Charlie spun at the sound of the scream. "CLAIRE!" he called, and then started to run in the direction of her frantic voice. He ran faster than he ever knew he could. Laeam would be proud of him. "CLAIRE!" he cried again and again, "CLAIRE! CLAIRE, I'M COMING!"

He kicked up mud as he ran, sliding every now and then as he changed direction.

"CLAIRE!" he screamed.

The female screaming had stopped. Charlie also skidded to a halt, mud splashing on him as his shoes dug into the softened ground. He listened hard, but he could not hear anything. "CLAIRE!" he called again, but no reply came.

"CLAIRE!"