"I, Copcar, will lead you to your friend."

They weren't entirely sure how they'd gotten here - they'd found Joshua, lost and alone and almost frantic, slowly walking through the caverns. They'd watched a moment, in case she was able to make her way to wherever she was heading without help, but it felt like she was pacing, walking towards where the red stood and then tripping back to the warming door. It didn't feel like she was enjoying herself, and Firetruck was obligated to leave no one behind if they could help it. And they could be a new friend!

Who was Firetruck but someone meant to be making friends?

And then Phoebe, even more capable than they, showed up and Joshua chose to be rescued while rescuing another and Firetruck could admit that they were a little bit confused, someone choosing someone else when it didn't feel like there was any kind of choice to be made. Firetruck was helpful - that was just what they did. And now their help wasn't needed. "So, you're not leaving right now?"

"Oh, uh.... not leaving for home right now. Do you... want to go with us? And then you can show me how to get home?" 

"No! Behold, I will go with you instead, for I am good and brave and capable and don't need to be rescued! I, Copcar, will lead you to your friend."

And we were back to the present, with Copcar bursting in to be helpful as well. So they could be extra helpful, so that Firetruck wasn't seen as alone or helpless. Firetruck may not be able to help much in the Furnace, but, with Copcar, they could do more.

So the four - Phoebe, Joshua, Copcar, and Firetruck - went through the door, Copcar pressing close to them as he rushed to be ever so slightly in front of them, though it was Phoebe who actually led the way. The small paint's hooves were moving so quickly that they caught the wrong edge of of some stray gravel, and he started to slide towards a ledge that sheared into a pool of lava. With steps quick and confident, Firetruck angled themself in front of him, stopping the slide with a sudden exhalation. This was their purpose - to be helpful, to support. To make sure that no one was lost unless they truly wanted to vanish.

And it didn't sound like Joshua's friend really did, so they continued, all of them, while a creature stood from the lava and trudged slowly after them