It was already starting to get dark.

None of the survivors had any food on them, so Sodden and Serenity had decided to take the initiative to get food. Nal nudged Dorack on the elbow as the two walked off, talking as if they had known each other for forever.

“Look at them go,” Nal snickered. Dorack laughed.

“Yeah. They make a great duo, don’t they?”

“Just like us!” Nal grinned. Dorack laughed again. “Yeah. Just like us.”

Dorack glanced back over at Ben and June. The two still seemed to be talking about the new survivors. They almost seemed to be having an argument.

“They tried to kill you, Ben! Of course they can’t be trusted!”

“Yeah. True. But they didn’t know what was going on. Didn’t you do the same with the others back in the city?”

“But that’s different, Ben!”

It didn’t look like their discussion was going to resolve any time soon. Dorack continued to trace circles in the sand with a stick, while Nal warmed herself up with the fire June had started. It didn’t look like it was going to go out soon.

“I guess that’s the perks of having an implant attribute,” Nal thought. The duo reminded Nal of Jerboa. She looked back over at Dorack.

“How do you think he’s doing by the way?”

“Are you talking about Jerboa?” Dorack sensed with a laugh. “I think he’s doing just okay wherever he is… he managed to survive that…”

Dorack paused, his laugh fading at the thought of ARKtic. Nal reached her hand out, squeezing his shoulder reassuringly.

“Hey. That’s over. We don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

Dorack clenched his fists, hanging his head low.

“But aren’t we in the same situation now? Stranded from where we were supposed to go, in a land unknown to us, with who knows what out there?”

“Maybe so,” Nal pulled her hand away from Dorack. “But at least we have Serenity and Sodden with us now. And… those other two, if they decide to help us.”

“And—” Nal winked. “At least it isn’t freezing.”

Dorack let out a nervous chuckle. “Yeah. Let’s just not go to the snow anytime soon.”

“Deal. Cheer up, Dorack. I don’t want to see my best friend so swallowed with regret. There was nothing any of us could have done that day.”

The two resumed staring at the fire. Soon, Sodden and Serenity would return with a good meal.