.

"I was just trying to return things to the way they were, that's all…" Verne says, slowly looking over at us, "I was just being cautious. Cause that's what I am…I'm naturally tentative. There's even places in my shell I haven't been."

I watch Vern, my ears dropping down in thought.

"You on the other hand," Vern gestures out to RJ, "You're like…cool and…crazy and…fearless…You know what? I think they're right. I think I'm just jealous."

"Jealous…?" I ask quietly. I don't know anyone in the whole planet that would want to be RJ right now.

RJ lets out a long sigh, looking over at me. I give a small nod towards Vern and RJ slowly turns over and looks at Vern, "Vern…believe me. You should not be jealous of me. You…you've got a good thing here. You're just doing what you think is best for your family."

I smile warmly. I think that was one of the most genuine things I have ever heard him say.

"And I think you're what's best for them now," Vern says, pointing at RJ.

RJ looks as though he was in deep though for a moment and then nods at Vern, "What about your tail?"

"Eh…" Vern waves him off, "My head says listen to my tail, my tail says listen to my head. And I just…I end up with an upset stomach…" Vern's eyes go to the ground and he hugs himself, "That's why you need to be in charge now."

"You don't really know what's going on here," RJ says, trying to convince Vern otherwise.

"And you do! So what's the problem?" Vern questions.

"This, Verne, is the problem. You see this?" RJ says, picking up the paper with the images of all the food on it.

"I'm listening," Verne says but now RJ seems preoccupied.

"Just…" RJ says but stands up and pushes the paper into Verne's hands, "Just hang on a second."

Then RJ dashes up a tree and looks over the hedge.

That's when I hear it. The beeping of a large truck.

I dart up the tree after him and when I get on the same branch as him I could see the trunk. It was a large white moving truck that was filled with boxes. A man jumped out of the truck and walked to the back as Gladys game out of her house.

"Hey, uh…you the lady throwing the party?" the man asks, placing a bunch of boxes onto a lift.

"Yes!" Gladys smiles at him, "Just to the right. There are protective booties for you to put on over your shoes.

"Yes!" RJ grins and I suddenly realised why he was so happy. In all of those boxes there was food. Lots and lots of food.

A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth, "You're going to be okay…"

"Uh…um," Vern mutters from behind us. We both turn and see him standing on the branch with the paper in his hands, "What is this?"

"What?" RJ asks, momentarily confused before his eyes widen, "Oh…um…"

"That is…a list," I say quickly.

"Of all of the stuff you lost, Vern," RJ adds, jumping to my side.

"Really?" Vern says, looking at the list.

"Yeah, it's a big long list, you can see that," RJ says.

"Well you're a little organised guy, aren't ya?" Vern says, gingerly looking from the list to RJ, "Nice job."

"But you know what? I know a place that is so chalked up with food that we could get it all back in one night," RJ grins, snatching back the list.

"Great," Vern says, looking around, "Let's go. Where is it?"

"Inside that house," RJ says, pointing at Gladys's house.

Vern leans over to look, wide eyed, "What?!"

But somehow he lost his footing and stumbled out of the tree. I reach out at the same moment RJ did and I grabbed one side of his shell while RJ grabbed the other. There was a suction-like sound and then a loud thud.

I looked down into the empty shell, "Huh…just slipped right out of there, didn't ya?"

RJ examines the shell and looks clear through it, "What is the point of this thing?"

"Just send it down…" Vern snaps, clearly unamused.

RJ rolls his eyes and tosses the shell down.

I go to climb out of the tree when RJ grabs my wrist, "Wait a second."

I turn to him, "What is it RJ?"

He smiled, "Thanks for not letting me give up on myself…"

My mouth turned up into a smile and I hugged him gently, "No problem RJ…"

RJ nuzzled his face into my fur and hugged me back.

We sat there for a moment and then I slowly leaned back, "We better go tell the others about the plan."

RJ's smile fell instantly.

I looked at him blandly, "You don't have a plan do you…?"

"Not exactly…" RJ says, rubbing the back of his neck, "But we'll think of it! Come on!" He turns and jumps down from the tree, racing off towards the others.

I smiled and stared after him, silently asking the night, "Why do I always fall for the weird ones…?"

A/N: Thank you to those she have been reviewing! It is greatly appreciated.

Turbo: Yep.

Me: Still here, huh?

Turbo: I told you I was going to be here for the next few chapters didn't I?

Me: ...I guess you did.

Turbo: And you know how I hate to lie.

Me: *Rolls eyes* Whatever you say.

Turbo: I think we need to throw another party.

Me: No! I just cleaned up from the last one!

Turbo: *Crosses arms and pouts* You're no fun...

Me: ...well?

Turbo: Well what?

Me: Aren't you gonna say it?

Turbo: Say what?

Me: The review thing you say every single time?

Turbo: No. You made me sad.

Me: *Rolls eyes* Well then I'll say it. Remember to-

Turbo: *Grabs my face and shoves me out of the way* Remember to review!

Me: *Gets up off the floor* I thought you said I made you sad!

Turbo: *Shrugs* I got over it.