Hello again, fellow readers. I just had my first day of work experience. At first, I was nervous but it then turned out good. But it also means less time on this story. Anyway, enjoy the next chapter of this story :)

Nico POV

It had been half a day since William disappeared. We had spent every hour searching for him, but with no luck. We managed to find his trail, but it just ends. It looked as if he had lied in the mud for a moment before disappearing, probably carried off by something, but there were no other tracks to suggest another creature was next to him, so we feared that what took him was an aerial predator.

"It's been hours since we saw him" Bou started. "Why don't we just give up? He's gone."

"No!" Rafael shouted. "We won't give up! That's not what we do!"

"Face it, Rafael! He's gone, and you know it."

"Both of you, stop!" I yelled. They both stopped arguing and looked over to me. "We're going to continue searching. He's our friend, and friends look out for each other."

"Well he ain't my friend. Let's go Lou. We're leaving." He pushed past me and Pedro and prepared to leave.

"No, brother" Lou stated sternly. Everyone was surprised that she had talked, since she was mostly shy. "We need to help them. He may not be our friend, but these guys are. Do it for them. Do it for me." Bou stood hesitant for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

"Fine, you win. You always win over me, sis." Bou came back in and stood by her. "We'll stay and help, but only for a day. If we don't find him by then, we're leaving. Now let's get to work."

After arranging the meeting place and time, we split up into our search groups. Me, Pedro and Logan were to search around where the trail ended, Rafael and Bou were going along the edge of the city and Anita and Lou were going to search around where Rafael was found. There were no clouds, so it would be a clear sky to fly in.

"See anything, P?" I called ahead.

"Nah. The trail's ice cold."

"What about you, L?"

"Don't call me L, Nico. I don't like it, and no, nothing on my side."

"He has to be around here somewhere. I feel it in my heart."

"Hey bro, we know. Don't worry, we'll find him. Alive and kicking, hopefully not at us." I laughed at Pedro's lame joke, as did Logan.

"You always know how to cheer me up, don't ya P?"

"Of course I do. We're bros till the end." I knew he was right. William was alive and out there somewhere. And me and Pedro would find him by sticking together, like we always do. We spent a few more minutes before Logan stopped and was looking at the sky.

"Nico, I think it's time to go back. A storm is coming, and soon the rain will follow. We can't fly through the rain." I looked up and saw that Logan was right. A storm started brewing and the clouds darkened the sky above.

"We can't stop now! Just a bit more time is all we need."

"If we wait any longer, we are going to be lost as well!"

"Sorry Nico, but Logan's right. We need to return to Ralfi's crib before the weather gets nasty." I couldn't argue with Pedro, but I didn't agree either. I just stayed silent. We were about to head back when I caught a glimpse of someone moving through the trees. Soon, Rafael was in front of us.

"Guys, you have to come quick!"

"Why? Have you found him?"

"Just come, quickly! He's at the hollow!"

"What?!" we all exclaimed.

Ten minutes earlier, William POV

I woke up in a very familiar hollow, but wasn't sure how I ended up in it. The last I remembered, I was lost and tired and had passed out in the wet mud. now, I was awake in Rafael's home, laying in the middle of the floor. I managed to sit up before I heard someone outside. I glanced over to the entrance to see Eva coming in with a leaf sack in her beak, filled with food. When see saw me, she froze for a second before her beak fell her open and the sack fell to the floor, spilling it's contents. She stood there in awe, as if surprised to see me.

"William? What are you doing here?" she finally asked.

"I thought you could answer that for me. The last I remember was blacking out in mud, then I find myself here after. Did you guys find me?"

"No. We have been out looking for you everywhere. I'm staying to look after the kids, but it looks like I've found you as well. I have to tell them. Wait right here, I'll be back soon." While she was gone, I spent my time by picking up the spilled food. Just as I finished, she returned with Rafael and Bou in tow.

"William!"Rafael yelled out. "You're here! Where have you been?"

"I'm not sure. Like I told Eva, I passed out out there, then woke up in here. You have any idea how?"

"No idea. We should get the other guys. Bou, go get your sister and Anita. I'll go find the guys." Rafael and Bou left to get the others and tell them the news. I sat back, thinking of how I got here. Who found me?

And that's another chapter done. Hope you enjoyed it :)