After hiking through the dark woods, Zira, Rolo, Riffa, and Quiggles summited at a flat clearing overlooking the rolling landscape. They could now see the stars again, so numerous they looked more like radiant mist than individual specks. The three sibling moons beamed brightly upon the stony plateau.

Zira was satisfied. This was the right place. She set down her backpack and pulled out Lazro’s rocket. She looked at it tenderly one last time, and gave it a sentimental kiss.

“Here.” She handed it to Rolo. “I want you to have this. You can take this to find Earth.”

Rolo looked at the toy rocket in his hand, puzzled and perplexed. He turned to Riffa. “Did she get enough snacks to eat?”

“No, silly,” laughed Zira. “It gets bigger. Just soak it in water.”

“Oh.” He looked around. “But we don’t have any water.”

Then Quiggles strutted by, snatched the rocket from Rolo’s hand, and tossed it into his surprisingly large mouth.

“Quiggles, no!”

Quiggles hummed leisurely while swishing the rocket around his mouth. He spat it out and placed it on the ground. They stared at it in anticipation.

Then, sure enough, the shiny red and silver rocket started to swell, expanding unevenly, almost like it was inflating. The bottom grew fat, then its stubby fins grew to size. It leaned left, then right, as it grew taller and taller. Until finally, it stood solidly upright, full-sized.

But Rolo still looked confused. The rocket was not much taller than he was. “Uh. I still don’t see how this helps.”

Zira smiled. “Look inside.”

The round hatch twisted open.

Rolo stepped up to the rocket and leaned inside. “Whoa!” His voice echoed. “It’s huge in here! Is that a flooshball table? And a hot tub?!”

Zira giggled. “Yeah. Lazro let me help him make it for his science project. Everything works.”

On one fin was the name “Pea-Pod” painted in Lazro’s handwriting—his nickname for Zira.

Rolo could barely get any words out. “Zira, I don’t … I … Really?”

She nodded. “It’s got everything you’ll need.”

“Wow. I … I mean, of course I want to find Earth. But I can’t leave you. This is the only home I’ve ever known. You raised me, and … I don’t think I can do this.”

“Yes you can, Rolo Polo.” She kneeled in front of him and put her hands on his shoulders. Tears welled in her eyes. “You’re the bestest pet ever, Rolo. You were always there for me, as long as I can remember. You played with me, and you stayed with me when I was sick, and when it was stormy and I was afraid of the thunder, and when I was lonely … But you’re more than just my pet. You should have your own life now.”

His eyes glistened, and he beamed a bittersweet smile. “Thank you,” he mouthed, but he was so choked up only a squeak came out. He flung his arms around her and hugged her with all his heart.

Zira loved Rolo’s hugs. Warm memories filled her. Memories of their first hug, when she saw him in the pet store, just a little boy with a big smile, and he reached out to her and nestled under her chin. Memories of when he fell asleep on the sofa, and she would pick him up to take him to bed, and he wrapped his arms around her neck and laid his head on her shoulder. Memories of when she came home from school and stepped off the school bus, and he would run up the sidewalk and leap into her arms. Memories of when she took him for rides on her bike, and he hung onto her shoulders and begged her to go faster, and squealed with joy, and hugged her tightly. And memories of that night when Lazro was taken, and she was curled up in bed, sobbing, and Rolo climbed up and leaned on her and hugged her with his whole body.

And now this would be their last hug … ever.

She held his hands and looked into his smiling eyes, their cheeks wet with tears.

He asked, concerned, “Are you going to be alright?”

She looked up at Riffa, who gave her a little smile. She knew she would not be alone anymore. “Yeah, I’ll be okay.” She squeezed his hands, then let him go.

Quiggles strutted up to the rocket and hopped in. He found a captain’s hat inside and put it on—a perfect fit.

Rolo took his ID tag off his neck and placed it in Zira’s hand. “I guess I won’t be needing this anymore.”

She smiled and gripped it tightly. A new memento to keep her company.

Rolo stepped up to the rocket, climbed the ladder, and crawled inside. He looked back at them gratefully through the hatch. “Thank you, too, Riffa. Take good care of her, okay?”

Riffa smiled and nodded. Then, with a sudden realization, she turned to Zira. “What are we going to tell Mom?”

Rolo gave his wry smile. “Just tell her I went to a nice farm upstate, where I could run around and chase squirlers.”

A laugh escaped from both Zira and Riffa.

“Be good,” he said to Zira, waving goodbye as the hatch slowly twisted shut.

Zira leaned back against Riffa’s shoulder and felt her warmth. The engine ignited with a burst of brightness, then slowly, effortlessly, the rocket elevated off the ground and above the trees, blowing the glowing seeds into swirling whorls of light. Riffa wrapped her arm snugly around Zira, while Zira placed her hand over Riffa’s and held it tightly. Through watery eyes, Zira watched the shining light rise higher and higher into the night, until it faded away among the stars.

Rolo was on his way home now, to the home he never knew—Earth.