Part 6 Split In The Snow
(Authors Note: I still own nothing. Again I must profusely apologize for the length of the chapters. It makes more sense to me to split them by perspective.)
Arthur couldn't help the panic when the tracks disappeared. He glanced around and spotted something on a nearby ridge.
"Here!" He called and the knights gathered around. There were rapidly disappearing handprints and marks only made by someone slipping. Arthur scrambled to the top of the ridge. There was wood scattered around a small stream. Carefully stepping over the stream Arthur looked into the gap that split the ridge in two. He spotted something caught on one of the rocks. Snatching it up, he recognized it as a piece of Merlin's cloak.
"Damn idiot!" He cursed aloud.
"What have you found Arthur?" Lancelot beat Gwaine to the question. Arthur held up the scrap of cloth, Lancelot swore.
"That's a piece of the cloak he was wearing." Lancelot confirmed Arthur's first observation, worry building behind his eyes. Arthur nodded.
"Right, we'll split up. Percival, Bedavier and Lancelot I want you three to follow this gap north. Look for tracks, any sign Merlin may have passed that way. If you find anything, two of you follow it, one of you come find me. Gwaine, Kay you're with me."
"Where are we off to Princess?" Gwaine asked annoyed. Kay chuckled slightly at the nickname while Bedavier, who as the youngest was also the most innocent and had never heard anyone insult Arthur, looked astonished.
"We are going to follow the gap to the south, it opens at both ends. And unless you feel like following Merlin's example and tumbling into it we have to check both ways." Gwaine looked slightly mollified but did not apologize.
"Right then. Let's get going Princess!" He grinned as Arthur rolled his eyes and the group split.