Brit started walking to his apartment. He wished Chief didn't bring that up. He knew nothing about Brit's problem.

Despite Pangaea making that anti-fire fur spray, he only used that on his tail. What bothered him was that it did work... a little too well. On the previous fires, it worked as needed. On the last five fires, however, it affected his body as a whole. He sprayed it on his tail as usual and rushed into the fire.

It was weird. It wasn't hot. Despite being surrounded by burning flames, he felt normal temperature. When he walked onto parts with fire on the floor, the fire made way for him. Was it the uniform? It couldn't be the uniform. The uniform isn't that advanced. In fact, the uniform usually makes it hotter for him but weirdly, it didn't this time.

He didn't talk about it to anyone. It was just too weird. No one would believe him, anyway. So he kept it to himself.

Brit decided to clear his mind. He decided to go to a certain bridge in the city. It was Chinese themed so he liked going there. The bridge was cemented but had the look of wood. The railings were green and the floor was red. Lanterns were hanging from it. Below that bridge was clear waters that reflected the sky. He leaned on the railings to look down the waters. He breathed in and out. He looked at the blue and orange sky. His mind was already clear.

BZZZT.... BZZZT...

Brit felt his phone vibrate inside his pants. He took it out and looked at who was calling. It was their Fire Chief, Tabitha Dy. He answered immediately. "Hey, boss, what's up?" Brit said.

"Hey, Brit! I need you to come over tomorrow to my office. There's a letter that came from another fire department. I won't mention any more details than that. Just come to my office, 'kay? But I will say this: it will excite you!"

Brit was confused. Why would it excite him? "Uh... sure. I'll be there!" Brit answered. He hung up instantly after that. He took a very deep breath and went on his way to his apartment.

When he got home, he laid on the bed for a while. He stared up at the ceiling. "I wonder what's so exciting tomorrow?" he said to himself. He then sat down. "I better prepare. I need to get up early."

The next day, Brit followed orders. Before going, however, he went to Chief first. "Hey, Chief," Brit said.

"Hey, Brit! Look, about yesterday..."

"Don't worry about that. Listen, can you wait outside and wait for me? Tabs needs me."

"Oh? What for?"

"I don't know what she wants. She said it's going to excite me."

"A promotion?"

"I don't know. I'll bring the news after."

"Sure. I'll wait."

"Thanks, Chief."

Brit then went to Tabitha's office after the conversation with Chief. Tabitha was there to greet him with a smiling face. "Hey, Brit! Take a seat," Tabitha said.

Brit took a seat in front of Tabitha. "So... what's the news?"

"Yes! The news. So, a county requested for firefighters because two of theirs retired."

"Uh-huh...?"

"So if it's okay with you, I'll be deploying you and a co-worker of your choice to VERDALL COUNTY!"

"V-Verdall County?"

"Yes! Aren't you excited?"

Brit blinked. "Yeah! Verdall! My home town!" he laughed.

"They request for your presence within this week. And get this: you'll be a Lieutenant there!"

"Really?! What about the co-worker I'll bring?"

"They'll become Captain. Or vice versa. Just talk to the one you want to bring!"

"Sure! That is exciting news!"

"Great! They'll be expecting you this week, alright? So ready up and choose who you'll be bringing along!"

Brit went outside and went to Chief who was waiting outside immediately to tell the news. "So, how'd it go?"

"Well, your promotion hunch was right. Apparently, two firefighters from another county retired lately. The county firefighters requested two more firefighters. I'm being transferred."

"A promotion and you're being transferred? That's good buddy."

"I can bring someone along with me. Since because y' know, there are two spaces for new firefighters."

"Uh-huh?"

"I'll get promoted to Lieutenant and whoever I bring will be Captain."

"Really?"

"Do you accept to be my coworker there?"

"I do... but where?"

"Verdall County."

"Hometown!" Chief said. As Chief said that, he noticed Brit's distressed look. "What's wrong? Aren't you happy?"

Brit gave Chief a look. It was the look of nearly crying with a raised brow. Chief knew instantly why Brit became sad. "Oh... then why did you accept?"

"You know Tabs! Once she's hooked, she won't stop. Plus she'll beg for you to do her bidding and you know that! Remember that time between you and her?"

Chief cringed. Tabitha looked young but when you ask her she's a ripe age of 45. And she's hyper as well. She can suppress her energy during missions. After the mission, however, she might as well be a child at a birthday party. Chief got into one of her little celebrations after a mission they had. It was a clown-y situation and to celebrate, she decided to throw whipped cream pies on one of her coworkers. He asked Chief to dress as a clown and lo and behold he was forced to. Everyone except Brit threw pies at poor Clown Chief. "Oh no. So there's no way out of this, huh?"

"Yup. I have to accept or she'll never stop. I just need somebody to be there for me just in case I get kind of... uncomfortable."

"About HIM?"

"About HIM."

"Just... don't think about that time or him, okay?"

"But what if he was still there?"

"Then don't give him attention. You know don't take it badly, but you two did look...well. You two were so close."

"I don't know if that's exactly why he betrayed me... I just... don't want to talk about it or him."

"Alright, buddy. Just don't think about him. He was a jerk for leaving you in the dust. Need a walk home?"

Brit nodded. The two of them started walking to Brit's apartment.

In Verdall County, a county where Ani-mans are more prominent, the firefighter station celebrated the retirement of their old coworkers. Everyone who they got to work with throughout the years was invited to the retirement. One of those they got to work with was an Ani-man. That Ani-man was looking outside the Fire Station window when someone came to him holding a piece of cake on a plate. "Come on, Cadmium. Have a slice!" the worker said.

"No thanks, Bertha. I'm full, but happy retirement anyways," Cadmium said.

"No, I insist! You better have at least something to eat. Finally, Robbie and I can rest now after all these years that we've been fighting flames and such," Bertha said in a Southern accent. Cadmium Fehra, commonly known as Cad, took the cake from Bertha. "Thanks, Bertha," Cadmium said. He then stared outside again. Bertha noticed the sad look on Cadmium's face. "Aw, Cad, honey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just remember my childhood friend. He loved going here," Cadmium said. "He always dreamed of becoming a firefighter. We became good friends until I..."

"You did something bad?" Bertha asked.

"I betrayed him, Bertha. I shouldn't have done it to him but instead I..."

"Look... many of us have done something in the past that we all regret. But as Elsa said, 'the past is in the past'. If he came here, I'm sure he'll forgive you."

"You really think so, Bertha?"

"I'm sure he will. Come on now, cheer up and eat that cake," Bertha said. "Want some root beer soda with that?"

"Sure, Bertha," Cadmium replied. "Uh... who's the one going to replace you?"

"We finally had the guts to ask for firefighters from Central!"

"From Central?"

"You know, home base. They said they'll be sending the first one of your kind here and a friend that'll tag along! They'll be taking our places."

"The first Ani-man firefighter? I wonder if it's him."