The weight of Rodger's sacrifice lingered in their minds like a haunting melody, a reminder of their failure to protect him. 
"I can't believe we left him," Goob said, his voice trembling with guilt. "What if we could've done something?" 
Shrimpo shook his head, trying to suppress the tears that threatened to spill. "We did what we could. Rodger wanted us to be safe. We have to remember that." Toodles walked silently beside them, her heart aching.
As they approached the camp, the familiar sounds of morning life were muted, overshadowed by their grief. 
The other toons, oblivious to the tragedy that had unfolded, went about their routines, laughter and chatter echoing in stark contrast to the heaviness in their hearts.
They found a secluded spot not far enough from the camp, away from prying eyes. Toodles sat down on a log and buried her face in her hands, her sobs breaking the fragile quiet. 
Goob knelt beside Toodles, placing a gentle hand on her back. "Hey, it's okay.." he whispered, trying to offer her some semblance of comfort. "Let it out. We're all hurting right now."
Toodles looked up through tear-streaked cheeks, her big eyes filled with sorrow. "I just.. I can't shake the feeling that we could have done something more. We should have been there for him."
"We were there," Goob insisted, his voice steady. "Rodger knew the risks. He wanted us to stay safe. That's why he made us leave. He sacrificed himself for us."
Shrimpo, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "He always put us first. We need to honor his memory by being strong, not by wallowing in guilt."
As Goob, Shrimpo, and Toodles continued to grapple with their grief, a flicker of movement caught Shrimpo's eye. 
Emerging from the shadows of the trees was a figure they recognized.. Astro. The tall, cloaked silhouette moved with an enigmatic grace, his long coat trailing behind him like a specter. 
"Hey, Astro!" Shrimpo called out, his voice a mix of urgency and suspicion. The figure paused, turning slightly, but there was an air of nonchalance in his demeanor, as if he hadn't heard the distress in Shrimpo's tone.
Astro turned slowly to face Shrimpo, his eyes narrowing slightly as he registered the tension in the air. 
"Is there a reason on why you called me?" Astro asked, his voice steady but laced with an underlying nervousness. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, glancing back toward the shadows from which he emerged.
Shrimpo exchanged glances with Goob and Toodles, unsure of how much to reveal. "We... we lost Rodger," Shrimpo finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Dandy did something terrible."
Astro's brow furrowed slightly, but he maintained his facade of ignorance. "Dandy? What do you mean? What happened to Rodger?"
Goob stepped forward, his voice trembling with emotion. "He killed him. We left him behind, and now we're trying to figure out what to do next. We need to stop Dandy before he does something worse."
Astro nodded slowly, feigning concern. "That's awful. But you need to be careful. Dandy is unpredictable. If he finds out you're looking for him, he might come after you next."
"How do you know that?" Shrimpo pressed, narrowing his eyes. "You speak like you've been close to him. Have you been working with Dandy?"
Astro's expression flickered for a moment, a shadow crossing his features before he regained his composure. "I just.. know how he operates," He replied, his voice smooth but lacking the conviction of honesty.