Mitch P.O.V:
Panic shot through the group as everyone began to look and call for Jerome in the area. All except for Mitch. He was glad that bacca was gone.
"Mitch, you have to go look for him!" Adam pleaded.
"Why me?" I asked. I didn't want him back.
"Because you know him best, and you're the best tracker of all of us!" he told me.
'No, I don't know him.' I thought. 'But I do know Adam, and I should do this for him.' I nodded.
"Fine, I'll look for him." I muttered disdainfully.
I took off at a run, holding my bow and arrows just in case. I looked at the shallow footprints in the ground, heading in the direction Jerome had run.
I kept going for some time until I found a stream. There were no footprints anywhere except for the one's I had already followed.
'Either he went through the stream, or..' I looked up. Aha! There were large gaps in the tree leaves, and I was sure that they we're made by Jerome.
'That bacca will be the death of me..' I thought as I scaled the tree. I was fine with parkour, but Jerome had chosen a high path in the trees that would definitely induce some fall damage.
I leapt through the trees easily, climbing even higher. I looked down. From my heights, I could just barely make out footprints on the other side of the river. He must have dove into the water. I jumped to the last tree before the riverbed. My heart fell as before I knew I was falling. The snap of the branch made me feel sick as I began my descent to the Earth below. I was too far away from the river to land safely in the water. I screamed as the ground drew near. I closed my eyes as I prepared to hit the ground. I waited. Seconds passed. I opened my eyes and saw a familiar pair of furry hands around my waist.
"Jerome?" I looked up to his face. His expression was a mixture of worry, relief and happiness. Then it was anger.
"What were you thinking!?" He shouted at me, placing me down on the ground. "That was stupid and dangerous!" He scolded angrily.
"It wasn't my fault that Adam told me to go after you! You think I had a choice? I wanted to just leave you out here to rot, but no. He just told me to go for you." I exclaimed furiously.
"R-rot?" He stammered, tears forming in his eyes.
"And if that's not enough, knowing you is! I can't believe we were ever friends. I can't believe I let myself befriend a fucking animal like you!" I saw red at that point. Jerome was sobbing now.
"You know what Jerome? I hate you. I. Fucking. Hate. You." I growled coldly. Jerome dropped to his knees, bawling. I started to walk away, but I knew that Adam wouldn't forgive me if I didn't find Jerome. I turned back.
"Get up, dumbass. We have to get moving." I frowned at the crying bacca.
"I thought you hated me." He choked.
"I do. But I still have to bring you back, don't I?" He got up, and began to walk behind me, keeping his distance.
A/N: that's all for chapter 2! Hope you enjoyed!