Rain poured down in cold gray sheets, blurring the full moon overhead and frothing in puddles on the ground. Whiplash shivered; he wanted nothing more than to curl up inside his shell forever, but he knew that wasn't an option. Not now. Not after what had happened between him and Breakneck.

He had to be strong. There was just no other choice. Now that he could never return to he and his mentor's old home, the only thing left to do was to find a new place to live.

But where can I go? He wondered desperately, fear suddenly creeping into his heart.

Whiplash was a fit, young snail - despite Breakneck's shameful intentions, he had been excellently mentored. He rarely broke down, rarely gave up, and was wise beyond his years, but this hopeless situation was almost too much for him to handle. Tears pricked the corners of Whiplash's eyes as he forced himself through the driving rain.

Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks. Something had caught Whiplash's eye.

Through the silvery downpour, he could see lights - bright lights. They were blurred by the rain, but they were there, glittering through the mist like tiny welcome signs.

The tears that threatened to pour from Whiplash all but vanished; the rain suddenly let up a little, the freezing sheets of water fading into a light drizzle. Now Whiplash could see the sign that topped the small building which lay in front of him.

DOS BROS TACOS.

Whiplash felt a tug in his heart - not a tug of pain, nor of fear, but something else. Belonging.

This is home.