This is a really fast update since I don't want to keep you hanging! I haven't had time to write a whole chapter, so hopefully this will suffice for now. I had a pretty rough weekend. My cat was shot with a BB gun. Thankfully she wasn't killed, but she might have to have her eye removed. She's going to see the optometrist tomorrow. Needless to say, I'm pretty furious about this. We don't know who shot her, but it was clearly deliberate. So that's what happened to me this weekend. (If you want to see what my cat looks like, she's been my profile pic on the site for awhile) Hopefully your weekend was better!

Since I'm pretty rushed, my amazing reviewers will be thanked in the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys

One moment, his mom was right beside him, and the next, he was alone in the smoke and undergrowth. He had gone around a tree, instead of squeezing by it, and in that moment, he had lost her.

"Mom?!" Nick yelled, turning around. He couldn't see her. And suddenly he wasn't sure which way the river was. "Mom!" he cried, but his voice sounded so small. He coughed, wiping his eyes from the sudden stinging. He decided to go the left, running through the trees, branches scraping against his arms and legs.

"Mom?!" he cried, breathing heavily. The roar was growing, and he looked over his shoulder.

He had to keep going. Nick forced himself forward. A squirrel scampered past him. "Mom!" he called desperately. What if she was trapped and needed his help?

"Nick?!" a voice called out through the smoke.

"Frank?" Nick stopped, pausing to cough. Small woodland creatures were fleeing the flames, a chipmunk almost scampering over his foot.

"Nick, what are you doing here?!" Frank gasped, suddenly crashing through the underbrush. His dark hair was unruly and ashes were streaked across his face. Greg was not with him.

"Frank!" Nick burst into tears as he ran towards the man.

"Where's your mom? Is she okay?" Frank asked frantically, hugging the boy close.

"We got separated..." Nick sobbed.

"Hold on, we have to get out of here." Frank knelt down. "Get on my back."

Clinging to Frank's neck, Nick glanced back.

He could see the flames. They were roaring and licking at the trees, moving faster than he thought was possible.

"Frank..." Nick whimpered.

"Hang on!" Frank weaved in and out of the trees and finally burst into the clearing. Pure adrenaline was fueling his movement. The forest behind them burst into flames as Frank splashed into the water. "Get down!" Frank yelled. Nick took a huge gulp of air and let Frank pull him under the water.

"Are you okay?" Nancy asked, dragging herself towards the shore.

"Wet," Lizzy screwed up her face.

"I'm okay Mommy." Zoe said, her wet red blonde hair plastered to her skin. Nancy looked around, her heart sinking at the wasteland that surrounded them. Burnt land, foggy with smoke surrounded them. Except for an occasional tree or two, skeletal blackened trees was all that was left of the lush forest.

She carefully put down Zoe and Lizzy, seating them on blackened stone near the water and slumped down next to them. Heat was still radiating from the ruins.

What now? She felt numb and exhausted.

Nancy couldn't stop the tears that slipped from her eyes. Nick... Frank… She buried her head in her hands. This wasn't supposed to be like this. They were supposed to be safe. Safe and happy. A chill traveled down her spine as she pulled her daughters closer. With no food, no shelter... How long would they need to survive on nothing?

She couldn't think about Nick. She had to just believe that he was okay otherwise she was just going to break down. And Frank… He was a grown man. He could look after himself.

Nancy wrapped her arms around Zoe and Lizzy. She would protect them if it was the last thing she did.

"Easy buddy." Frank helped Nick climb on shore. "You alright?"

"Yeah," Nick said bravely, shivering slightly. His wet shirt clung to his skin as water dripped down from the ends of his strawberry blonde hair. Frank looked similarly soggy.

Nancy and the girls had to be okay.

He needed to find her.

Frank glanced at Nick.

"Do you think your mom was near the river when you got separated?" he asked, peeling off his shirt and wringing the water out.

"I don't know," Nick said miserably, copying Frank and taking off his shirt to dry it. "Everything's so burnt."

Frank followed the small boy's gaze and had to agree. The vast amount of burnt trees was numbing.

"Where's Greg?" Nick asked after a moment.

"He made me leave him down in the stream. He said he wouldn't be able to get to the river with his leg."

"Oh."

"He's a tough guy," Frank said slightly hollowly. There had been no choice. Greg had sat down and refused to move, and Frank had to decide to move on or have both of them die. Despite his misgivings, Frank had to consider the man a hero of sorts. After all, he wouldn't have found Nick if the man hadn't insisted on staying behind.

"Do you think my family made it to the river? They're going to be okay, right?"

Frank was silent for a moment.

"I don't know buddy. We'll do our best to find them."

I'll do my best to get the next chapter up soon! Please review!