Chapter Two: Camping on the Moors... Again

A/N: Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter. Here's the next - please R&R, your reviews are always appreciated! :) enjoy

"Can't you go faster, Tom?" Shannon asked impatiently.

"I only learnt to drive last summer, Shan," Tom objected. "It's not easy, you know."

"Yes, but if we're going to find Jana, we have to at least keep Maddy and Rhydian in sight," said Shannon matter-of-factly.

"Whatever," Tom grumbled, but stepped harder on the accelerator.

"You know I'm right," said Shannon, leaning on his arm. "I love you."

"I know," Tom smirked. Shannon gave him a nudge. "But even if you're right all the time, I still love you too."

Far ahead of them, just in sight in the distance were Maddy and Rhydian. They were still humans, hand in hand as they ran through the forest, so they were easier for Tom and Shannon to keep up with. Maddy was at home in the woods, dressed in her tan jeans, boots, blue jumper and dark green shirt underneath. She gripped Rhydian's hand, glad to be home, her wrist brushing against the fabric of his dark coat. Ah, she sighed, same old Rhydian, same old coat. Rhydian's hair stuck up as always and his lips formed a smile as he ran.

The two of them slowed down to a stop and smelled the air. Jana's scent was faint but it was still there and it lead onwards but further towards the west. Maddy caught her breath slightly. "What happens when we find her? What will the pack say?"

Rhydian looked at her. She looked so perfect in the wild, roaming free, her hair in her face and her mouth slightly agape. "I don't know what the pack will say. She was supposed to go back to them once she was healed but maybe they think she has betrayed them. But we will find her. We have to convince her to come back until she is well."

Maddy nodded, her hand still in Rhydian's. "The wild is dangerous for an injured Wolfblood. She isn't safe whilst she's weak. She has to come back."

"It might not be that easy," Rhydian warned as the blue car pulled up.

"Why did you stop?" Shannon asked, getting out of the car.

"We needed to be sure of her scent," Maddy explained.

"What's going on?" Tom asked, slamming the door on his side, having finally gotten the car to stop.

"We're just going," said Rhydian.

"Great," said Tom, getting back in the car and turning the key several times to get the engine going again.

Rhydian and Maddy shared a look before running off again in a sudden burst of speed. The woods flew past them and they followed Jana's scent towards the west. Rhydian grasped Maddy's hand tightly. He was reminded of the hard times he had spent without her, those cold months that had made him cry. He was never going to let her go again.

In the car, Shannon was fiddling with the buttons for the radio, trying to find the right channel. Tom was complaining that she was distracting him but all Shannon said was, "Quit whining."

"Says you," said Tom. "Have you even got your drivers license?"

"No, I've got you to drive me around," said Shannon smugly, "or my parents. So I'm fine for now."

"We need to keep up with Maddy and Rhydian, okay?" Tom grumbled.

"I feel so good for them," said Shannon, turning the radio off and leaning back in her seat. "You know, Rhydian seemed really sad when she was gone. I mean, I know he was sad - we all were - but he looked even worse when he thought no-one was looking. Like, he looked like he was on the verge of tears."

"Yeah," said Tom, "but he's got her back now."

"But it won't be the same," said Shannon softly.

"Maybe, but she wouldn't have come back if she didn't want to," said Tom. "She loves him."

"Right," said Maddy as Tom's car pulled up with all their gear, "we stop here."

"We're camping?" Tom asked.

"Yeah, did nobody tell you?" said Shannon, getting out of the car.

And of course Tom was left to put up the tents, though Rhydian did give him a hand. Soon the tents were up and their campsite was ready. Shannon was fiddling with her camera, Tom was eating a cereal bar, and Rhydian and Maddy were checking Jana's scent.

"She definitely went that way," said Rhydian, pointing in the direction they had been travelling.

"And her scent is stronger here," Maddy added. "I think we're getting close to the pack. Did Aran go back to the pack, then?"

"Apparently," said Rhydian. "He helped Meinir settle into a house - long story - and then sent word he was going back to the pack to settle them down. Jana would have gone to find him."

"Okay," said Maddy. "We will find her you know."

"I know," said Rhydian, "but I'm more glad I found you."

