"Yeah, we'll be back in a few more hours then we'll help you find Danny," Alice said through her walkie talkie.
"Okay, see you then, I guess," Konnor replied.
A few days had passed since the venture into the woods. Konnor and Mikey, who just recently recovered, had searched many nights for Daniel to no avail.
After finding out about the antidote from Konnor, the Recovery Team began on a rush home. They had also found out about Daniel and, thanks to that, August forced them to pick up their pace even more.
"We'll find Danny soon," Leo reassured the two Runners.
"Yeah, I know but my fear is what state we'll find him in, if you catch my meaning," Mikey pointed out.
"We're gonna go look again, later," Konnor said, as he pulled up a stool and sat down, a full bottle of liquor in each hand.
"You guys hear that?" Leo asked as she raised her ears to their peak.
"What?" Asked Mikey and Konnor in unison.
"It's Konnor's liver begging for mercy," came her sarcastic response.
"Hardy-har-har," Konnor laughed sarcastically as he popped the lid off the first bottle and began to chug.
"Konnor, we aren't going out tonight. At least not until tomorrow when the whole team gets back," Mikey said.
"Why would that be?" Konnor asked in return.
"Cause the howling is getting worse," began Mikey. "That hound in the forest gets louder each night. It sounds dangerous," he explained.
"Well, have you ever stopped to think that maybe the hound is what took Daniel," Konnor pointed out.
"Don't you think people would've noticed a presumably large dog waltzing in here and dragging a 6 foot teenager away?" Mikey reasoned.
"I'm a damn cat man and you find something like what you just said hard to believe?" Konnor questioned.
With a sigh, Mikey stood up and left the room. As he left, he said, "Do what you want but don't expect me to join you."
Konnor finished the second bottle not long after the first, to which Leo rolled her eyes and strutted out of the room in quite a sassy manner for a cat.
-----------------------------------------
"Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" Droned August as the trio continued their trek.
"You're stupid beyond general levels, you know," groaned Alice.
"No, I think I have the generally perfect amount," August pointed out. "Smart enough to not sound mental but dumb enough for you to laugh," he explained.
"You weirdos can do what you want," said Ali. "All I need is a few herbs right now... it'll help me get my mind off of him..."
"Who?" August asked?
"Tyron?" Asked Alice.
Ali's mind had been wandering but upon realising the empty space she had left in the air, she quickly and hesitantly answered.
"Um, yeah, Tyron..." she said.
"So," began August as he rushed forward to nudge Ali on her arm. "Who is it, huh, huh?"
"Who's the guy, Ali?" Asked Alice.
"It's probably me," said August as a smug grin spread across his face.
Ali smiled as she realised that the topic was sort of being changed and that her secret remained safe.
"You don't even make the list," claimed a contradictory Alice.
"She's definitely in love with me," began August as he fell back to walk with Alice. "Even you're in love with me," the young swordsman grinned.
"I'm not in love with you, you idiot. Say it one more time and I'll hang you with your long intestine," snapped Alice.
August stood firmly in place as Alice carelessly walked on, following shortly behind Ali. He chuckled to himself as he adopted a cocky smirk.
"The first stage is always denial," he laughed as he ran forward to catch up.
-----------------------------------------
By the time midnight came, Konnor sat outside his dorm whilst Mikey was asleep. Seven empty bottles of liquor lay at his feet, yet he still didn't feel drunk enough. All he could do was sit and wait.
Leo appeared from the shadows of the especially beautiful night.
"Ah, come on, they're almost back, you big softy," Leo smiled.
"I know but I wish they'd get back faster, you know?" Replied Konnor.
"Does anyone know yet?" She asked in turn.
"So far, it's only you," he sighed. "I don't know if we should tell everyone else yet."
"You sound like such a hopeless case," sighed the sassy feline. "You're supposed to be a homicidal beast but now you're just ruining my mental image of you," she explained.
"Ha, like I need relationship advice from a lazy cat," he laughed.
"Lazy is a strong word. I'd prefer Inactivity Inclined," said Leo.
"What's a four letter word for that? Oh, never mind," began Konnor. "The answer is 'lazy', which isn't that surprising?" laughed Konnor.
"Ugh, each to his own," Leo sighed. "You guys might be my friends but apparently you can't pick those, either," laughed Leo as she walked inside.
The night began to get cold but Konnor didn't mind. He had something to wait for and he didn't care how long it took to arrive. At this stage, nothing mattered more than the one person on his mind and he would wait for that person as long as it took.
