In a rare break before meeting back up with the guys again, Lauren and Topaz stopped in an Ashurian city for a few days of rest. They had a short period of time until they'd have to leave and make their way to their next stop. Since they'd been on the go for weeks and there'd be no point in leaving until the end of the week the girls had gotten a room at a nearby hotel and wandered around the area looking for something to do.

Topaz had been drawn to a large gathering of people and a vast amount of tents set up in a cluster. Despite Lauren's initial misgivings, Topaz pointed out they'd be harder to recognize in a crowd. The zebra sighed and followed her in.

"I still don't think this is a good idea," Lauren said.

"Oh, come on. We need to have some fun once in a while." Topaz dragged her by the arm until she saw some teens her age on a half pipe. The siamese cat bought a set of clothes matching what she saw the others wearing and some padding, and finally a set of shoes to replace her worn ones. "Mm! It may be the girl in me, but wearing a new set of clothes feels so good!"

Lauren looked her over. "You blend in better than I do."

"You sure you won't join me?"

"Where are you going?" Lauren asked, confused.

"See you on the other side!" Topaz rushed off towards the sign up table and less than ten minutes later, Lauren saw her young charge flying ten feet in the air as she held on to her skateboard. Where did she even get that thing?

Art by  fox-die