Maximus Augilleris Steefan jumped out of the entrance and landed on both his feet at the grass patch ahead of him. By doing so, his size increased, as he had escaped the size detaining area of the Dome.
Max: Wooohooooooo
Max raised both his arms to yell with joy. He loved that the Dome was huge, but he still felt cramped there. Behind him, followed Lin.
Lin: Can you stop shouting?? Do you wanna bring attention to us from approaching threats??
Max: Oh, come on!! You are such a buzzkill!! Hey, Albert!! Do you sense anyone nearby..??
Max looked behind Lin, as Albert appeared out of the Dome, seemingly from thin air, thanks to the magic of the Dome.
As Albert landed he took two seconds to stay still and find everyone.
Albert: No...it's just us...atleast in a two hundred meter radius.
Max: See...??
Lin: So..? Doesn't change that people can hear your howls from more than two hundred meters away.
Behind them,, both Chuck and Melissa appeared, holding hands, as it was still scary for Chuck to jump alone. The magic made it weird for him.
Max: Okay, let's go!!!
Chuck: Umm...where exactly..??
Max also wondered on what to do in this specific place.
Max: Well, the other Dome should be somewhere in this area, according to Hershel. Well....it's been two thousand years though, and who knows...someone could have piloted it away...or it could have changed it's location she to natural changes in terrain...I don't know.
All of them were shocked to see Max talk clearly for once. Seeing them all with their eyes widened, even Lin's Max snapped back.
Max: What???!!!
Melissa: Didn't know you were smart too Max!
She smiled a kind smile, and Max instantly was sad. It felt like everyone was downplaying him in more than one way.
Melissa then took the Transponder from her bag and talked to Hershel.
Melissa: Hershel....we will be off now, trying to locate the other Dome...
Hershel: I'll be waiting for your return ma'am. Have a safe journey.
Max took out his Transponder.
Max: You too Hershel. Hold down the fort for me!!
Hershel: I will, Master Max. Make sure Master Lee drinks enough water..
Lin: I'm gonna kill that robot!!
Max laughed at the unwanted but welcome jab at Lin.
Max and the others were in brand new outfits. They looked completely different from their first meeting. Melissa was wearing a black Jean's pants, that she loved from the Dome Collection. She was wearing a white T-shirt. She was still wearing her white muffler-scarf.
Chuck on the other hand looked different. There was more colour to him now than before. He wore black shorts, that looked like something kids at summer camp would wear. He had a pale yellow shirt, that simply said "Good Days Are For Good Kids". Max had no idea who made a shirt with that printing and honestly didn't think anybody would love to wear it, but here he was! He was also wearing a brown cap that simply had a stylized "1". He also wore his bag on his back carrying the Book of Fireflies.
Albert was in his usual Samurai attire, but wore an extremely dark crimson yukata with golden patterns. He still wore the blindfold and the hat. He also had his trusty Excalibur on his waist.
Lin was the only one who didn't want to change outfits. He just wore red bands at his wrists, and put armour plates there too. Other than that he maintained his armoured look, as usual. Apparently Lin never slept, and always had the armour on..
Max on the other hand was wearing a long sleeved T-shirt, blue in color. It had graffiti on it, and he wore dark brown pants. He wore a nice pair of shoes, blue and white in colour. He wore gloves to cover his universe hand, as he thought this was an undercover operation.
Max: But it's useless, when everyone beside me are colorful like the Power Rangers!!!
****
The gang walked for the next five minutes talking about stuff they saw or heard. But the one with the most groundbreaking suggestion was Melissa.
Melissa: I think we are near the ocean...
Max: No way!!! The ocean is atleast twenty kilometers away from here!! I saw the map!!
Max gave her a counter argument, using the evidence from the map at the Dome.
Melissa: But your Map was from two thousand years ago right?? I've seen the present map once, and even though it closely resembles your map, I'm pretty sure that there is no bigger landmass here.
Max had no argument there. Melissa looked much more affirmative now, than before. Lin was quiet, and he made it his mission to not talk until he is sure. After a few seconds of silence, Albert broke it.
Albert: Max...I think she is right...I can smell salt in the air....
Max: Whhhhaaattt?? Are you sure we are not walking towards a tidal wave or something right???
Albert: No...I can't say for sure though. It seems...pretty far away for now...
Max kept walking both his hands in the pockets. Then suddenly they heard the leaves rustling beside them. They all instinctively turned towards it, Lin and Albert ready with their blades. And out came a rabbit.
Lin: You couldn't sense that huh, moron with an unusable eye??
Max: That's not even an insult...
Albert: Sorry....I was too focused on finding the ocean..
As Albert apologised, Chuck went to comfort him. The rabbit kept jumping around.
Lin: Well...anyway..we found dinner...!
Lin walked up to it ready to cut it open.
Melissa: Noooo, wait wait!!
Max: Yeah!!! Why do you wanna cut everything!??!??!
They both stopped him, when they noticed that the rabbit had a collar on him. The rabbit had a name written in another language, that said "Pinky".
Max: That's a weird name to keep for a rabbit..
Max softly picked the rabbit up from the ground and held it firmly against his chest. The rabbit was scared but it clung to him despite that.
Max: Let's find your owner shall we??
Max smiled at the cute rabbit in his palm and the gang resumed walking from the direction the rabbit came from.
Lin: Should we really do this...??
No one answered tha annoyed Lin, and after a few more seconds, Albert pointed to the edges of the tree.
Albert: I can bear someone screaming the rabbit's name. He is in that direction...
Max and Melissa nodded at each other and started jogging to that area. They immediately came out of the trees and found themselves on an empty road made of bricks..
Max: Woooahh...
In front of them...they saw an old man with a bandaged leg. He was sitting on a cart with wheels. He was pushing it to go every corner. And most importantly...
???: Pinky!!! Where are you???!!
He was the owner and he was right in front of them. And also, behind him, Max could see the entire ocean, in it's blue beauty!!