Kai and Cassy didn’t end up sleeping right away. They sat on the couch with the movie Cabin in the Woods playing in the background, chatting about Cassy’s breakup and munching on Kai’s leftover ice-cream, Strawberry shortcake and rice-dream vanilla, from the tub. It was a girl’s night and they savored every moment before Kai decided to leave. They munched on chocolate when the ice cream ran out, then moved to chips and the rest of Kai’s hard cider. Kai felt comforted, knowing that safety and trust could be found in small moments or places like these.

The two girls stayed up late in each other’s company and passed out in the same order, feet entwined, satisfied on junk food and alcohol, cans and other trash haphazardly strewn across the coffee table. They both had a lot to process in a short amount of time however their friendship transcended no limits.

Soon, morning hit and a knock on the door jarred both women awake. Kai woke up and stretched out, and finally caught sight of Cassy. Her face was smeared with pink ice cream residue and chocolate smudges. Her eyeliner was smudged and the mascara that helped create the tear tracks could have been from a moment of joy or sorrow. Her brown hair was disheveled, pushed to the side and added to her trashed-up appearance. She looked like a crazed clown that had a major drug trip and climbed through a kid’s birthday party cake. Kai couldn’t hold in her mirth and belted out a hearty laugh before smacking her hands over mouth to stifle her laugh, tears of hilarity pooling down her face.

Kai wasn’t spared from the night binge appearances. Green hair flying high like if someone electrocuted her, eyeliner smudged as if she got makeup tips from a corpse, and chocolate smeared across her cheek as if she skidded face first in liquid shit.

Kai and Cassy both stared at each other, grinned, and broke out in mutual laughter. More laughing tears splashed their cheeks and knee slapping. Finally, they finally settled to do a selfie photo-op, comrades in chaos.

Sure enough, another knock on the door broke them away from the memory-making moment, which forced Kai to get up from the couch and begrudgingly answer the door. What she found was a miniature mountain of a variety of boxes and an equally confused look on the delivery man’s face.

“Please sign for your packages, ma’am,” he politely asked, trying to ignore the disheveled and brown stained face that stared back at him from the door.

Kai, forgetting she ordered things from the night before, gave off an embarrassed smile and provided her signature on the digital device. She then followed up with “I slipped and fell in shit,” shrugged and dragged the pile of boxes inside while closing the door with a soft ‘click’ with her foot.

The order came way too fast, so Kai decided to let Cassy wash up first while she inspected the packaged contents. Everything checked out and soon Kai was able to wash up and erase her unique visage.

“Looks like it’s almost time to go,” Kai said to Cassy, working with her to organize the items being placed in the backpack. They had to re-edit the newly bought backpack a few times, considering the weight and the things that didn’t make the cut.

Maomao had his own kitty-pack, looking very militant, which held a decent amount of his kibble. He also had side pockets which held a few of his favorite canned food.

“Okay Maomao, is the weight doable?” Kai asked Maomao, concern pulling the corners of her mouth down.

“Mrawl, I am a strong mighty being! Of course, I can handle this much.” He Grah’d out, stumbling at first.

“What did he say?” asked Cassy, looking at Kai for a translation.

{He said he is fine, human} Kapt’n replied into everyone’s minds before Kai could answer back. {We are mighty. This is nothing...} He added, further trailing off after realizing that he could sense Maomao’s slight shaking from under the weight.

Kai sighed and took two cans off the top, lightening Maomao’s load, and caused him to breath out a sigh of relief.

“Human, I have something I wanted to tell you a long time ago…” Maomao said as he sat down on his fluffy butt, gazing up at Kai. “This mighty one just wants the honorable name Mao, not Maomao. I am great and mighty, and I don’t need you to repeat my name.” Maomao – now Mao – clarified to the human Kai.

Kai was shocked! She always called him Maomao but never knew why he always threw a look at her when she called his name. Now it made sense and this new ability allowed her to get a better understanding of her furry friend.

“Okay,” Kai agreed, before throwing in a clause to the sitting cat, “only if you call me by my name and not human,” she emphasized, crossing her arms.

“Deal.” Mao yawned out; boredom plastered on his face. “Now get a move on, we should go.” He added, flopping on the ground as if he was preparing for a nap.

“What did he say?” Cassy asked, genuinely curious about the conversation.

“He apparently wants to just be called Mao now,” Kai replied, accompanied with a shrug.

“Right,” Cassy said, nodding her head in agreement. “Don’t worry Mao, Kai will finish packing soon. Are you gonna miss me?”

“…” Mao had no intention of responding back. He looked like a cat engulfed in a serious cat-nap while weighed down by an awkwardly overstuffed cat-sized backpack.

“Yes,” Kai responded back, trying to not hurt Cassy’s feelings due to Mao’s obvious snubbing.

“Okay! Few more things then you’ll be in tip-top shape!” Cassy said happily, getting back on task.

The two kept busy until they were both satisfied and shared a moment of anticipation for adventure.

Cassy walked with the two travelers until they got to the forest entrance. She carried the backpack for Kai, knowing that Kai had a difficult challenge ahead of her in the cave, especially the awkward narrow entrance. They thought about using some form of surfboard or skateboard to slide on to get through the narrow tunnel however the idea evolved to the sled method due to the nature of the terrain. It would have been difficult to navigate a thing on wheels but pulling a flat surface against rocks or other debris might assist Kai to easily transport the heavy backpack. Kai had a cheap one she held onto which she used a few years back which would be a perfect fit for the job.

Cassy plopped the backpack down for transfer and threw her arms wide, instigating anther hug for the umpteenth time that day. Kai reciprocated in a genuine bear-hug, both looking like they might break down and cry again at a moment’s notice. “Take care” they said in unison and let go. Kai slinging her backpack on and Mao sitting on the sled, they both left the spot that Cassy stood, waving and watching the two figures enter the forest under the sunset.