The reunion the next morning was heartwarming. There was an excess amount of hugs and affection, each member of the group having clearly missed whoever they hadn't seen. Mikey and August gave each other quite a confusing handshake but Konnor was too busy speaking to Ali to even notice August or Alice.
"So," began August. "What's happened to Danny?"
"We don't know," sighed Mikey. "We're assuming something managed to sweep him clean outta here while Konnor and I were out looking for ingredients."
"Well, when are we gonna go look for him again?"
"Tonight," said Mikey as determination spread upon his face. "There's not a chance we won't find him."
-----------------------------------------
The night came quick and darkness descended upon the village, shrouding it in a cloak of darkness.
The Runners had grouped at the fire pit which was unlit, charred wood from the last fire lying in the pit with it's usefulness having been used up. As the group sat around the pit, it seemed as though Ali and Konnor had assumed leadership of the group. The pair had decided to split the Runners into two teams. Team One consisted of Alice, August and Mikey and the second consisted of Ali and Konnor themselves.
The groups were assigned separate parts of the forest to search in, Mikey leading the younger group since he was 2 years older than August and Alice.
"We have to tread lightly in this part of the woods," began Mikey after the small team had set put. "The wolf could be anywhere."
"There's a wolf in the woods?" Alice asked.
"Obviously there are lots but this one specifically gives me a bad vibe," explained Mikey.
"Let's call it the Howler," suggested August as he pointed a finger in the air.
"Call it whatever you want, buddy," laughed Mikey as he placed his hand on his gun, hoping to be prepared for a quick draw.
The forest was dense and the night air was thick, filled with tension that could be cut through with the most blunt of knives.
The trio eventually managed to come across animal tracks on the ground. The tracks were far larger than that of a normal forest creature, considering that this was not one of the magical forests of the world.
"Do you think it could be-" began Alice.
"The wolf?" August asked as he finished Alice's sentence.
"We should try and avoid the paths that it's taking," Mikey instructed.
"But I can kill that thing! You don't even know how strong I got!" August reasoned as he attempted to grab Mikey's arm and slow him down.
"No, I don't care what kinda powers you have. I'm the adult... kind of... maybe... and I say no to finding that beast!" Mikey explained.
"But the wolf has him!" Screamed August. "I know it!"
"What did you just say?" Asked Alice.
"You heard right," he responded. "I know that wolf has something to do with Danny."
"And what exactly makes you feel that way?" Asked Mikey in search of justification.
"Well, he's my best friend," explained August. "Have you never had best friend intuition?"
Mikey's thoughts began to wander, as his train of thought hovered ever so slowly over a graveyard of his thoughts... the ones that he wanted to die but never quite would... A memory of his own best friend, who he didn't even get to say goodbye to before he moved on to the next world. He began to think to himself.
I can't let someone else lose their best friend. I know how it feels... I can't let it happen to another one.
"August," said Mikey as he glanced over his shoulder. "We're finding that wolf and Daniel, too."
"YES!" Yelled August as he pumped his fist in the air. "Follow the tracks," he screamed as he charged off with a head full of steam.
"He's such an airhead," sighed Alice.
"He's your airhead, though," laughed Mikey. "Aren't you the one who controls him?"
"Yeah but sometimes I just get tired ya know? That dummy never slows down."
"Let's go and catch him," Mikey laughed as he began to run forward.
The night would be long and the minutes would be suspenseful but there was little other choice in the matter of finding Daniel other than chasing down a wolf that might not even bare the answers the young warriors sought out to obtain.
The only remaining question was whether or not the adolescents would survive.
