Cocoa nods sharply and turns around to lead the way back to the car.

She is still anxious but much less so.

When they're in the car she takes the driver's seat and waits for everyone to buckle their seatbelts out of sheer habit.

The fox sits in the back, puts her legs up on the bench seat, and starts eating her hamburger.

"...forgive me if this question is impertinent, but have you been in a car before?"

"No."

"You should face front and buckle your seatbelt. It's for safety in case of a collision. Not sure if you'd need it, but my junior would not like to be hit by you going flying in a crash."

Sigh. "This thing?"

"Yes, the metal and plastic thing. It goes in the red slot."

"That was fairly obvious, thank you."

She buckles herself in properly. 

Then she can turn the engine on and drive! The radio goes to the same Top 40 channel it was on previously and the A.C. whirrs to life and she pulls towards the exit while digging for the remains of the cash stack to pay for parking.

The fox's voice comes from behind Trys' seat. "Kill the radio please."

"Of course." She pokes the button without more than a glance. Now there's only engine, road, and eating noises. And the tinny instructions of the parking ticket payout machine when she rolls down the window.

"So who are you two anyway?"

"Battle King Black Claw. And my junior, Abyssal Bride."

"Never heard of either of you."

"We're from out of town. I'm a Londoner, Abyssal Bride is from a nothing village up the coast a ways."

"You're what, twenty-five? And a Battle King already. And established enough to throw this all together fast. Glad I didn't fight you."

"Likewise. Do you have a name?"

"Not a Daoist one. You can call me Anna."

"Cocoa." He points at Trys. "Trys. Mind if I get out my burger too?"

"Not a problem with me."

And the rest of the journey is eating noises.

City driving is kind of stressful. It's worse when she's keyed up like this. But they don't hit anything or even have to brake especially hard, though she does start a right turn and abort it with a scowl once.

They are at the house fifteen minutes later.

Anna gets out of the car. "You first," she says to Cocoa.

Cocoa fishes the keys out of his pocket and steps up to the house. He opens the front door and steps inside, gesturing for the others to follow.