Enchanted Hearts

Chapter 11

Skylar
I was utterly thrilled at Mahogany's arrival, but it did little to ease my apprehension of where Delilah and Charlie had disappeared to two nights ago. We didn't trek any further up the river so they could find us easily. Roux said we shouldn't be too worried. He said if they aren't back by tonight then we will go looking for them. It was already late afternoon and Mahogany and I were seriously starting to freak out.
Mahogany took it quite well when I told her about Roux and Charlie. At first she didn't believe that they were our allies. Then Roux explained everything to her last night around the fire. He told her about the Seekers. The ex-Misfits are Virago-haters. They are ruthless and murderous Moxie who plan to take over the population using merciless methods. Roux and Charlie used to be a part of the group when they were harmless young Moxie Misfits. They made a quick escape before things started to get out of hand. I think this slightly horrified and scared Mahogany, but it only excited and fuelled me. I wanted these bastards to go down and so did Roux. He and Charlie had been planning their downfall for almost three years, and had been working behind the scenes to lower their ego a notch. So far they had been neither successful nor a complete failure.
Roux has nothing against Virago and has never understood what is so bad about them. Their previous leader was and still is very anti-Virago. He loathes Virago with a passion. He was constantly telling the group about how Virago are dogs and not worthy of living a life of their own. He thinks they belong to Moxie and their sole purpose is to serve them. "That is how they were built," he would say to them.
The first night I spent with Roux was both marvellous and terrifying. He answered all my questions, clarifying even the stupid ones. If they hadn't have gotten us away from the Moxie camp when they did we would have been taken straight to the Seekers.
He is the kindest Moxie I have ever come across. Even though we barely know each other we already have become quite fond of one another. The first night we spent together in the tent he made me feel like I was the last pearl in the world and he would protect me with his life. I had never felt like that before and I wasn't sure what to make of it just yet.
My biggest trepidation was Delilah. She didn't seem to hate Moxie that much, but since the guys found us she had been extremely rude. Roux didn't have too many theories about where they might be, but the ones he did come up with seemed very unlikely knowing Delilah. She wouldn't just disappear without telling me when she would be back and I knew she would never leave me here by myself. Mahogany and I both knew something bad had happened to them. I think Roux was struggling to accept that Charlie was most likely involved and that's why he kept putting off going to find them. He didn't want to believe that he might be in trouble.

Mahogany
As the sun set we packed the tent up and headed out into the forest. Roux and I were a little bothered at going out in such darkness, but Skylar was adamant that we left immediately.
"They can't have gone far. The sooner we leave the better our chances are at finding them," said Skylar. We walked for a few hours in a north westerly direction; at approximately a 45 degree angle from the river. Roux thought that would be the most likely direction Charlie would have headed towards when he went out. We walked a few click. It was pitch black and we could hardly see where we were putting our feet.
"Why don't we camp here for the night. There is heaps of space for the tent," I said to Skylar and Roux.
"Mahogany, we only just started." She stopped and turned to face me. Roux didn't turn around, probably not wanting to get involved. I didn't blame him.
"We can't see where we are going. We don't even know if we are going in the right direction. Why can't you just wait?!" My anger was starting to slip through my voice. I was really quite tired and just wanted to stop and rest.
"What if Delilah can't afford to just wait for us?"
"Since when did you become her mother? What if she ran away from us for a reason? Don't you think she would have said something to you before she left in the first place if she planned on coming back?"
"Since when did you become my mother?! For crying out loud Mahogany, did you not listen to Roux? There are SEEKERS out there!" Skye sounded close to tears. I couldn't understand why she was taking this so personally.
"I'm sorry, Skylar. It's just... Im scared to death by them and to be honest I am scared that that's where we will find Delilah and Charlie. I mean, what else could have happened for them to be gone this long. We are probably walking straight into a death trap." I really was sorry. My fear was taking over. I wouldn't let that happen, ever again.
"We have all been denying it, but that is the most likely thing to have happened. Roux?" Skylar spoke to Roux who still had his back to us. He had been strangely silent through our short argument.
"Yes?" Roux finally turned around to face us.
"Delilah and Charlie have probably run into the Seekers, hey?"
"Um, yeah."
"What? Do you not think so?" I asked getting a little too hopeful. Roux took a deep breath in.
"Of course thats what's happened. I just didn't bother telling you." His face and voice were sad.
"'Didn't bother telling us', you're kidding me, right?" What is wrong with this Moxie? I tried to hold back, but everything just came out. "Why didn't you tell us? We could have been at their camp by now if you had've told us. What is wrong with you? Where are you even taking us?!" I groaned. I would have kept hurling insults at him if Skye hadn't cut in.
"Mahogany! Leave him alone! You haven't even heard his reasoning. Stop being so judgemental for two seconds in your life. Okay?" Damn, that hurt. Once again I was sorry, but I never got a chance to speak because I got cut off by Roux this time.
"I just don't think running in their to save Charlie and Delilah is such a good idea. We will get caught for sure. What use will we be to them then, huh?" Roux suddenly became assertive and very sure of himself. His previous feelings had been overridden with his new found confidence. Skylar and I looked at each other. I was pretty sure her face mirrored mine. Her face said 'He is right.'
"What do you suggest we do, then?" Skylar was first to break the ice and I was glad.
"If they are still alive right now, I would say that they are either being held as prisoners or have been welcomed into the group. Hopefully the latter. Ace may or may not remember Charlie, and it may or may not work in his favour. So, I think we need to devise a plan and prepare to take action." He looked over at Skylar with an adoring look, which I thought was unnecessary at such a predicament. She smiled at him with her eyes.
"Okay, so where should we start?" I wondered how long this was going to take.
As if reading my mind Skylar asked, "How long is it going to take?"
"Well it depends. We don't have anything here to work with and we can't just walk in unarmed." All this talk started to make me feel woozy. I knew I was too tired to take in anything they were saying.
"Can we please set up the tent here?" I asked with definite politeness. Skylar laughed.
"Yes," Skylar and Roux said simultaneously.