Disclaimer: I absolutely do not own Star Trek: Voyager. There I said it.

A/N: They're getting closer...

As the search team emerged into the large clearing Nicoletti stepped up next to Chakotay and pointed to the trees in the distance. The clearing sloped and from this higher vantage point they could get a better view across the treetops. Sure enough, just as she'd reported the day before, there was a gap in the trees roughly two or three miles away, just barely visible from where they stood, that was surrounded by leaning trees that were all bent in the same direction. It looked very distinctly as if something had crashed into them.

"See, its right along the third trajectory Seven came up with," Nicoletti said with a satisfied smile. "We couldn't get any closer to investigate without missing check in, but right along that tree line," she added, nodding to the border of trees across the clearing. "Is where we found the piece of material stuck in a bush."

The small piece of material they'd brought back the day before had looked and felt just like something from a Starfleet uniform. After Seven analyzed it she verified that it was definitely Starfleet made. It was only a small piece of ripped clothing so Chakotay surmised that someone had simply snagged their uniform on it while walking by. They probably hadn't even noticed at the time.

If someone was walking around snagging their uniform than it meant there was someone alive to have their uniform snagged. Better yet, it meant they were well enough to be walking around. Most likely walking a good distance since there was no other trace of the away team in this area.

If it was the shuttle that had caused the gap in the trees then it meant they'd walked at least that two to three miles and then likely walked back afterwards. If they took that much effort to return then chances were they were staying at the crash site or close to it. If that was even the crash site. It was a pretty big if, but so far it was the best 'if' they had.

"If we hurry we can make it there in an hour or so," he said to the group. The three teams had been combined in an effort to double their efforts now that they might have a clue to where the missing crewmembers were. It also meant he didn't have to tell anyone they couldn't come along. Even B'Elanna was with them now.

The only members of the senior staff left on the ship were Seven, the Doctor since the distortions had been effecting his mobile emitter, and Neelix. Chakotay hoped they all returned to the ship safely or else the crew might be left with a certain talaxian at the helm and an ECH in command.

The campsite was empty.

Chakotay wasn't sure if he should be relieved or even more concerned. It was obvious that the away team must have survived the initial crash. There were blankets laying spread out under what he assumed was supposed to be a shelter of sorts, but was really just a piece of bulkhead held up with thick vines. There was also a pile of empty ration packs and assorted supplies. A bunch of twigs, moss, and other debris were piled in what was obviously their fire at night.

The shuttle itself was, without out a doubt, gone for good. Most of the hull plating was missing completely or cracked. A large hole in the side of the shuttle could be partially seen, but most of it was buried under dirt from where the shuttle was sticking out of the ground. Through the broken frontal window he could see conduits hanging down and consoles that had exploded.

He took comfort from the fact that the away team had survived through that. Judging by the way the blankets were laid out he'd say most of them had made it out alive at least. At the same time, the fact they were nowhere to be found was cause for concern. It actually gave the recently used campsite an eerie feel to it.

He was debating whether or not to wait and see if they would return from wherever it was they'd gone or to start combing the area for them. His contemplations were interrupted by Megan Delaney as she came from behind the shuttle where many of the search team members were trying to check inside.

"Commander...," she said, her face solemn and lined with both tension and disappointment. "You'll want to see this."

That didn't bode well.

With slight trepidation he followed her around to the back of the shuttle where the others were now gathered silently. He was almost afraid to go any further. His feet were braver than his head though. As he drew closer he could see Tuvok standing amongst the rumble of the shuttle's cargo hold and looking down at something. Something that Harry was knelt down next to.

Something under a blanket and with an unfortunately distinctive shape.

His heart started racing while his instincts told him it couldn't be Kathryn. The form under the blanket was too large to be Kathryn. It simply couldn't be her. It couldn't. He wasn't sure what he would do if it was.

With his heart still pounding in his ears Chakotay hopped up onto the landing, which was a couple feet off the ground thanks to the shuttle's odd angle, and stepped closer until he stood next to Tuvok. As he looked down at the uncovered face it took him a couple extra seconds to comprehend that it indeed wasn't Kathryn. At that realization he felt a margin of relief.

And immediately felt guilty for it.

Because while it wasn't Kathryn it was still a member of the crew. Yosa to be exact. He'd know the face anywhere, no matter how pale and lifeless it looked. Yosa was...had been...a good officer, both in a Starfleet crew and a maquis crew. He had always had a friend's back in a fight. That had been how he'd originally come to be on the Val Jean to begin with. Now Chakotay almost hated himself for allowing Yosa to come aboard his own ship that first time so many years ago.

If he had known it'd end like this...

"He has been dead for several days," Tuvok stated, more quietly than he would normally speak. "But I do not believe he died in the shuttle crash."

Chakotay looked over at the Vulcan with a curious look. "How do you know?"

"There is a large gash along his side that is reminiscent of an animal's claw."

"An animal? I thought there were no lifesigns on this planet. Animal or otherwise?"

"We didn't think there was," Harry answered. He covered Yosa's face again and stood. "That was before we knew the sensors would be so skewed."

Chakotay nodded and glanced around the shuttle. It was only then he noticed B'Elanna. She was standing a little further into the shuttle, her arms crossed, as she stared down at Yosa's body with a faraway look. He had a feeling she was remembering a time, what seemed another lifetime ago, when she and Yosa had fought side-by-side to hold off half a dozen Cardassians. Afterwards Yosa had said he'd only been trying to impress her. If the flash of guilt he saw in her eyes was any indication she was probably also feeling just as bad as he had earlier for being relieved that it wasn't Tom.

"If there are such animals in the forest..." Tuvok began, catching both his and B'Elanna's attention. "Then the away team most likely would not venture further outside the camp than necessary. Whatever reason has drawn them away from here was most likely one of great importance."

"You think they could be in trouble..."

"We cannot be sure, but I believe it would be a safe assumption."

"In other words, let's get moving." Chakotay took one last glance at the faceless form and jumped down from the shuttle. They could come back for Yosa later after they found the others. "Everyone spread out a little and look for any fresh track marks. Stay within visual range of everyone else though. Don't wonder off. If you find something, alert Tuvok or myself," he instructed, already leading the way into the surrounding trees.