He knows his father and the others have tried their best to let Noctis live normally - sent him to public school, delayed his involvement in politics. But there's certain things they couldn't change, like the Wall's limits, and Prompto is... Noctis adores Prompto for many reasons. One of them is that he knows Prompto isn't his friend because he's the prince, not trying to use him for some political gain. He's friends because he likes Noctis.

And Noctis appreciates that more than he can bear, most days. It's what makes him willing to keep trying, not to give up, as they move behind the garage, then the store. There's more of a gap between the diner and the store, but that's where the path starts moving away, so he tries to carefully lead them both while keeping cover.

He freezes, though, when he hears a growling sound when they're about a few hundred feet away from Hammerhead.

"Oh shit," he mutters as he looks up and spots a pack of Voreteeth starting to clamber closer.