A short tram ride later and they were in the heart of the city.

"Wahh," Lunar stopped in front of a pastel coloured cafe.

Aqua contemplated hurrying them along to the press factory, but part of him also wanted to fill the fruit drink shaped hole in his stomach. "You want to go in there?"

"Yes!"

"Okay then, let's go."

They were greeted to a warmly lit room with a lively ambience of chatter. There was a combination of booths and tables arranged to efficiently use the space while not making the place feel cramped.

As the two lynxes approached the counter, Aqua recognised a familiar face.

"Sundip!"

A white wolf with warm coloured markings put down the glass he was just drying and gave a toothy grin. "Hey chum! Long time!"

"Lunar, this is Sundip. He works at Golden Bay's cafe during high season."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Lunar dipped her head.

Sundip looked from lynx to lynx. "Same here. How can I help you two today?"

Suddenly, Lunar's attention zipped to the menu on the counter. She frantically skimmed over all the options.

"I'll have a blueberry beast," Aqua said.

"That'll be 3 kroakals."

Aqua placed three turquoise stones with silver patterns on the counter.

"And for Lunar?"

"Umm," Lunar gave an embarrassed smile. "What would you recommend?"

"Today's special is the raspberry rumble! It's a popular choice."

"Ah! I'll have one of those then please."

She counted the kroakals in her paw and placed the advertised price on the counter.

"Woah, these are all lucky stones!" Sundip gawked. "A collector would go nuts over these!"

Aqua's eyes widened as he realised his friend was right. The streaks were sporadic, but intentional, vastly different from the wave-like marks of the modern refined stone.

You were lucky if you got one in the rare few still in circulation.

Aqua slid his paw over the kroakals as Sundip reached for them. "Actually, this drink's on me."

The wolf retracted his floating paw and smirked, "Wise choice."

Lunar put her lucky stones back in her bandana as Sundip fetched a table number stand for the two. "Here ya go. Choose a seat and they'll be ready shortly."

"Thanks," Aqua took the stand and turned to the center of the cafe. "Is there anywhere you'd like to sit?"

"The booths!" Lunar declared.

"Okay."

"So, after our drinks we'll head to the press factory to get the brochures." Aqua hopped into the opposite booth seat to Lunar. "Then I'll stop by Earth Kinds office to inquire about my contract."

Lunar nodded.

…

Aqua's claw scratched lightly at the table top, not leaving a mark but just enough to make a sound he didn't notice. "How long have you been living in that cave for?"

Lunar drew her paws closer to herself and looked off to the side guiltily. "I… don't know."

A waitress appeared at their booth and put down two smoothies, "One blueberry beast and raspberry rumble."

They took the number stand. "Enjoy."

"That was fast," Aqua commented. They both took a sip from their drinks.

Lunar's ears perked up with delight. "This is delicious!"

"Mm," he agreed.

A few seconds later and glass almost empty, Lunar glanced around the cafe, curious about what drinks others got.

The cat who presumably was the one that ordered it was doing anything but drink it.

They keenly pointed a rectangular object at their drink, shuffling on their cushion to hold the object at different angles periodically, like some kind of weird dance.

"What are they doing?" Lunar asked Aqua.

"Hm?" Aqua followed her gaze to the point of interest. "Oh."

"That's Mr. Crunch."