I am so, so, so, so, so, so, SOOOO sorry!
Baltimore Raven has been pestering me for this chapter... After Thanksgiving I had like a major writer's block on this story... But I promised not to abandon it and I'm going to keep that promise!
FEEL THE DETERMINATION! FEEEEL ITTTT!
I am so totally sleep-deprived... And when I get sleep-deprived I'm like, drunk. Ask any of my friends.
Thanks so much to my lovely reviewers, you rock!
I don't own Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys... duh
Enjoyyyyy, I hope it's good, cause I wrote it like literally two minutes ago! Fear me!
Nancy woke up a few hours later to hear Joe give a load groan. Her eyes snapped open wide and in an instant she was beside him.
"Joe, what's wrong?"
The blonde Hardy's eyes met hers only for a second, then they fluttered back and closed, his head relaxing to one side.
"Joe? Joe! Wake up!" Nancy shouted, fear clutching her. Heart pounding fast, she felt his forehead. It was hot with fever.
She dove towards his leg and pushed his jeans up almost to his knee. The wound looked horrifying – swollen, infected, not to mention the compound fracture still un-treated.
"Why?!" Nancy screamed, her head falling into her hands in despair. Tears began to flow, the helplessness of their situation sinking in. "Why, God? Why?!"
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump…
The pounding wouldn't stop. It drilled a steady beat in his head, making it ache.
"Ohhh…" Frank moaned, slitting his eyes open.
"Thought you'd never wake up. That tree branch hit you hard."
Now his eyes were all the way open, and he saw Dave leaned over him.
Memory registered. "What are you doing here?" Frank managed, gritting his teeth against another wave of pain from the back of his head.
"Well, you did make it all the way to our camp before your luck ran out."
"Don't remind me. It still hurts."
"You probably have a minor concussion. But you need to get going. Now. I brought Bart – ride him."
Warmth brushed Frank's forehead, and the huge horse whuffled his hair, then snorted.
Ugh. Horse… snot.
"Where do I go?" Frank croaked, attempting to get to his feet. Dave steadied him.
"Due east. Here's a compass if you get confused. There'll be a road that leads to River Heights. Where's everyone else? Did something happen."
Nodding, Frank forced himself to mount. "Joe got a compound fracture in his leg. Nancy stayed with him."
"Frank, when was the last time you ate?" Dave asked suddenly, a frown on his face.
"Uh… how long was I out?"
"All night."
"Almost 48 hours ago. Same with Nancy and Joe."
Dave whistled. Reaching into his large worn leather bag, he handed Frank some bread rolls. "Eat those. Now. And here's a bottle of water. Where'd you leave the others?"
"Back in the canyon."
"I don't think I can go back for them without the gang killing me, honestly. You'll have to ride fast. Bart can handle it."
"Okay…" Frank sighed. His stomach churned, and he barely downed the rolls and water. Waving to Dave, he took a deep breath and dug his heels into Bart's sides.
They were off.
Joe drifted back into consciousness. Squinting, he made out the cave. He tried to sit up.
Black clouds swarmed around his vision. "Nancy?" He croaked.
No answer. "Nan?"
She was gone. Joe needed to find her. Yes… before Frank came back. He'd be upset if she was missing…
His brain felt fogged.
Carefully placing his hands, Joe started dragging himself slowly across the floor of the cave.
Ow… stupid rock. Man, his leg hurt.
Where was Nancy? He… needed to find… her…
"N… Nancy…?" Joe's voice dropped down to almost a whisper. Why was it so hard to yell?
Finally he dragged himself around the corner and outside.
No one.
Suddenly Joe heard a growl.
Slowly lifting his head up, Joe stared dazedly into the vicious eyes of a small pack of wolves. Hungry wolves.
(Maniac laugh)