Maddy smiled. Tom called them in for food and they joined him and Shannon at the campsite. Later on, Maddy and Shannon crawled into their tent for the night and Tom and Rhydian went into theirs. Shannon suddenly hugged Maddy once she was in her sleeping bag. "I'm so glad you're back, Mads," she said.

"So am I, Shan," said Maddy. She didn't get in her sleeping bag but unzipped it and spread it on top of her. And then she fell asleep.

"I love you."

He suddenly leant in and kissed her, tears streaming down both of their faces. They broke apart and leaned their foreheads against the other.

"I love you too. When I'm older, and no-one cares what I do, I'll find you, right, Maddy?" His voice was broken, much like he was inside.

She stepped away from him. "We'll find each other." And she went down the hill, trying not to hear his broken sobs that he tried to hide.

Maddy woke up gasping for air, tears streaming down her face. Only one thought was in her head: she had to find him. She tore out of her tent into the cold night air to find him sitting outside staring up at the half moon.

"Maddy?" Rhydian turned around and Maddy flew into his arms.

"Oh, Rhydian, I thought you were gone," Maddy wept.

"I'm here, it's okay now," said Rhydian comfortingly, stroking her hair.

"I had this dream, it was when I left, and you were crying," Maddy whispered.

Rhydian felt a twinge of pain. His and Maddy's parting had been so painful for him, like a knife twisting inside him. "I'm here now, Maddy," he replied. "It was just a nightmare."

"It was horrible," said Maddy, wiping her eyes.

"Do you want to go for a midnight run?" Rhydian asked and Maddy nodded. "Go get a jumper then. And some shoes."

Maddy went inside the tent and pulled on a jumper and her jacket. She laced up her boots and went outside to join Rhydian. The clothes didn't matter anyway since they transformed into wolves and raced each other down the moors. Their fur coats were warm enough.

Maddy's perspective as a wolf was different. Everything was suddenly so simple. She looked upon Rhydian in his light fur coat and his yellow eyes shining in the moonlight. She felt so comfortable with him, like it was supposed to be that way.

She suddenly began to run through the trees, and Rhydian knew what she wanted. He chased her for what must have been miles until they both transformed back and tumbled down into a ditch. Caught up in Maddy's hair and the leaves, Rhydian grinned. "Not so scared anymore?"

"No," Maddy smiled, her head on his chest as she listened to the steady beat of his heart.

"We should get back," Rhydian whispered.

"It's ages 'til sunrise," Maddy objected with a giggle. "We can still run for miles yet."

"It's not even a full moon, Mads," Rhydian laughed.

"It might as well be," said Maddy. "I haven't had a full moon with you for ages!"

Rhydian slowly got up and leaned in as if he was about to kiss her. She leaned in too but he flashed a sneaky grin and ran off into the forest. Maddy scrambled to her feet and ran after him, determined to catch up. "You can't catch me, Maddy!" he shouted over his shoulder with a grin.

"You want to bet?" Maddy smiled and streamed after him.

"Tom?"

Tom was humming a little tune as he flipped over the sausages on the pan over the fire.

"Tom!"

Tom turned around to see Shannon behind him with her mouth wide. "What?"

"You can cook?" Shannon asked incredulously.

"Can't you?" Tom replied with a smirk.

Shannon gave him a hug from behind. "Of course. I just didn't think Tom Okanawe liked to cook. I thought he was all football."

"Funny," said Tom with a smile. "Have you seen Maddy or Rhydian?"

"No, she wasn't in the tent when I woke up," said Shannon.

"Neither was Rhydian," Tom replied. "Where do you suppose they are?"

"I'd like to say they're looking for Jana, but I think they've gone for a run. To catch up, you know."

"I guess," said Tom, "but if they don't come back soon, they'll have missed the sausages."

"You can't eat them all! Greedy guts!" said Shannon laughing.

Rhydian came walking into the campsite with Maddy on his back. "Did someone say 'sausages'?"

Tom laughed. "Had a good run?"

"It was brilliant," Maddy smiled. "Just like old times."

"I'm so glad you're back," said Shannon again, going over and hugging her friend.

Maddy fought the urge to grin. "So am I."