Becoming a Lioness (Book 2)

Chapter 23 He's gone?

After a few moments of weakness, I gathered myself and smoothed down my clothes. By now my white blouse had many small nicks in it from fighting my way through the brush, and my brown pants were painted in grass stains. I frowned at my disheveled appearance and absentmindedly wondered what Peter would think.

"Are you alright?" I lifted my eyes from the ground at the sound of the young girls voice, now realizing I had wandered back to her.

"Yes." I nodded. "Of course. Shall we head out."

She shifted uncomfortably. "You still want to go?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Of course. Why would you ask me that? Don't you?"

"Well, I just thought that after you took a minute to yourself you'd realize that going without the others is a bad idea."

I gaped at her, opening and closing my mouth as I thought of what to say. "I- you're right. It was foolish of me to want to leave them behind. Lets go back to camp."

She smiled happily at my response and practically skipped back. I followed her silently wondering who had just spoke for me and who was now moving my feet. I wanted to go find Peter, I wanted to with all of my being, but for some reason I just couldn't force myself to do anything other than follow Lucy lamely.

******

I awoke the next morning to sound of murmuring people. Peeling my eyes open, I blinked hard at the bright rays of sunshine and looked around. Everyone had already gotten up or were in the process of doing so, as I was. I rose to feet and brushed my hair down, making my way over to Edmund.

He froze completely as I called his name causing me to frown. He turned around slowly, his appearance similar to that of a ghost. "Ed? What's happened?"

He cleared his throat. "The- the um- Griffins that were watching the Pirates- um Trumpkin went with them this morning to check and-"

"And?" I demanded, snatching his chin up so I could see his face.

"And there was a large amount of blood splattered everywhere. We think maybe a large animal of some sort found its way to their camp last night."

"So- so did they get Peter? If an animal attacked then we can go get Peter because his captors-"

"Maggie stop." Edmund stepped forward a bit more. "Peter- he wasn't- "

"No." I shook my head, stumbling backwards as a single tear slipped down my face. "No! He- he's gone?"