Here it is everyone! The next installment! Sorry, it took so long. I've been crazy busy this last month or so. Hope you guys enjoy!

Disclaimer: To train them is my cause!

Pursuit

"Wendla is missing." These were the first three words that Moritz Stiefel was awakened to that morning.

"W-what?" Moritz asked blindly as he looked around the room. It was Melchior's room and it was in quite a disarray at the moment.

"Wendla's missing," Melchior repeated, his head and torso appearing from underneath his bed with a pair of beaten up shoes. Moritz's eyes widened.

"What are we to d-do, Melchi?" Moritz asked, turning to his friend.

"Why, go out and find her, of course," Melchior replied, sitting down on his bed and shoving the shoes on their respective foot. Moritz had only just noticed that Melchior was completely dressed. Groggily, Moritz slipped out of bed and began looking for clothes to wear.

"Where are we going to search for her?" Moritz asked, finding a decent pair of trousers.

"Well, we'll start at the woods. Then, we'll make our way to the next town and ask if anyone's seen her. If they have, we'll tread on; but if they haven't, we'll return here for the night and then move on to the village across the lake and repeat the process," Melchior said calmly. Moritz breathed a sigh of relief as he buttoned up his trousers. Melchior always knew just what to do. This plan was bound to work.

Moritz shoved his head through his newly-found shirt as a thought struck him. "What if she h-hasn't been seen in any of the nearby t-towns?"

"Then we'll tread on until we find her," Melchior answered simply. Moritz knew this would be the answer.

"So, s-shall we pack up all are belongings now and become v-vagabonds, or do you want us to wait until we have explored all of the nearby towns?" Moritz asked, furrowing his brow as he searched the floor for his shoes. Where had that burst come from?

"If you wish to pack up all of your belongings now, you're free to. I, however, will wait," Melchior said with a slight smile.

Moritz sat on his bed, blinking at his roommate. "You're s-serious?" Melchior gave a swift nod. Moritz's head tilted a little. "B-but, Melchi, what of your education?"

"What of it? You've lost your education and seem to be fairing quite well," Melchior said, handing Moritz a shoe.

"'Well,' ha! The only w-way that I can live is by staying with a friend of mine and working like a pack-mule at a job I d-despise," Moritz said, snatching the shoe from Melchior's hand. "A job I will l-lose if I become a vagabond."

"Moritz, you do realize that you're talking about Wendla?" Melchior asked sternly. Moritz's heart suddenly fell into his stomach. He had forgotten exactly what their goal was. Wendla, his angel. He would do anything for her.

"Well, w-when you put it like that..." Moritz said, slipping on his shoes.

"I knew you would see it my way," Melchior said, standing and giving Moritz a friendly tap on the shoulder. "Come, let us pack some food, so we won't be tempted by the merchants."

Moritz followed Melchior out and into the kitchen. They silently prepared two servings of bread and cheese for both of them, and folded the food in a large cloth before filling both their canteens to the brim with water. Then, as quiet as mice, the two boys left that Gabor home and headed for the woods. Moritz looked at the rising sun with a strange sense of hope and fear. The eerie red glow exposed the beaten path to the woods, but both of the boys knew the way by heart.

"M-Melchi?" Moritz asked as they came upon the first few branches.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry about snapping at you b-before," Moritz said, looking at the red-speckled ground.

"Don't worry about it, Moritz. I can understand that you're scared. I am too, but we're in this together." Melchior looked back at Moritz, grinning from ear to ear. Moritz returned a shy smile before stumbling on a rather large particle of dirt. Melchior laughed and turned to face his friend. Moritz could feel heat come to his face as he glared at the ground. "Besides, you're always a bit of a grump in the morning." The heat didn't disappear from Moritz's face, but his glare was shifted to his friend. Melchior laughed again before turning and continuing on his route. Moritz breathed deeply a few times, gaining back what self-control he had and trotted after his friend.

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