Hey all I'm back!

Now let's get to the chapter!

Cinderheart POV

We had only been in the shop a couple of minutes when I noticed Poppyfrost's absence.

"Uhm, guys? Where's Poppyfrost?" I asked.

They all turned around from where they were studying clothes and looked around, only seeming to realise just then.

"Maybe she lost us when we were walking outside?" Honeyfern suggested. Hollyleaf nodded.

"I'll go now."

We watched the ravenette leave the store, then returned to uncomfortably shifting through tops, no one really focusing on studying the apparel. Poppyfrost never got lost. A few minutes later, Hollyleaf returned.

"Nope, she's nowhere outside. Maybe we should check around the whole town?" she suggested.

"Good idea."

We followed her out of the store and began looking around, hoping Hollyleaf had just missed her. But there was no trace of the tortoiseshell-haired teen. Getting worried, I turned to the group.

"We need another tactic. Where and when did everyone last see her?"

"She drifted behind me when we walked past the coffee shop. She was lost in thought, I believe." Honeyfern replied. Hollyleaf nodded.

Honeyfern noticed. Of course she did. She can read your emotions with a single glance.

"Right, that's the best place to start." I decided, and led them towards the cute, cosy little shop. I could remember enjoying a hot chocolate with Lionblaze here, barely weeks ago. We were so happy together, and then we were so worried and scared passing by once more.

It wasn't right.

We checked around every area, looked down every alleyway, peeked into every shop, but there was still no sign.

"Poppyfrost!" we called, over and over, but to no avail. It seemed like she wasn't anywhere.

Maybe she wasn't. Maybe she'd vanished, or been taken, or-

I blinked back tears. It wasn't often I cried, but this was really worrying me. Honeyfern looked the same, though she often dissolved quicker, and even the confident Hollyleaf looked panicked.

We'd searched through the whole shopping village when Hollyleaf stopped and shook her head.

"Ight, that's it, we need more people looking. I bringing everyone over, we need Ivypool's tracking skills. Even Dovewing will help at this point."

Me and my sister nodded, then sat down on a bench in defeat. We watched Hollyleaf call everyone, and leant against each other, keeping the other calm.

At last the ravenette slipped her phone back into her pocket and turned back around.

"Everyone available. They're coming now. They'll be here soon." she said with a reassuring smile. A smile still felt good, even if we were too distressed. Poppyfrost never got lost.

I saw the doors swing open in the large high school building, and several silhouettes emerging. Even from a distance, it was easy to tell who was who; the tall, strong figure of Lionblaze, the lean, slender one of Ivypool, Dovewing in heels, and the shorter Berrynose, all hurrying at a brisk pace towards us. Hollyleaf waved, and they quickened once more, and as they got closer, I could see their nervous expressions. Hell, even Foxleap looked serious.

My worried, panicked, scared tears began to fall like Honeyfern's as they arrived. I slid off the bench and hurried towards Lionblaze as he came. He picked me up and held me tight, stroking my hair and comforting me. I could see Honeyfern rushing towards Berrynose, and I remembered with a sharp pang how Poppyfrost used to love him too.

"It's okay, it's gonna be okay." Lionblaze whispered.

"It's not okay!" I sobbed, "Poppyfrost is missing and I don't know where she's gone! It's not okay…"

"Shh."

After another minute or so, I stabilized again, and Lionblaze put me down gently, keeping my hand in his reassuring grip. I brushed away my tears and saw everyone looking with pity.

"Come on, we've got to start looking." Briarlight declared, shaking away her doubts. I envied her confidence, or at least her ability to keep pushing forwards, but I didn't speak. I merely followed.

"We need to split up. That way we can look in more places faster, and she won't be able to miss us, and vice versa." she continued, "Everyone okay with that?"

We all nodded, though I felt doubts creeping up my spine. What if she had been kidnapped or injured, and the person was still around?

"Ight, Hollyleaf, Mousewhisker, Toadstep, Icecloud and Dovewing, can you go search the other side of town? There's a possibility she might have wandered far. She can be a daydreamer. Foxleap, Ivypool, Hazeltail and I will search around the pier and that area. Cinderheart, Honeyfern, Berrynose and Lionblaze, if you could continue searching here, that would be great." she organised. She was good at this stuff.

"Okay, let's begin."

I felt my shoulder brushing Lionblaze's as we searched around. There was still no trace of Poppyfrost. Nothing.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." I snarled to no one once we'd practically searched the entire area thrice. Lionblaze gave my hand a squeeze.

"Hey, it's okay. We'll find her. Lost things always turn up, right?"

"Apart from my waffles," Berrynose replied, shaking his head, "Man, those never turned up."

I could just see Ivypool searching around close to our area. Upon hearing this, she looked up.

"Uh, Berrynose? Hate to break it to you, but Foxleap ate them." she called.

Berrynose stepped back in shock. "H-he ate them?" he gasped, "The second we're all back together, I swear…"

"Focus!" Lionblaze interrupted, and Ivypool turned around again.

"Are you feeling better now?"

I nodded.

"Great. You'll feel better if you feel like you're doing more to help, I promise."

I nodded again and broke away from his grip, approaching a dark alley that I hadn't looked into yet.

"Any luck?" Honeyfern asked, walking up to me. I shook my head miserably and she looked up at the night sky. We'd been out so long now, would the teachers come to look for us?

"Come on, let's look down here."

I followed her down the alleyway, looking about warily as we went. It was almost completely silent apart from our echoing footsteps, and the shady path had an eerie feeling about it. I shivered, uncomfortable in the shadows. It was cold, and it felt as though we were being watched…

Then they leapt out, grabbing Honeyfern and hitting something against her head. She went limp, and I froze. I couldn't speak or scream or move as they turned for me, and I felt a cold hand grab my shoulder. As I was shoved roughly to the ground, I screamed once, then the grip moved to my throat, blocking my air, then all faded to black and cold.

Honeyfern POV

I can't move.

I can't speak.

My head hurts.

I feel numb.

My vision is blurred.

Everything is shifting.

I can feel a dark waiting to swallow me.

I can see red.

A deep red, liquid like paint, sharp and tangy like metal.

Is it blood?

Is it my blood?

I don't know.

I just want to sleep.

I want to sleep forever…

Briarlight POV

We were all called back together by a very distressed Lionblaze.

"Are you okay?" I asked, "Did you find Poppyfrost? Where are Cinderheart and Honeyfern?"

"That's the problem!" he cried, "Now Cinderheart and Honeyfern are missing!"

Everyone looked around in shock. I paled, this was not going right.

Now even more people are missing.

Crap