"Ruby, are you ok?"
"I'm fine. You're all safe. That's what matters, isn't it?"
"Ruby, that's not what I meant and you….where'd you go?"
"RUBY?"
"She's probably back at the house."
"Couldn't take us back with her could she?"
"Darius, Ruby, Apple, others; sorry it came to this on our first encounter. If there's
anything."
"Anything? We should be asking you that. We have a place to stay, Vincent, but you all don't. Where will you go?"
"Don't you worry. We always take care of each other. Just promise us one thing."
"What's that?"
"It's not hard. Make Ruby feel one."
"That's all?"
"That's all. By the way, never caught your guy's last name."
"Oh. We're the Heartchilds."
"You serious? That's a funny….wait!!!
Where'd they go?
"Apple, it's a long walk back to the house. Sure you don't want me to carry you?"
"Nah, I'm good. Need to stretch my legs anyways."
"But you don't….nevermind. Stretch away, my friend. Stretch away."
"Hey, Darius; we'll race you back to the house."
"Are you sure you know the way?"
"Do you? Bye."
"Wait, hold up. I….Urgggh."
"Don't wait up for me, guys. I'm just rolling with the wind. As slow as an inchworm, as fierce as a ….waaaagh. Hey, watch the paws, Pika."
*Chir…chir*
"Woo….wooo….wooo; cool the brakes, Pika. Didn't know you could run this fast."