Firetruck never thought of what they couldn't do. It wasn't that they were capable of everything, but they rarely attempted anything that they were incapable of. Find someone who was lost? Easy, and frequently without even looking. Become lost so someone else could look for them? Sure, always happy to help. Grow something in a garden? They hadn't seen anything they'd planted die yet, even though 

So it was with good reason that they expected to easily become close to Copcar.

They hadn't expected to be so drawn to the smaller paint, to rescue him and then never let him get hurt again. It would be illogical to say that Firetruck wanted the people he rescued to need to be rescued once more, but they rarely stayed near the top of their thoughts. They had many friends - they considered everyone that they met their friends, but that was it. Stronger than acquaintances, someone they would change their path in order to talk to, but they hadn't invited anyone else into their home.

Looking back with a little consternation, they hadn't really invited Copcar to their home - they'd insisted on it, insisted on making sure the time he was missing hadn't harmed him in any way. Copcar had been shy, a little hesitant, but he'd followed willingly enough. He'd looked sweet enough, confused enough, that Firetruck offered to let him stay - just for the night, of course. Of course! Though that possibly wasn't what they'd said. "You can stay here" was a little more ambiguous than perhaps they were meaning, but Copcar had declined, whatever the meaning he understood.

They interacted from time to time after that, but Firetruck was frequently surprised to notice Copcar following at a distance. Perhaps he didn't want them injured, as well? Maybe they shared the same worries that Firetruck barely understood. So, when Firetruck offered to help the champagne to find her way out again, but then they decided to save her friend, the red was tickled more than surprised when Copcar showed up and insisted on joining them.

When lava began to pool near Joshua, Firetruck checked to make sure the short paint was out of possible danger before going to help her. It was only for a moment, and they didn't understand why they did it. They just did.

When Copcar announced that he was leaving on his own, going to wander and discover things, their feet started moving after him before they even had a conscious thought. They wrestled with what it meant, as nothing had been intentional, but they couldn't let Copcar go alone, not in this place where they couldn't promise that they could find him. Firetruck would, of course, always find Copcar, but they couldn't promise it in so many words.

They walked a long time in complete silence, looking at this world that was new and wonderful and strange, and so very, very hot. Firetruck had never thought how they felt about heat; that could mean putting their desires over someone elses. If the other needed help and Firetruck was less unwilling to help because they didn't want enjoy the location, they wouldn't as easily be able to serve their purpose. And what were they, if not serving their purpose?

Copcar stopped at the end of the path, staring at a wall that the red hadn't originally noticed. A face, a cry, a toothy path. "Should we enter?" they asked, speaking for the first time since they'd left the others.

The black shook himself, likely shocked by the sudden entrance of their unobtrusive voice. "What - are you scared?" he declared before stepping into the darkness.

Firetruck smiled to themself, soft and simple and without trepidation. "Only when it comes to you," they responded to the heavy air.

The other side didn't look much different, but there was a sound that felt like it was growing closer, the hazy lines of heat ancing like soundwaves to bring the thunder closer. Thunder? Thunder in a place such as here? Possible, but it felt inprobably. But... ah, no - dogs, snarling and snapping and slathering, their teeth bright in their mind's eye. They were coming, and Firetruck could imagine what they could do with those hellish mouths. "Copcar," they said, voice low but quicker than their usual timbr. "We need to run. Right now."

Copcar scoffed, but the red pushed them, bodily moving the smaller Courser until his ears flattened and he gave in, albeit slowly.

And they ran.

Away from the only way they knew to exit, into a world they'd never been before.

But at least they were together.