Coco plodded along behind Rudy for some time. The ground finally became level.

The plastic wrapping around Coco’s feet was tattered. She stopped to rest and strapped on her stilettos. Coco felt suddenly much more secure. She fished through a pile of trash. She was so hungry. She hoped there would be something she could eat without getting too ill. Like a Twinkie. Those things lasted forever. She knew she probably wouldn’t be that blessed.

The longer Coco wandered the wasteland, and the more she got to know Rudy, the less she believed she was dreaming. Her dreams had never been this vivid or detailed. She couldn’t recall ever having smelled a dream. Just as Coco began to weigh the possibility of having completely lost her mind, she unearthed a half eaten bag of trail mix from what appeared to be a crumpled mess of someone’s study notes. She examined the bag briefly before tilting her head back and pouring the mix into her mouth. It tasted vaguely of rubbish. She was so hungry she hardly noticed it.

Rudy buzzed around Coco’s head, exhausted. He landed in the mess of her hair, burrowed in and made himself a little nest of a bed.

Reclining and relaxing in her hair, Rudy said, “A little ways up, there is a hut. They may even let us stay the night. From there we can start fresh in the morning. Shouldn’t be much farther now.”

Normally Coco would find the mere thought of an insect making itself at home in her hair utterly repugnant. In this case, given that she had annihilated his home and he had still been so kind as to escort her to some kind of civilization, she made an exception. Besides, her hair was a mess already—stiff and fried from the electrocution. It had also begun to collect bits of paper, lint, and anything else the wind might have blown into it. Maybe this hut place would have a shower?

Excited by the prospect of cleanliness, Coco jumped to her feet and started off.

“Do you mind if I just take a nap here?” Rudy wheezed from her matted hair.

“Just don’t lay any eggs in there.” Coco cringed.

“I’m not making any promises.” Rudy yawned and rolled over.

As Coco walked she could hear the faint sound of his teeny, tiny snoring.