No one ever played alone on Shiny.

As kids, they'd all be stuffed into groups where they'd naturally gravitate towards each other. The quiet students sat together playing board games or simply enjoying each other's company. The louder students usually played in the gardens or training areas depending on how old they were. Sasha usually liked to bounce between the two. That was how she met Iris. That was how she met Cici.

The fox was as crazy as she remembered. They’d barely been planet-side a few days, and she'd already dragged Sasha around most of her favorite playground spots. The fluffy red canine would continually mark each occasion with some grand declaration. One she claimed to have fought a three-headed legionnaire on top of. Another she used for target practice. As they got to their most recent attraction, Cici waved her hand out proudly.

“And this is my favorite spot on the whole planet,” the fox said.

Sasha squinted as the gleam of sunlight rose over what looked to be a vast expanse of stone pyramids covered in lines of red and blue. Like vines made of paint. Sasha couldn't help but stare, Cici giving her side a nudge.

“Pretty cool view, huh?” she asked.

"Yeah. Beats the heck outta space."

Cici grinned. "Told ya'. Wouldn't have stuck around this long if the place was trashy."

She plopped down on the edge of the cliff, Sasha sitting beside her. As high up as they were, the world below felt years away. It was the first time in a long time she could remember feeling like she was home. Like she was back at the hideout, throwing trash balls at her dumb canine friend. It would have been perfect, if not for...She pushed the thought away with a smile.

“Well, I guess maybe Torpha had some nice views, too.”

The fox shoved her. “Oh eat a grub, ya’ feline.”

Sasha giggled, though the words made the pit in her chest worsen. She hadn’t heard it in so long. And by the way Cici grew quiet, she knew the feeling was mutual. The fox leaned against her.

“I really missed you, Sash,” she said, an ear flicking hers. “When the island got hit…”

Sasha nudged her with her tail. “Yeah. I actually thought you and Iris would be together. I take it no luck there?”

Cici shrunk. Sasha quickly changed the subject.

“I’m happy I found you," she said. "Let’s enjoy the victory for now, okay?”

Cici looked up at her, the earlier energy returning, if only slightly. Though neither of them said it, they both knew the moment was missing one key component.

Mr. Erin was still working on building them a new ship. And Mr. Xan was recovering back at the base. Until they were ready, going out in search of their long-lost friend would be out of the question. That didn't stop Sasha from worrying, but she knew wherever Iris was, she'd find her in time.

No matter what it took, she'd find her again. But that was for the future.

Right now, all Sasha wanted was to enjoy the time with Cici. They could wallow later. After they'd been around each other so much they were fighting again. After they'd recounted all the weeks they'd spent apart. There was so much they had to catch up on. So much to talk about.

“Speaking of which,” Sasha said, “I hear you’ve been pretty busy. Big Sis Foxie.”

Cici’s fur turned even redder than normal.

“How do you know that name?”

“Oh, I know all about that name, Big Sissie.” Sasha leaned back, arms crossed like a wise sage. “I know you made a statue out of trash and punched a giant into a crater.”

“In my defense, they did the statue thing on their own. I just posed for it.”

“Mhmm.”

“Well, what about you, Ms. Kittywhiskers? I don’t remember seeing your statue anywhere. What, you just been site-seeing this whole time?”

Sasha’s smile grew at that. So many things she could say in response. She could tell her about saving the clone world or getting exiled by rock people. She could tell her about reclaiming Shiny or becoming a pirate. She could tell her about the many times she saved her liaisons, of which she knew must have been more than one.

Or…

“I made a human friend,” Sasha said. “And I punched her in the face.”

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

Cici stared back at her. Sasha snickered, giving the fox a shove before hopping off the edge.

“Hey.”

Cici jumped after her, both plummeting down the cliff face.

That's right. Just enjoy your time with Cici, Sasha. You'll see Iris again.

She looked back to see her friend sliding down the rock wall, rings appearing on her fingers. GT materialized.

Try and keep up, canine.

Sasha pulled forward, staff launching her high into the sky. Compared to staring from a cliff, the world was an entirely different experience with flight.

Rutune was a vast expanse of sprawling structures and pyramids. Stone towers flew past, the avian creatures using gear mechanisms to move the chiseled rocks about. A few flew out of the way to avoid being hit, though Sasha paid them little mind. She was too busy squealing, the panther twirling as she felt like the first cat to ever discover the joys of being a bird.

“Get back here, feline!”

To her surprise, the fox's voice was not miles away.

A large mound of dirt and rock rose from below, the ground becoming a massive tidal wave. At the very tip, a red fox stood waving her arms out like an amateur surfer, a toothy grin flashed as she locked eyes with her target.

“No one escapes me, Sash,” she said.

Sasha purred. “We’ll see about that." She plunged ahead, her skill activating as a gravity field generated around her.

The light sensation washed over her frame, Sasha’s body turning as light as a pencil. She yanked herself forward, turning from a flying cat to a living cannon as she carved through the air. She had no idea where she was going, but she stopped caring the minute she saw Cici speeding up as well.

How long had it been? Months? Years?

Even back on Shiny they rarely played as much without Iris or the boys there with them. She’d almost forgotten how fun it was. Just her and Cici. Fox and Panther. The worst duo on the island, according to some sources. As much as she loved the others, no one else could keep up like Cici.

“End of the line, Sash.”

She looked up to see a wall of mud looming in front of her.

“Woah!” Sasha pulled backward, yanking herself down and plunging to the ground. “No fair. That’s cheating.”

Cici came up behind her, the mud wave slowing to a halt.

“All’s fair in a chase!”

She pounced on the panther without mercy.

***

Sasha groaned the entire trip back to Nimbla, one of Rutune's many royal cities. Cici had her in a cage of dirt. Her punishment for losing the game, according to the canine. She scratched at the walls, yowling every so often. Cici banged on the bars.

“Quite in there, convict. Don’t make me get the squirt bottle.”

Sasha arched her back, hissing like she’d just been threatened with public flogging. Cici tried to stay in character, but she still cracked a smile. Sasha pretended not to see, as they came to the Royal Palace.

The guard avians regarded them with odd looks but didn’t try to stop them as they passed. Nor did Mr. Erin, who Sasha found near the entrance, tinkering with their new vessel. The ship gleaned with polish, but it was far from space-worthy according to the weasel, who regarded them both with a raised eyebrow as they passed. Thankfully, he didn't ask questions.

The same could not be said for Mr. Xan.

“This a normal thing or what?” the panda asked as Sasha was set free, the mud cage melting back into the ground.

Sasha pouted. “No. Usually, I win.”

“She’s lying- Hey!”

Sasha smiled, her tail having whacked Cici across the face. The fox retaliated with hers, the two entering an impromptu tail fight the panda rolled his eyes at, his crutches carrying him towards the dining area. Given the state of his injuries, he had to double his food portions to encourage healing. But Sasha paid him little mind as she was too busy trying to avenge her earlier defeat.

The bout ended with a temporary truce. They'd avoid another Great War for the time being.

“When we get our referee back, we'll go at it for real,” Sasha said. “Deal?”

“Deal.”

They both shook hands and nodded, the pact forged under the curious gazes of many Nimbla residents.

“So what’s your plan anyway, Sash?” Cici asked.

“Well, I figure I found you by flying around and following signals. For the most part. So doing that again should work for Iris, I think.”

Cici shrugged. “Guess I can’t argue with that. Not like I can sense signals anyway. I just wish I could come with you."

Sasha frowned. “Oh right.”

She'd almost forgotten the fox was still an AIC member.

Her liaisons were helping Mr. Erin build his ship, but they'd made it clear that was the extent of their assistance. It was only thanks to Cici that they even agreed to look the other way regarding their presence in Rutune. According to them, they'd broken several protocols jumping into the world without warning. But then, that ship sailed long after Sasha joined with the Black Web.

Cici lit up.

“Oh, but we’ve got these now, don’t we?”

She pulled out her commpad. Sasha read the fox’s mind, pulling out hers. The strange devices were completely foreign to Islanders, but they were a godsend to grads. They quickly registered each other, Sasha ringing up Cici’s commpad just to be on the safe side. Her hologram appeared over the square device.

“Oooh,” they both said, marveling at the tiny panther.

It would take some time to get used to, but knowing that the fox was only a quick hologram away made the thought of leaving a lot less painful. She giggled, suddenly excited for the journey to find Iris.

“Oh, we've got time to kill too, right?” Cici asked.

“Oh yeah.” Sasha grinned. “We got all the time in the world until Mr. Erin's ready.”

Cici grabbed her hand. “Then c'mon! We got crap to make, Sash! Let's make us some statues!”

As she pulled the panther along, Sasha made sure to savor Cici’s crazy energy. Who knew how long she’d have to go without it again.