The car pulled up at the edge of the desert. Before anyone could alight, Charles spotted a flicker of yellow moving on a distant dune. His heart started racing with anticipation. This was the first sign of life he had encountered on the surface this time.0

Patting Lily on her back gently, Charles instructed, "Time to get to work. Get your mice friends to scout for any dangers in the sand."0

"Got it!" Lily nodded excitedly before hopping onto the car window's edge and letting out a series of squeaks.0

Soon, a small mischief of mice with varying colors leaped off the vehicle and scurried toward the desert. They swiftly made a quick circuit before rushing back to report their findings to Lily.0

"Mr. Charles, there are no threats in the vast beach ahead of us. There are also no other scents apart from that of the earth itself,"...0