Surly didn't know how long he and Buddy had been traveling through the city. But Surly could tell by the setting sun that the day was close to ending. The two took occasional stops to let Surly rest his back from carrying Buddy all day. They stopped by a puddle once and Surly got a good look at his reflection. His once smooth well groomed fur was now ragged and covered in filth. He sighed, the city was really taking it's toll on him. He also realized how much he had grown. It only seemed like yesterday when he, Andie, and Grayson were tiny babies scampering around in the snow. Now they were maturing, and Surly could tell his fur was longer now.

"Where did those days go…" Surly whispered to himself.

Buddy came up behind him and looked into his own reflection. He tilted his head and smiled at Surly, giving him a thumbs up. Surly rolled his eyes and couldn't help but grin. Buddy removed the backpack he had and set it on the ground. Then he looked down at the puddle and then all of a sudden jumped it. Surly shielded his face from the water that splashed up and looked down at Buddy. Buddy was just sitting in the puddle scrubbing himself and he looked up at Surly with a smile. Surly guessed what ever water you could fine around here, you bathed in it.

"Well it's no bird bath but…alright!"

Surly then jumped up and splashed into the puddle. Shaking his fur, he splattered water everywhere. Buddy squinted as water flew onto him and let out a giggle. Surly began to scrub with the dirty water what ever stains from the trash he could. Buddy sighed, and began to slowly unwrap the cloth around his foot. Surly watched as he removed it, revealing a sealed cut. It was still red from the injury, but the cut seemed to have closed off now. Buddy began to wash off the blood stains in the puddle, lifting up his foot to show Surly.

"That sure is a nasty cut. But it's not that bad, it will probably heal within a week."

Buddy smiled then shrugged, and picked the cloth back up and began to wrap it back up. As he continued scrubbing with Buddy, he heard a growl from behind them. The two whipped their heads around to see a glowing pair of feline eyes starring at them from the shadows. Surly stood up slowly, and slowly walked over to Buddy. The cat slowly stepped out of the shadows, it's teeth bared. Buddy looked around and tapped Surly's shoulder, pointing to the drain pipe that lead up the side of one of the buildings. Then cat swished it's tail and got ready to pounce. Surly and Buddy readied themselves, Buddy picking up the back pack, and putting it back over his shoulders. Right as the cat lunged for them both, they dodged out of the way running for the pipe. The cat slid into the puddle and tried to skid to a halt, but it only caused it to fall over into the puddle. Surly and Buddy scurried up the slick pole, Buddy had trouble with his foot though.

"Hold on Buddy."

Surly said grabbing his hand and pulling him up over the roof. After both making it to the top, they laid down panting loudly. Surly sat up and shook the rest of the remaining water from it.

"Ok Buddy let's go-"

He began to say but noticed Buddy walking over to an empty potted plant and lifting it over his head.

"What are you doing?"

Surly asked, confused at what Buddy had in mind. Looking over the side of the roof, the cat was at the bottom scratching at the pole from below. Buddy whistled, and the cat looked up, hissing. Buddy then tossed the pot over his head, and it fell down below right onto the cat's head. The cat waddled around, dazed from the hit, before falling into the puddle again. Surly burst out laughing and looked over at Buddy who was also laughing. Surly shook his head and put his arm around Buddy as they walked across the roof.

"You know what Buddy, you're alright for a rat."

Buddy just grinned as the two continued over the roof top.

Surly walked out of an alley way with Buddy on his back. The sun was now out of view, but the sky still held a light blue and pinkish tint to it. Buddy had dozed off on his back not to long ago, so Surly decided to let him stay as they continued forward. Then Surly saw a light pole in front of him with a trash can next to it. Looking through the dim light of the growing night, he noticed the wires from the pole led into a tree. And behind that tree was a small park. Surly jumped for joy and grinned widely.

"Buddy! Buddy we made it!"

Buddy blinked his eyes open and perked up to see the park. Surly let him slide off his back and he ran to the pole.

"Oh man Buddy, I don't know how to even start for thanking you."

He said turning around. Buddy gave a sad smile and nodded his head. Surly walked up to Buddy and scratched the back of his head.

"So, I guess you'll head into the city again, huh?"

Buddy shook his head slightly, and held his tail in his paws. Surly sighed, and stuck out his paw.

"Well then I guess this is goodbye. Thank you Buddy."

Buddy looked up and put out his paw to shake Surly's. Then Surly turned around and hoped onto the pole, scrambling up it. When he got to the top, he looked over the park and gave a tiny smile. Then he began to walk across the wire, but he looked back at Buddy. He noticed Buddy starting to walk away, but there was a limp in his step. Then he tripped and fell down, grabbing his foot. The backpack fell off his back, and he quickly scooted over to try and pick it up again. Surly frowned and looked at the ground. He remembered the cat and giant truck they had run into. Buddy wasn't going to survive with that injury.

"Hey Buddy wait!"

Surly called and ran back down the pole. Buddy looked up from the ground, and perked his ears as Surly came over.

"Buddy, you helped me, now it's my turn."

He said reaching out his paw. Buddy smiled and took his paw, and Surly lifted him onto his back. Buddy wrapped his arms around his neck as he climbed up the pole. As he climbed across the wires, Buddy looked over his head to get a good look at the park.

"Yep Buddy, that's my home. Where I was born and raised. Trust me it looks nice, but the animals living there aren't much to hang with. "

Buddy tilted his head as Surly reached the end of the pole. Holding on tight to Surly, Surly jumped across the pole and grabbed a branch. Hauling himself up, he walked up to the trunk and let Buddy off. Surly laid back down against the tree and let out a sigh, happy to be home. Buddy looked at him confused, and pointed at the big oak tree. Surly frowned and sat up.

"No Buddy, I can't go there. I'm on a one week banishment."

Buddy's eyes widened, and he sat down looking at Surly.

"And it was for the dumbest thing! I crushed a flower. Yeah I get it was the first spring flower and all, but do I really need a banishment? It's Raccoon's fault, his dumb rules. I hate the guy!"

Surly shouted angrily, before leaning back against the bark, letting out a sigh. Buddy looked at him with a sad look, and placed a hand on his shoulder. Surly peeked at eye open and Buddy smiled at him. Buddy then pointed to Surly then himself. Surly sat there confused for a moment at what Buddy was trying to explain to him. Then he pointed at the oak tree, and lifted his arms pointing to the tree they were in.

"Are you saying…you are banished too?"

Buddy shrugged and gestured his paw as if in between being banished and accepted.

"Oh well then… I guess we're somewhat alike then, huh? Outcasts, never to be accepted, treated fair…loved."

Surly said to himself and looked up at the stars. Buddy also looked up and blinked at the view.

"There's only one person in the park who truly accepts me and treats me as an equal. She's been my friend for so long… but nah, she deserves better than me."

Buddy shook his head and put his paw on Surly's chest. Buddy nodded at him, but Surly just pushed his paw away.

"Thanks Buddy, but I'm not exactly the right type for that kind of thing. Love is for chumps anyway, all you need is your friends."

Buddy looked up and pointed to himself.

"Well yeah Buddy, after what you did for me, I consider you a friend."

Buddy smiled and it looked like tiny tears were filling his eyes.

"Hey come on now, don't get all emotional."

Surly said then let out a yawn.

"I'll look after you until that foot heals, then you can head back to the city, alright?"

Buddy nodded his head and laid down on the branch, using his backpack as a pillow. Surly sighed, and closed his eyes. It was nice having the comfort of a friend again. In fact, he felt better than he ever had living in that oak tree for his entire life in just one day. Maybe this wasn't going to be that bad after all.