Watched the Croods a few days ago and this popped into my head...obviously, none of the characters etc. belong to me!

Guy didn't know why he bothered. It had been so long since he'd seen another person that he'd given up on the hope of finding anyone else. Yet he still carried the shells with him everywhere. One for him. One for...someone else. Anyone else.

His mother had always told him never to go anywhere without one. Without a way of calling to them for help, to say where he was. Or as a warning, to say he was in trouble and they should watch out.

("Two short, one long. Danger. Remember, son, danger means be cautious." His father had refused to stop tying him to the end of a vine until he'd learnt their signals.)

Belt shuffled and tugged at his arm. They had to keep moving. They had to make it to Tomorrow. He stared up at the night sky for a moment longer, shell in hand. He didn't know why he still bothered, but if nothing else it reminded him of his family. To keep going.

Is anybody out there?

He was trapped.

It was not a new thought, but slumped against the wall, he was finally forced to acknowledge it. He had tried every path, even tried climbing the walls. And he just kept getting back to where he started.

None of the others were calling out any more. They had gone. They could be anywhere - trapped, hurt, scared. And he wasn't there to help them.

Or maybe they were fine. Maybe they hadn't called for help because they were okay, because they didn't need saving. Didn't need him. Maybe it was just him.

Alone.

Grugg couldn't remember the last time he'd been alone.

He was trapped, alone, and scared. He was the one who needed help this time, the one who couldn't do it himself. His strength was no use, and there were no pictures on the walls to guide him.

Grugg lifted the shell to his lips.

Please don't leave me behind.

Eep knew it was useless. There was no way across, no chance he could make it. He was probably already dead, but she couldn't bear to turn and leave. To accept it. She couldn't bear to stop blowing the shell in the hopes that he would hear. If you're in trouble, if you're in danger, call for me and I will find you. They were safe, but she'd never needed her father to come find her more.

She stood as close to the edge as she could and kept calling.

Come back to me.