For the next twenty hours, she just drove, stopping twice for gas. Evening turned to night and then day again as they crossed Nevada and Utah, finally heading into Colorado. They were making good time, and very, very marginally Electa felt the sick tension in his gut recede a notch. They still had to cross the Rockies, but it should be all right; they should make it with time to spare.

Half an hour into the Rockies, the truck got a flat.

Vexin was pretty tense the whole time, but seemed very concerned as the flat came into play.

Pulling over to the shoulder, Electa got out and stared in dull disbelief at the left front tire. She checked the trunk; the space that should have contained a spare was empty. She slammed the trunk shut; the temptation to just keep driving on the rim was nearly overwhelming.

Vexin got out as well, kneeling by it. "Do we have a pump? We could try to use something as a patch or ... "

"No...I didn't think..."

"Oh..." He came over to her. "Well, that's alright. How far is it? Maybe..." He fluffed his wings into view, giving her a questioning look.

"I know that there's a restaurant that's ten miles away..."

"Think I could make it while carrying you?" He said, spreading his wings.

"I'm not sure...Do you think you can?"

"Maybe, I did follow you for a while in the air. What's ten miles?" He said, swooping her up into his arms. He seemed to be feeling more confident.