Marko woke first. He was still lying as he had when he'd drifted off, half curled on his side, bitter at everything around him. Pulling on his jacket against the cold, he headed down the tunnel to the main cavern.

"Ruby?" he called. No answer. Paul stirred a bit on the couch he'd fallen asleep on. Dwayne was probably in his room. "Ruby?"

Marko started to worry. This wasn't like her. He headed up to Dwayne's room, and found his friend asleep in his bed. Up the tunnel, he checked in David's room. It was empty. Marko frowned. "David? Ruby?"

Paul heard Marko's calls. Rousing himself from slumber, he stretched slowly and stood. Marko was running down one tunnel and up another. "Dude, calm down."

"They're not here!" Marko cried, looking at Paul. His frown had deepened considerably. "I can't feel David near, and Ruby's gone too."

"They probably went to the inlet. David was pacing around her like a maniac." Paul shrugged. He was trying to be rational, but he too felt David's absence.

"That was last night." Dwayne appeared from his bedroom.

"They surely had to have come back before the morning. Do you think they went back to the house?" Paul didn't believe himself either now. He looked nervously at Dwayne, who had turned to say something just as Marko hissed and went to his knees.

"No." the wave of pain hit him again, making him nauseous. Paul helped him to his feet, arm around his shoulders to steady him. "It feels like burns… waves of pain…"

"If David's hurt…" Dwayne began, just as the wave hit him and Paul. A slow, steady feeling of uncertainty crept along his spine. Paul sat down hard on the fountain's edge, pulling Marko with him.

"We've got to get out there and find them." Dwayne gripped the chair, his talons appearing and leaving gashes in the velvet. Paul and Marko nodded, steeling themselves and managing to get to their feet.

The three Lost Boys headed out into the night, after their fallen family.

--

"David's bike." Dwayne pointed, catching a glint of moonlight off the chrome. The bike was hidden back against the boulders near the inlet. All three fell from the sky, landing steadily on the rocks. Each had slipped into fang, on the look out, senses on high alert. Marko crouched, scenting Ruby.

"They're near." He spoke, heading up the rocks. Paul and Dwayne shared a glance and followed. Marko was standing at the edge of the stream. Staring.

"Shit, he's gone cold." Paul grumbled. He came up behind Marko, who was staring down at the rushing stream.

"I can't cross…" he whimpered. He looked up at Paul, his eyes filled with pain.

"Stay with him Paul. I'll go ahead." Dwayne splashed through the stream, leaving his friends behind. Ruby's scent hit him, the smell of her being and smell of burnt skin. Scowling, Dwayne headed towards the woods.

"I've failed her. Again." Marko cried, on his knees beside the stream. Paul sat down on the sand beside his friend.

"She'll understand. Each of us has our curse. Yours is running water, bro." He gently squeezed Marko's shoulder, hoping he was doing some consoling.

"But you don't have a fear." Marko sighed, his gaze glued to the woods beyond the stream.

"I might. Just haven't found out what yet." Paul grinned a little, squeezed his bud's shoulder again. "Dwayne will find them."