The crisp autumn leaves crunched beneath the weight of the two friends, as they walked along the designated path the leaves now covered. The ever playful Staffordshire Bull-Terrier bounced ahead in front, leading, the way a Matriarch leads her herd.
The two adolescents continued to gossip about the day's eventful goings on.
“I know, I don't understand why she just doesn't turn up to lesson. She gets away with it too! We wouldn't get away with that! I think we should protest or something.” The male of the two said.
“I agree Joe,” the girl laughed. “Monday, we'll go to Mr Huffer and demand some answers. Then we can both have a great time learning the dictionary by heart, when we're suspended.”
The two exchanged glances, both pairs of lips slightly upturned.
“You can be sarcy sometimes Emma.”
As the pair continued to proclaim their indignation about their fellow classmates, the dog stretched his lead and began to wonder, eager to explore this unfamiliar route and mark his territory. Joe and Emma subconsciously following.
The dark green canopy of the forest provided protection from the rain that was threatening to start, only allowing light to enter when there was a chink in the armour.
As the friends' talk came to an end, they walked in silence for a few moments more, Emma admiring the beauty that nature created. She took in the bark of the trees, the multiple colours of the leaves, the shelter the canopy created to protect the forest's inhabitants. She wondered why man would want to ruin nature's beauty by creating an uneven path, with protruding rocks, so human footsteps would disturb the tranquillity. Then she realised.
“Joe, I think we've wondered off path.”
“It's probably just buried under the leaves, we'll be fine.” Joe assured.
Emma, still uncertain, dropped her head, trying to identify the path, with no luck. She scanned the area. Then she realised.
“Kelba. The dog! Joe, where's Kelba? Come on boy,” she whistled, “Kelba, come on. KELBA!”
As panic kicked in, she broke into a run, Joe following behind her. She could not loose her beloved Kelba. She could not be responsible for the loss of what was, at one point, her only friend in the world.
They seemed to have covered the whole forest, the dog still missing.
Joe, feeling responsible, tried to reassure Emma, “He can't have gone far. I mean, there's no lake or anythi-”
“Don't even suggest that Joe! He is not dead.” Emma cut across sharply, and although she said the latter with conviction, there was still some niggling doubt housed in her brain that said otherwise.
“KELBA!”
Tears threatened to escape from Emma's eyes, as Joe wondered off. She followed her friend, her shoulders low and her head hung – her body language reflecting the pessimism that was starting to overwhelm her. Joe seemed to be leading her into some kind of clearing as the rain finally penetrated the clouds. In a matter of seconds, the rain thundered down, heavy droplets pounding the canopy.
