It was cold. The morning was brisk. And the hunter awoke alone.

He felt it in the pits of his stomach and the recesses of his heart. He was alone. His eyes were closed and he could hear voices. He sought desperately for the ones he longed to hear. He couldn't bear opening his eyes just to find out he was without her; without them.

He had fallen asleep with one arm under Marguerite and the other ruffling little Will's curly top. He looked so much like his mother. He had dreamt quite possibly the happiest dreams in a very long while. He usually never remembered his dreams, if they were pleasant at all. The guilt in his heart didn't allow for such happy thoughts. He dreamt they were all back in London, better yet in Avebury at the family estate. They were a family. It was so realistic. Sure, they'd still bicker. Sure, they'd have fights about secrecy... but truly Roxton thought they were happy. He knew they'd have to return to the plateau, when Willie was old enough, they'd return. He would build them a separate tree house. Small and cosy, and in that large tree right by their former house. There'd be room to expand, and indoor plumbing and Roxton was working out the details in his mind when he surfaced from his dream.

He felt pain. Whether physically or otherwise he couldn't tell yet. He felt like he went ten rounds with a T-Rex. He felt her absence before anything else.

And then he heard the familiar voices again.

Challenger?!? Grab the First Aid Kit!" screamed Veronica as she put Roxton's head in her lap.

"Looks like he's been out for a while." said Malone as he checked Roxton for injuries.

Roxton? Wake up. Rather rude of you to show up after three years and not even make an appearance." Challenger said wearily as he probed Roxton for head wounds.

He can't have been wandering alone for almost three years can he?" Malone asked aloud.

Knowing Roxton, as we do, he wasn't far from Marguerite." Answered Challenger flatly. "Pass me the smelling salts, quickly Ned. The scientist opened a small bottle and held it under Roxton's nose. "This sound help revive him. It's a special remedy of mine, also an effective rodent poison."

Roxton felt a numbing pain in the back on his head, but slowly he opened his eyes to the harsh light.

"Marguerite?"

"No, old boy. I'm afraid it's just us. You do remember us? Challenger, Malone, and Veronica?" the scientist asked in a worried tone.

"Been a while, eh Roxton?" Ned said as he helped Roxton to a sitting position.

His head was still blurry and he couldn't quite make out how things had gotten so dire, and entirely confusing.

"We were here... We made camp. My gun right there. I fell asleep...and then that's it."

"It's obvious he's been through some kind of traumatic experience, Veronica fetch some water for the canteens." The scientist said quietly.

'I'm fine, I'm fine. Where's Marguerite? Already at the tree house having a bath, I assume?" The hunter said trying to calm his rising fear.

No, John. All we've seen is you. We've been scouting this area for days with no signs of life." Challenger replied solemnly.

This can't be right. They'd never leave me. She'd... She'd never take him away." The hunter said quiet and low.

Veronica mouthed the word "they?" to Malone and received a shrug in return.

The hunter quickly got to his feet, which he instantly regretted. He swayed slightly, not liking the sickly feeling building in his stomach. Whether it was due to their absence, or some poison, he didn't really care. He just needed them back.

Whoa there, we will look for 'them' Roxton." Veronica said with slight skepticism in her voice, "But right now you have to rest. You've got some nasty side effects that may take a while to wear off."

The hunter just nodded, as Veronica dabbed his face with a cool wet towel.

"I don't like this Challenger." Malone said as he knelt close to the river where Challenger was refilling canteens.

"I don't either. It can't be mere coincidence that our paths collided this way." Challenger replied wearily.

"We've been searching for three years, and he's the first sign they're even alive."

Can't be a coincidence." The scientist grumbled a reply.

"What do you think he meant by 'them' Challenger."

Perhaps, Marguerite and Roxton picked up a friend along the way home." Challenger said as he patted the younger man's shoulder in an effort to quench his overactive curiousness.

Perhaps..." Malone said to Challengers retreating back.

Ned, he wasn't kidding. There are two sets of footprints walking away. One's Marguerite's I'm sure, but the other's smaller... much smaller." Veronica stated as she walked up to the reporter and broke his short reverie.

Smaller?" Malone repeated as he gave a questioning look to the jungle beauty.