What? What's this? Oh, I updated... how uncharacteristic of me...
This chapter's shorter than the others, but I'm sure nobody will mind TOO much. Thanks to all who reviewed the last bit, I love feedback. I also love cookies. In fact, if you sent me some cookies, I might just update faster... Just sayin.
Disclaimer: If I owned Hamtaro, Dexter and Howdy would hook up. Yeah... I went there.
Maxwell crossed his arms and took a deep breath. Splayed out before him on the green grass was a map, its four corners held down by stones. Well, the bookworm quietly ceded, if we can even call it a map. In truth, it was merely a large piece of paper with a rough estimate of the length and course of the creek, which was skeptical at best; none of the hamsters had bothered to map out the waterway before, so Maxwell could only guess how far it ran.
As if on cue, there was a rustling in the bushes and the vegetation parted to reveal the tiger-stripped form of Sandy. "Another update for you, