{"sf1_id":29782,"sf2_id":"rm8x3Lym","title":"1- A Husky Tells No Tales","author":"Der Doberman","words":4706,"posted_at":"2007-08-05T03:50:00.000Z","tags":["No-Yiff","Plot Development","Road Rovers","Story Progression","Story Series"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/29782-1-a-husky-tells-no-tales","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/rm8x3Lym","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/91/51/9151174c-1103-4746-a181-d9a2aebabf22","description":"","content":" **Chronicles of the World's Heroes**  \n  \nThis is the official start of a series of stories based off of WB's cartoon series Road  \nRovers. I don't claim to own them, at all, but the work that follows is a product of my  \nown imagination or something so I do claim to own _that_. Either way, comments and  \nconstructive criticism are both _very welcome_ and wanted- one of my main goals in  \nposting this work of fiction is to receive feedback- preferably helpful (both positive and  \nnegative highly accepted)- and increase my skills as a writer. That said, I hope you enjoy  \nreading The Chronicles of the World's Heroes. It's a rather vague title, I realize, but in  \nreality canines are our heroes of sorts- they portray so many human characteristics that,  \nby watching them and living with them, we can ultimately learn how our interactions  \ncould affect the world around us. Something like that.  \n  \nPlease Enjoy.  \n_Der Doberman_  \n  \nP.S. For those who have read my story titled \"Curiosity\", please consider it a teaser for or  \nwork loosely connected to, although not intertwined with, the plot of this series. I may  \nreiterate parts of it somewhere in the course of this narrative, although I haven't yet truly  \ndecided. Also, if you're looking for a purely yiffy tale, I'd suggest you skip over this one.  \nScenes fitting this description will be few and far between, this really isn't a story written  \nfor porn's sake. Just so you know.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp;1- A Husky Tells No Tales  \n  \nExile wiped a stained paw across his brow, preventing the sweat beading above his sky  \nblue eyes from blinding him. His paw left a thick, black line of grease on his forehead, a  \nhindrance he was willing to tolerate for the time being. Snow beat down on his hunched  \nfigure as he slaved over a wrecked helicopter, the latest result of his leader's magnificent  \npiloting skills.  \n  \nHe sighed as he worked the wrench in his paw over the crusted bolts on the machine's  \ninsides. As he strained to tighten the pieces of the flying beast, his shoulders flexed and  \nthe green shirt of his Road Rovers' uniform stretched taught. Despite the conditions, he  \nconsidered himself to be making great time on the chopper; he had originally estimated  \nthat nearly a day would be required to get it in running order again, but he had toiled  \nextra hard since his team's departure just a few hours ago and was now nearing the final  \nfew necessary touch-ups.  \n  \nThe light blue husky took a break from his grueling task, leaning away from the open  \ncompartment and resting on his haunches. He worked his paws together, trying to warm  \nthem up as well as iron out the cramps that had taken up residence there.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; He took this opportunity to size up his surroundings for the first time since the Rovers'  \nuntimely landing- all he had known before was that it was cold and snowy (a climate he  \nwas not unused to, having been raised in Siberian winters). Around him he found rows  \nupon rows of gorgeous coniferous trees, firs and pines that made his canine instincts  \nchomp at the bit. The breeze that blew through these trees was cool, but not as cold as he  \nhad originally conceived, and it carried with it the scent of nature, an array of plants and  \nanimals.  \n  \nThe CB Radio in the helicopter crackled, bringing the husky out of his mesmerized  \ntrance, \"Exile, this is Hunter, do you have a copy?\"  \n  \nThe blue dog bounced to his feet and rushed to the cockpit of the flying contraption,  \nsliding expertly into the pilot's seat and picking up the radio's microphone in the same  \nmovement. A small compartment in the dash opened as he did so, spilling several items  \nand a few color photographs onto the floor of the cockpit. He was surprised by them, but  \ndidn't take the time to think about their implications. Holding down the switch on the  \nside of the communicator, Exile responded shakily, \"Da comrade, this is Exile.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; The voice on the other end was urgent and spoke in a hushed tone, \"How close to  \nfinished is the Air Rover?\"  \n  \n\"She can fly. How far, I cannot say right now, would be anything from ten to fifteen  \nmiles,\" Exile paused. His leader on the other end of the conversation wouldn't like what  \nhe was about to say, \"I do not think she could take us back to mission controlski. I need  \nparts that were lost in the crash, and without them we will not get more than thirty miles.  \nOver.\"  \n  \nThere was no response for a good thirty seconds, and, just as he started to worry about his  \ncomrades, the radio buzzed again, \"That'll have to do Exile. How fast could you get to  \nthe compound?\"  \n  \n\"I will be there quick as... Something quick. Over and out.\"  \n  \nThe husky didn't wait for a response, if one was even coming. He was easily a thirty  \nminute walk away from where his team was. Looking in the cargo bay of the helicopter,  \nhe came across a small, green snowmobile with the yellow-on-red R symbol of the Road  \nRovers painted on the side. He dragged it out of the chopper and hopped on, revving the  \nengine as soon as he was in the driver's seat.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Like a flash he was off through the woods, skirting wildly through the shrubs and  \noverhanging branches. The machine handled well, dodging thick tree trunks as they  \nappeared before him. It was almost as if the trees were leading him toward the compound  \nwith every twist and turn of his vehicle. Regardless, it was several minutes before he was  \nanywhere near the compound and his comrades.  \n  \nThe radio on the snowmobile crackled, and the sounds of gunfire were heard behind the  \nhurried voice of Hunter, \"Exile, there's been a problem. Colleen's been captured and is  \nbeing held at the center compound. We're under heavy fire, and need you to meet us in  \nthe loa- Blitz! Get down!\" A large explosion sounded over the communication system,  \nfollowed closely by static.  \n  \nExile urged the sleek vehicle to go faster.  \n  \nSoon enough the menacing structure loomed on the horizon. It was a large wooden  \nconstruction, surrounded on all four sides by a thick timber wall. In the center of the  \ncompound was a large building that jutted sorely out of the earth. It grew skyward and  \nsplit into two towers, each flying a long yellow pennant at their peak.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Exile stopped the snowmobile and stowed it away in some of the brush and undergrowth,  \nhoping to be able to make a quick getaway if the situation required it. Glancing at the  \nspot one last time, he began making his way through the diminishing forest and toward  \nthe compound. Instinctively he checked his pistol in its holster, making sure that it was  \nloaded and that the safety was off. He didn't know what exactly to expect, but he  \nremembered from all his training that if he expected the worst, then nothing would  \nsurprise him.  \n  \nHe made his way along the brush line until he found the main entrance to the compound.  \nIt was a stout oaken gate that opened on two sides to allow vehicle traffic through. As the  \nhusky slowed to examine it from a distance, there was a loud creaking noise and the  \nmonstrous barrier began swinging outward. Quickly ducking back behind a tall tree,  \nExile watched and waited for his opportunity.  \n  \nA large camouflaged jeep rolled up and stopped a few yards away from the gate, allowing  \nit room to fully swing open. Its side was marked with two great red letters: GP. Exile  \ninstinctively shook his head and wondered why he hadn't thought sooner that it might be  \nGeneral Parvo who was behind this whole debacle. He watched as a guard carrying a  \nstandard issue assault rifle and another holding a clipboard walked up to the driver's  \ndoor, exchanged a few words and returned back into the compound. The trucks engine  \nrevved and it began moving through the great archway.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Exile realized that he wouldn't be able to dwell long on what the General was up to. As  \nsoon as the military truck began to accelerate, the husky took off from his hiding place  \nand sprinted toward the back of the truck as fast as his strong legs would allow. With a  \npowerful leap he threw himself under the canopy, rolling into a crouch with his pistol  \ndrawn. Except for several crates, the inside of the transport was empty. Exile settled in  \nbehind a rather large mound of boxes as the truck made its way toward the building at the  \ncenter of the compound.  \n  \nThe jeep came to a stop. Exile held his breath as he heard the cab door open and slam.  \nFootsteps sounded around the side of the vehicle, and he twisted the silencer of his pistol  \ninto the muzzle, hoping that he wouldn't have to use it. The footsteps stopped behind the  \ntruck and were replaced with the sound of the tailgate being pulled down to allow the  \ncrates to be unloaded. Exile held his weapon at the ready with his finger on the trigger,  \nwaiting to see if he would be discovered.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; The driver began climbing into the back of the truck. Crouching low, the husky prepared  \nto spring on him in case he shouted for backup when he found an unwanted passenger.  \n  \nFrom outside a voice sounded, and the driver clambered noisily from the truck bed,  \nresponding, \"No need, I'll have it all out in a jiff. And don't tell Parvo!\"  \n  \nThe voice called back, barely reaching Exile's straining ears, \"Well, alrighty, but there  \nwon't be many happy soldiers when they find out that there ain't work t'be done!\"  \n  \nLaughing, the driver closed the gate, \"I don't suppose I'd be able to come in with you all  \nand grab a cup o' joe before I have to do all this unloading, would I?\"  \n  \n\"Sure thing, just make sure you get it all unloaded by the time the General comes back to  \ncheck on it- that's a pretty precious cargo you've got there and I wouldn't want to be on  \nthe receiving end of his wrath if it went undone.\"  \n  \nTwo pairs of footsteps receded into the distance, followed briefly by the sound of a  \nslamming door. Exile climbed warily from behind the crates and slipped over the back  \ngate of the truck, landing softly in a crouch. His eyes scanned his surroundings, looking  \nfor a way into the main compound.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; He was inside of a cavernous hanger. The jeep had been parked at the wall furthest from  \nthe door and was surrounded on many sides by other trucks. Outside of the other vehicles  \nwere stacks of similar crates as had been in the one Exile had ridden in. As he surveyed  \nthe garage, he noticed a large windowed room a short distance to his left. Inside it he  \ncould see several soldiers dressed in the standard garb of Parvo's forces. Their backs  \nwere all turned to the window as they watched a small television, the glow of which  \nilluminated the glass panes.  \n  \nExile decided to head in the opposite direction of the room, ducking behind the parked  \ntrucks as he went. Soon enough he found a small, metal door that opened into a long  \ncorridor, which was littered with similar doors on each side. The husky paused just inside  \nthe doorway a moment, quickly coming to a decision. He slid silently along the poorly lit  \nhallway, cracking each door he came across as he went. None of the adjacent rooms were  \noccupied, and the husky was soon concerned with the lack of force displayed inside the  \ncompound.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; As he came to the last door in the hallway, he muttered under his breath, \"A wild duck-  \nchase, that's what this is. They could be anywhere.\"  \n  \nThe door creaked as he opened it slightly, letting a small pool of light flood into the dim  \nhallway. Without warning the handle was ripped from his grasp and he found himself  \nface to face with a hulking mutated great dane, one of General Parvo's latest creations.  \n  \nHe ducked aside as one of the cano-mutants giant fists crashed into the doorframe where  \nhis head had been seconds before. Rolling backwards, he was quickly on his feet with  \npistol drawn, firing three successive rounds into the monster's left shoulder. The dane  \nwas not even phased as it rushed him, fists raised and ready for damage. Exile didn't have  \ntime to take aim and pull the trigger before the beast caught him with a swift right hook  \nthat sent him sprawling. He watched helplessly as his gun slid down the hall away from  \nhim.  \n  \nThe dane didn't give Exile time to get back on his feet. Wrapping a giant paw around the  \nhusky's throat, it lifted him high above his head. Exile could feel the air being cut off  \nfrom his brain, and he struggled instinctively to free himself, kicking out at the mutant  \nwith both his feet. His steel-toed boots hit the dane in both eyes, temporarily blinding it  \nand causing the grip around Exiles throat to loosen, dropping him to the ground in a heap.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Gasping for breath, the husky was up and pounding down the hallway toward his  \ndiscarded pistol. The beast behind him roared and charged after him, using an acute sense  \nof hearing to give chase. Exile lost his balance as he ran wildly and slid the last few feet  \nto his weapon, picking it up as his skid by. He turned to face his pursuer on his knees, just  \nin time to have the sightless monster trip over him and fall sprawling to the ground  \nbehind him.  \n  \nThe husky spun about and raised the pistol as the dane climbed back to its feet. Sight  \nreturned to the abomination's eyes, and the last thing it saw was the muzzle of Exile's  \ngun flashing as he fired four rounds into the creature's brain.  \n  \nThe husky dropped to his knees, shaking as the dispatched barbarian fell fatally wounded  \nto the ground. His hands shook as he dropped the empty clip to the floor and reloaded the  \ngun, cocking it as he did. Leaving the slain monster behind him, he returned to the door  \nand snuck through quietly, hoping that a similar surprise wasn't waiting for him on the  \nother side.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; The room he entered was brightly lit by a single, fluorescent bulb that shone down on a  \nlone, bloodied figure strapped to a chair at the center. Exile quickly rushed over and  \nbegan untying the bruised form of Hunter, a normally perky golden retriever. The canine  \nwas unconscious, slouched forward with a series of welts and bumps beginning to form  \nall over his face and neck. As the final bonds were undone, Hunter's senseless body fell  \nforward. Exile caught him, and, swinging him over his shoulder like a bag of potatoes he  \ncarried him to a corner, setting him down gently.  \n  \n\"Comrade, comrade, wake up!\" Exile tapped softly on the retriever's shoulder, hoping  \nthat the prostrate canine would come around soon. Shaking Hunter lightly, he opened up  \na flask of water that he always carried in his pocket and poured a bit over his leader's  \nhead.  \n  \nThis did the trick, and Hunter's eyes opened weakly. His head throbbed, and he winced in  \npain. Spitting blood out onto the floor, he addressed the husky feebly, \"Glad you could  \nmake it.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Exile shook his head, \"Da, me too, although I wish I'd have come sooner. Where are the  \nothers? This place is like bad dreamski.\"  \n  \n\"I'm not sure,\" Hunter coughed, \"We were separated when the soldiers attacked us.  \nColleen's up at the top of the high tower, I'm sure, but Blitz and Shag could be anywhere.  \nI don't know if they escaped or were captured.\"  \n  \nExile nodded grimly. The team had been scattered, and his leader was in no shape to help  \nfind them. Biting his lip, he took his pistol from the holster and handed it to Hunter,  \n\"There are many trucks back along the hallway outside. Get into the back of one of them  \nand try to hide there until I come back; I'll find the others.\"  \n  \nHunter was about to protest but stopped when his gaze met Exile's determined eyes.  \nClimbing sorely to his feet, he went out the way that the husky had entered the room,  \nturning back momentarily, \"Good luck, Exile. I'll try and have a truck in shape to move  \nby the time you get back.\"  \n  \nWith a click of the door behind him, the retriever disappeared, leaving Exile to press on  \nalone. As the husky opened the other door in the interrogation room, he was unarmed and  \nunprepared for what might meet him on the other side, but he strode recklessly through  \nthe portal regardless of any danger that might lurk there. He had one goal in mind: to  \nrescue his friends.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; ~  \n  \nThe slender Doberman pinscher ducked behind what was left of a wall as bullets flew  \noverhead. He struggled to reload his MP5, which had been hit and damaged in a previous  \nbarrage. Glancing over at his comrade, a large, white-furred sheepdog, he shook his head,  \n\"This is my last clip, Shag. After this I'm running on empty.\"  \n  \nShag looked back at him. The Doberman could tell that the sheepdog was frightened to  \ndeath but had adopted a dangerous look on the outside. He pulled a shotgun from his fur  \nand passed it across to him, muttering incoherently as he did.  \n  \nThe Doberman nodded. \"Alright, we do it once we're out of bullets, okay? The idea of  \nrushing them with nothing but shotguns doesn't exactly thrill me, but if we're going out  \nwe might as well take some of them with us.\" Turning back to the wall, he mumbled to  \nhimself, \"Okay, Blitz, give 'em a good show. Eins, zwei, drei!\"  \n  \nWith a roar he shot back up above the pile of rubble, spraying bullets in the direction of  \nhis enemies at the other end of the colossal room. He and Shag had been running from the  \nscore of soldiers for a long while before they found an entrance to the giant hanger they  \nwere now in. Row upon row of trucks were parked against the wall furthest from the  \ngreat door of the hanger, which was now open as the soldiers poured in.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Turning to the sheepdog, Blitz screamed over the sound of the melee, \"Retreat! Back  \nbehind the trucks!\"  \n  \nThe two canines backed up wildly until they were protected slightly by the large vehicles.  \nA slew of bullets tore through everything around them, one catching Blitz in the left  \nshoulder. This didn't discourage him from popping out from behind the truck to return  \nfire, wounding three of the soldiers in the process. He slid down to a crouch as his  \nweapon began clicking wildly, firing nothing. He swore as he pulled his small, 9mm  \npistol from its holster and cocked it.  \n  \nSuddenly the remaining soldiers were beset upon by a bombardment of bullets from the  \nside. Blitz and Shag rose to see Hunter flying towards the now-deteriorating force of  \nsoldiers with speed only he could accomplish. The two canines followed Hunter's lead  \nand charged with automatic shotguns raised to the ready. They were quickly among the  \nremaining troops, vanquishing several. The surviving few turned tail and ran.  \n  \nHunter flashed a cocky smile at the pair of canines, \"Boy, am I glad to see you guys!\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Not as glad as we are to see you,\" Blitz responded, \"Let's get out of here.\"  \n  \n\"Not so fast. We still need to wait for Exile and Colleen,\" Hunter said, taking charge of  \nthe situation, \"But first, we need to get one of these trucks working. Are there any that  \nweren't damaged when all hell broke loose?\"  \n  \nShag began babbling nonsensically, but was quieted when Hunter covered his mouth with  \na paw, \"Shh, we can be sure that Parvo's troops will be back, yes, but until then we need  \nto get ready to blow this joint.\"  \n  \nBlitz nodded knowingly, \"Most of these jeeps were ruined when we were attacked, but  \nthere might be a few down at the far end that are still in decent shape. Follow me.\"  \n  \nThe three Cano-sapiens began jogging swiftly down the row of trucks, until they got to  \nthe final one. Inspecting it thoroughly and finding nothing wrong, they climbed in, Shag  \nand Blitz in the rear and Hunter in the cab. The keys were still dangling from the ignition,  \na fortunate occurrence that Hunter took as a good omen. He turned the key, and the truck  \nstarted with a rumble.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Shag and Blitz were situating themselves between the massive amounts of crates in the  \nback of the truck. Trying to make room for the other two once they arrived, the  \nDoberman accidentally toppled a pile of the boxes over the back gate and they fell to the  \nfloor, shattering open. As the contents spilled out onto the cold concrete, Blitz hopped  \ndown and ran up to the driver's side door, yelling to Hunter in the process, \"Come quick,  \nyou have to see this!\"  \n  \nThe retriever clambered out of the driver's seat, leaving the engine running. He was  \nimmensely surprised when he saw the contents of the broken crates, \"I would _not_ have  \npredicted _this_!\"  \n  \nLying on the floor were several assault rifles, an assortment of pistols, and many clips of  \nammunition. The retriever scooped an AK-47 into his paws and loaded it, smirking to his  \ntwo comrades as he did, \"At least now we'll be ready when the bad-guys come back,  \neh?\"  \n  \nArming themselves to the teeth, the three canines settled back into the truck, waiting to  \nsee whether it would be their comrades or another battalion of enemy soldiers that would  \nmake it to them first.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; ~  \n  \nExile searched frantically. It seemed as if the compound was composed of a mass of  \nnever-ending hallways that led to other hallways that led to rooms with only one  \nentrance. It was, as he had said earlier, like a bad dream. The whole time he'd been  \nsearching he hadn't yet run across another living soul, good or evil. He was beginning to  \ngrow distressed. He turned down yet another long corridor with doors on either side, and  \nthe sight of it drove him into a fit of rage. He lashed out at the wall angrily, kicking at it  \nwith the bottom of his boot.  \n  \nWith a creak, a small trapdoor opened in the wall. Exile crouched, extremely surprised by  \nhis find. Looking through the opening, he saw that it was a short passage into a larger  \nchamber. He dove into the doorway and crawled swiftly through, emerging on the other  \nside.  \n  \nA large, winding staircase ascended above him into the heights of the circular tower that  \nhe had entered. Silently congratulating himself, he started jogging up the stairs, taking  \nthem two or three at a time. It was a long climb. The cement steps seemed to grow longer  \nas the tower stretched upwards, and Exile found himself gasping for breath when he  \nfinally reached the landing at the top. A stout, wooden door was the only thing around to  \ngreet his arrival. Throwing caution to the wind, he barged through the barrier, nearly  \nknocking it flat in the process.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; The room inside was bathed in a crimson light. Looking around, he found that a small,  \nred table-lamp was the only light source in the room. It rested on a circular bedside table  \nthat had been moved next to the door, most likely, he decided, so that whoever entered  \nthe room could turn it on. The only other piece of furniture in the area was a large, four-  \npost bed with an expansive canopy and curtains that covered all view of the inside. Exile  \ncrept softly towards it, grabbing the side of one of the sprawling drapes. He ripped it  \naside and was dumbfounded at what he discovered.  \n  \nThe bed was empty, save for a small pair of brass knuckles which, upon inspection, Exile  \nrealized belonged to Colleen. He swore aloud and looked for any exit to the room besides  \nthe door that he had entered through. Finding none, he cursed again, and, given to  \ndesperation, he began calling, \"Colleen! Colleen! Are you around here?\"  \n  \nThere was a muffled scream from above. He looked up and immediately thanked his  \nlucky outburst. A long figure was silhouetted against the canopy of the bed. Climbing up  \none of the four bed-posts, Exile found the British collie tied up and lying on top of the  \ncanopy. He pulled her down gently and untied her. The two of them sat on the bed a  \nmoment, waiting for the blood to work itself back into her limbs.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Colleen was absolutely elated to see a familiar face, and she rewarded Exile's rescue with  \na swift kiss on his cheek that caused him to blush deeply, \"Thank you, you really saved  \nm'life there. I was beginning to think that no one was coming for me.\"  \n  \nExile grinned and bounced to his feet, handing her the brass knuckles in the process, \"We  \naren't out of the dodging yet. Follow me.\"  \n  \nThe collie followed him as he led her out of the room and down the stairs, and then  \nthrough countless deserted corridors. After the fifth or sixth similar hallway she was  \nconsiderably turned around and voiced her concern, \"Exile, are you sure you know where  \nwe're going?\"  \n  \n\"I have no idea, actually. I'm as lost as, as, well, I'm as lost as someone who hasn't been  \nfound!\" Exile replied, thoroughly turned around in the similar passages, \"I'm sure it's  \nright around here, though. Just, right through this doorski-\"  \n  \nPushing the door open, the pair was met with the welcome sight of the cavernous garage.  \nThe large hanger door was wide open, and a truck was idling at the center of the area.  \nThe two immediately recognized Hunter's form sitting in the driver's seat. They took off  \nin a sprint towards the jeep, Colleen climbing into the passenger's seat and Exile joining  \nShag and Blitz in the back. The sheepdog handed him an assault rifle, which he accepted  \ngraciously.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Hunter gunned the truck into motion not a moment too soon. As they sped out of the  \nhanger a horde of soldiers poured out of the barracks not three hundred yards away.  \nHunter spun the wheel and pushed the jeep as fast as he could towards the complex's  \nmain entrance. The gates, which had been left open during the whole ordeal, began  \nswinging closed. Realizing that they might not make it through, Hunter ordered his team  \nto brace themselves, \"Hold on, guys, it's gonna be close!\"  \n  \nGrabbing the side of the canopy, the three dogs in the back braced themselves tight. The  \njeep roared towards the diminishing gap in the gate, and sped through with inches to  \nspare. Watching as soldiers cascaded out of the compound firing fruitlessly at the  \nescaping truck, Exile and Blitz congratulated each other on a job well done.  \n  \nAs the compound rapidly disappeared into the horizon behind them, Hunter chuckled.  \nTheir mission had been compromised, sure, but it had nonetheless been a success.  \nGlancing at the exhausted collie seated next to him, he raised his voice so that the three in  \nthe back could hear, \"Good job, guys. Now, let's hit the road, Rovers!\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; The five comrades each leaned back and relaxed, free for the moment of any worries that  \nthey'd had before. Blitz closed his eyes and was soon snoring softly, which caused Shag  \nto pull a pair of earmuffs from his fur and put them on so that he too might get some  \nsleep. Exile gazed out the back of the truck, lost deeply in thought, his mind returning to  \nthe items and photographs that he had found while working on the Air Rover. He had no  \nidea what the consequences would be when he finally confronted Hunter about them a  \nfew days later.  \n  \n\n"}