The Lost Boy

Chapter 5

For a while, the bells appeared to grow closer, louder. 

Then they stopped. Suddenly, abruptly, devastatingly. 

"What? Where'd they go?" Codfish asked, looking up at the sky. 

"Dunno," Rooster said, stumbling as he spun in place and studied the forest surrounding them, trapping them. Every angle was identical to the last, everything blending together into one endless maze of green. 

"Curses, we've lost it!" Codfish snapped, stomping his foot against the dirt. He winced briefly, but his frustrated expression refused to waver. 

"We'll find it again!" Rooster assured him, looking up into the treetops. The sun was directly overhead, smiling down at them encouragingly, prompting them to go on. 

"How d'you know that?" Codfish moaned, closing his eyes before he dragged his hands down his face, pulling at the skin that tightly clenched his narrow face. "It's gone!" 

"We lost it once, but we found it, and we'll do it again!" Rooster said confidently. "I'm sure o' it!"

Codfish scoffed and sank to the ground, crossing his legs and resting his elbows on his knees before he buried his face in his hands, his fingers digging into his greasy black hair. He groaned again, the sound muffled by his palms. Rooster shook his head as he planted his feet firmly and placed his fists on his hips, feeling the confidence flow through his veins as he tilted his head this way and that, listening intently for any sounds other than the carefree birds harmonizing above him. 

"Anythin'?" Codfish asked after several minutes of silence, his words still stifled by his hands. 

"Not yet," Rooster reported, maintaining a cheerful tone. "But soon, I promise." 

Codfish made a sound as though he tasted something foul and Rooster rolled his eyes, a smile on his lips. He knew Codfish was a pessimist and he took it upon himself to keep his friend positive. Being alone on a so-far deserted island was going not to dampen Rooster's spirits, and he wasn't about to allow it to dampen Codfish's, either. 

"Wait!" Rooster said, one hand launching to his ear as he leaned to the right, listening closely. Codfish's head snapped up, his eyes wide, and he held his breath as Rooster continued to listen.

"Didya hear it?" Codfish asked eagerly. 

With a snort, Rooster dropped his hand and looked at Codfish as he struggled to retain his amusement. The expression on his friend's face as realization dawned on him made Rooster double over with laughter. 

"You didn' hear anythin', didya?" 

"No, but you shoulda seen your face!" Rooster chortled loudly, turning Codfish's expression sour. 

"Aw, c'mon, Cod!" Rooster leaned over and nudged his friend's shoulder, causing Codfish's frown to deepen. Rooster tilted his face towards the sky and rubbed the bruised lump on the back of his head as he continued, "Don' be so worked up! We'll find the sound, I'm sure o' it!" 

Codfish rolled his eyes and buried his face in his hands again. Rooster shrugged and returned to listening for the bells. He gasped when he heard them, faint but close. 

"Cod!" 

"Shut your trap, Roost, you're not foolin' me again." 

"No, Cod, I really do hear them!" Rooster began to hop up and down eagerly, pointing into the jungle. "That way!"

Codfish looked up at Rooster and must have seen the genuine, non-joking excitement on his face, because he jumped to his feet and followed Rooster's gaze, listening.