Chapter 11

August 17, 2022 at 8:30 pm

Sportacus entered the forest. The sun was beginning to sink lower in the sky as the last golden days of summer were ending. He still had at least thirty minutes before the dense forest would be too dark.

Joshua and Samantha walked further away from the cottage and tried to avoid the muddiest parts of the undergrowth. It was tough going but they were moving at a decent rate. Joshua looked toward the treetops to see that it was getting darker.

"Samantha, we need to pick up speed if we can." He said.

"All right, how much farther do you think?" She asked.

"Don't worry. It's not too much farther until we're out of the forest." Joshua smiled trying not to make her nervous. She smiled back and the two began to walk faster. The mud tugged at their sneakers and threatened to pull them down but the two kids were up to the challenge.

Sportacus continued to crash through the underbrush. The mud was trying to slow him down but he wouldn't let it. He hoped that he would find the kids in time. Joshua was still blocking him but he knew that neither one was in trouble because his crystal remained silent. Inside Sportacus could feel his emotions trying to get the better of him. The above average hero was angry that his son just rushed out headlong without thinking. If Joshua got either he or Sam hurt… Sportacus shook those thoughts from his head. Joshua was smart and he was capable of handling anything that came his way.

The two friends weaved their way in between the trees. However as Samantha moved around a rock, she could feel her foot slipping in the mud. She tried to stop herself from falling and when it looked like she was about to take a mud bath, Joshua was at her side in an instant and grabbed her. Helping her stand up straight, he asked,

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, thanks." She smiled. Without saying a word, Joshua took her right hand and laced his fingers through hers. When she didn't refuse his actions, he said optimistically,

"Come on. We're almost there." Samantha nodded and Joshua took her pillow and laced together with her sleeping bag before the two moved on. Soon they heard someone calling their names.

"Samantha! Joshua!" Sportacus yelled. He hoped that they could hear him. The above average hero continued to move through the mud and the underbrush, calling the kids' names as he went. He could see two figures ahead of him.

Joshua saw someone in the woods and quickly squeezed Samantha's hand. She looked at him and was about to open her mouth and say something when she heard a voice call their names.

"Samantha! Joshua!" The sixteen year old immediately recognized who it was.

"Dad!" Joshua shouted in reply. Within seconds the above average hero appeared. He looked at the two kids. They both expected him to get angry with them. They expected he'd read them the riot act. But that never happened. Sportacus merely said,

"It's time to come home." The tone of his voice was stern. This time Samantha squeezed Joshua's hand. He made a weak smile and the two followed behind Sportacus.

Finally, the three reached the edge of the forest. The sun was dipping lower in the sky as they left the cover of the trees and sunset wouldn't be too far behind. They continued their journey to the search team's headquarters in silence. Joshua and Samantha still held each others hands tightly. They would face their punishment together.

To Be Continued…