By the time Neal and Tobe woke up the sun was high. They checked Kel's bedroll, only to find her missing. "I bet she's off practicing and lost track of time." Neal said with a yawn, "that's just like her." Tobe wasn't so sure. He checked her bedroll again and found the note. He sighed with relief but wondered why she wasn't back yet.

When Kel awoke her whole body was one massive hurt. She looked around; she was locked in a cramped and dimly lit room with chains shackled around her wrists and ankles. She rubbed her wrists and then her eyes to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Reaching up and wiping her forehead she winced in pain as her fingers collided with the large bruise left by the rock that had knocked her out. Figuring she had nothing to do, she leaned back and fell asleep again

"Is she awake yet?" asked a cold elegant voice.

One of the guards answered, "As far as we can tell, she did wake up, but we heard her moan and she fell asleep again."

The older man gave a piercing hazel stare to the guards to make sure they were listening, locking eyes with both of them. "Send someone to get me once she wakes up again." He ordered and stalked off.


It was now noon, Neal and Tobe were extremely worried. They knew Kel wouldn't just disappear or lose track of time this long. They only come up with a few possible explanations. None of these seemed like likely possibilities so they went out to search for her.

After an hour of searching there was still no sign of her. Neal decided they had to get to New Hope before sundown instead of camping out in the open as a target for any straggling Scanran bandits.

"No," Tobe said defiantly, "We can't leave Kel, not out here."

Neal grabbed Tobe by the shoulders, "Look, Tobe, I can't stand it anymore than you, but we have more of a chance of finding her if we go back to New Hope and get a squad of men to come with us. I know you don't want to leave her, do you think I want to? Kel's my best friend, but I can't do anything here, we need help."

He walked over to Peachblossom, and grabbed his reigns before he could bite. "Look, you had better behave," Neal said, looking straight into the gelding's eyes, "or we'll leave you behind." Peachblossom seemed to understand but stamped in nervousness as Tobe loaded Kel's possessions on his back.

As the two set out, nothing they did could keep Kel off their minds.