As soon as we made it to Cooper's Roost, I ran straight to Dr. Coop without a second thought. Please be okay, please please be okay
"Doctor!", I shouted barging into the clinic.
"Good heavens, child!", Doctor Coop said scared, "Don't rush in here like that"
"I-I'm sorry, but about Mr. Sanders"
"Oh I see", Doctor Coop said walking over to a curtain, "He's over here", he said pulling the curtain.
There he was, on a bed wrapped in bandages from his head to his feet.
"The Corporal's injuries were very severe" Doctor Coop said, "But thanks to your friend's assistance, he's alive and cluckin'"
"Oh thank the stars", I said placing my hand on my chest.
"Yyyoou, miss", I heard Mr. Sanders, "I...can't thank you enough for what you lot have...done for me"
"I'm happy to see you're okay", I said with a warm smile, "Wait...where's Bonnie and Kobe", I said looking around.
When I asked the question, the door opened. It was Kobe.
"Tara", Kobe said walking up to me, "There's something I need to tell you about Mari"
"What is it?"
"She's gone"
"What? Gone how?", I questioned concerned.
"We can't find her anywhere here"
No. No no no this isn't good. I placed my hand on my head thinking about what could have happened to her. All negative thoughts. I asked Kobe if he asked the residents here, he said Bonnie was looking in the salon while he checked this clinic. Gripping my staff, I hoped Bonnie had found Mari and they both would be playing a game in the salon. I couldn't wait for Bonnie to coming here, so I speed walked to the salon while Kobe followed me.
"Tara", I heard Rebecca called.
"Not now", I said looking back then looking forward.
I did not want to stop, I had to see if Mari was still here. When arriving to the salon, I saw Bonnie walk out the salon. She was alone. Now I'm more worried.
"Bonnie!", I shouted walking up to her, "Where's Mari", I asked worried.
"Well, she's not in there", Bonnie placing her hand on her hip, "But someone told me they saw her walk to the docks a while ago.
What? Why would she...? I shook my head and started speed walking to the docks.
"Tara wait", Rebecca said to me, "Where are you going now?"
"To the docks", I said looking back then facing forward.
There was no time for chitchat, I had to know if Mari was still here. When the group and I went dock to the docks there was no sign of Mari anywhere, so, I told everyone to spread out and ask around.
10 minutes later…
We all regrouped, and all of us had no luck in finding out anything about Mari's whereabouts. I'm having a difficult time keeping myself calm here.
"Everyone", Gaspard said walking up to us, "I have some news about Mari"
"What have you found Gaspard?", I asked.
"A bison saw her walk onto a ship with a group of, what seem to be, pirates", Gaspard said, "He said the ship was a dark blue and an usual sails on it, sadly, there's no telling when that ship will be back"
There are many questions popping in my head, but my main question is: Why would she do this?
"I can't help but get the feeling she did this on purpose" Gaspard said.
"I think we should go find her", I said.
"Whoa whoa, hold on", Rebecca said, "What about the map piece, we need to get that before anyone else finds it"
She's not wrong. But I'm still worried about Mari's safety.
"...It will be okay Tara", Kobe said patting my back, "Mari maybe reckless, however, she is not stupid enough to get herself into serious danger"
"Yes, she will be okay", Gaspard said gently waving his hand.
"How do you know"
"Trust me, I know her"
I want to believe him, but I'm still having second thoughts about this. However, we seriously need that map piece now more than ever. I hate to say this but, "Fine, we'll get the map piece first".
"Okay, let's go talk to Merriwheather", Rebecca said.
I nod, but kept a worried look on my face. I...it feels like I'm abandoning her. Hmmm, I shouldn't think like that. I should be thinking about how much trouble she's going to be in when we find her. My worries slowly turned to anger, somewhat. I felt Kobe place his hand on my shoulder, I looked up to him and he gave me a nod. It calmed me down, but I'm still keeping the anger in mind. We soon got to Mr. Clark's, Rebecca knocked on his door. He opened the door and invited all of us in then looked around to see if we were followed.
"I want to say thanks again for saving me from those bison from before", Mr. Clark said,
"And we are happy to help you sir,", I said with a smile.
"Okay, now to the map", Mr. Clark said, "That map was my father's dearest possession, and I swore to him that I would keep it secret. But since you saved my life, I'll make an exception. Marco Pollo's map is in a cave underneath Scorpion Rock, in Big Sky Country", he explained.
"Would you mine telling us where that is?", Ridolfo asked.
"I rather show you than tell, do any of you have a map?"
Wwwe...all shook our heads, "That's alright, I happen to have one for Big Sky Country", Mr. Clark said walking around a table, "Now, where, is-Ah ha! Found it!", he said.
Mr. Clark took a pencil and circled the area where the piece was, all we need to do is go to it.
27 minutes later...
Bonnie and I thought the same thing when we said this place wasn't just named for its looks. The whole place was filled with scorpions. Bigger than usual. Luckily none of us got poisoned. From a distance, I could see...the chest! There it is! We all ran towards it.
"Right, now let's get that map piece and get the heck out of here", Rebecca said.
I couldn't agree more. Once we get this piece we can go and find-wait.
"What's wrong Tara?", Milo asked.
"The-the map piece, it's gone"