Both Caroline and Tyler were fully on board with Denton's suggestion. The smell inside was utterly atrocious. Even before the apocalypse, the stench of a leather factory had been infamous. The leather production process involved a host of chemicals that released all sorts of pungent odors. Then there was the boiling of hides—a uniquely foul smell in itself. Combined with Luke's months-long defilement of the place, the interior now reeked worse than a septic tank. They retreated outside. The mutant rat army slowly hauled everything out. There were piles of furs and leather goods, of course, but the most practical finds were the various leather shoes, such as winter boots, sandals ... you name it. After Caroline and Tyler stored everything in their storage space, Caroline secured a triple-layer mask over her face. She even donned goggles to protect her eyes from the stench. "Hold on a sec," she said to Tyler and Denton. "I'm going back in to grab those machines." She couldn't leave those behind—even the army coveted that kind of equipment. It would be a waste to leave it here. But just as she was about to head in, Raven trotted in front of her, blocking her path. He wagged his tail and looked up at her with earnest eyes. "Human, it's too foul in there. Let me handle it." It took Caroline a second to understand what he meant. A wave of pride washed over her. Look at my boy, all grown up. Of course, after all this time together, she no longer saw Raven purely as a pet, her "good son." He was too responsible, too cool, too much like a dependable older brother. Yet somehow, he felt more like a beloved little brother. Touched by his thoughtfulness, Caroline disconnected from the storage space and hung the pendant around Raven's neck. Raven was a pro by now. He gently bit a small patch of skin on his paw until it bled, then smeared the blood onto the pendant. Denton watched, jaw slightly agape. "Whoa, Raven is a genius! I'd kill for one of his puppies!" No sooner had Raven dashed back into the tannery than Snow bolted in after him, too. Tyler initially moved to call him back, but then thought it was good for the younger dog to gain some experience and held his tongue. About ten minutes later, Raven trotted out, with Snow following close behind. Clamped in Snow's mouth was ... a human femur. Tyler's face instantly darkened. "Snow. Drop it." The simple-minded dog obediently carried the bone over to Tyler and deposited it neatly at his feet. "Holy crap, and here we have a rebellious one!" Denton howled with laughter, nearly doubling over. He was promptly rewarded with a sharp flick to the forehead from Tyler. As Tyler stared down at Snow, who was gazing back dopily and wagging his stiff, uncoordinated tail, one thought echoed in his mind on a loop: Gotta brush her teeth when we get back. Brush her teeth. Brush her teeth. Raven, standing beside them, gave Snow a solid whack with his paw, his expression full of disdain. He seemed to communicate something to the simpler dog, because Snow's expectant, proud demeanor instantly deflated, replaced by a look of pure guilt. Caroline found the whole interaction with Snow amusing. With the tannery loot secured, the group didn't linger. They set off immediately for their next destination: a large nearby shopping mall. They knew any food in the mall would have been picked clean long ago. Their targets were different: sunscreen, sun-protective clothing, ice-making machines, moisture-proof mats, insulating materials, wide-brimmed hats, and other such supplies. On the way to the mall, they passed the gem and mineral market. Caroline mentioned she wanted to look for some specific stones. Tyler and Denton both said they weren't interested.In the end, it was just Caroline, Raven, and Jet who headed toward the pavilion. Before entering, Jet puffed out his chest and volunteered to scout ahead. His cheeky little eyes and the proud way he held his head high were highly entertaining. The way his head feathers trembled as he puffed up his chest was particularly comical. Caroline and Raven waited outside for about two minutes before Jet returned. Clutched in his talons was a rock. It was about the size of Caroline's palm, mostly grey in color. But on its surface was a natural, crystal-formed pattern that vividly resembled two birds nestled together. It wasn't as precise as a drawing, of course, but the likeness was striking and rare. "Human, no danger inside! Also, can I have this rock?" Jet blinked his round, bright eyes at Caroline. She reached out and scratched his head. "Take it."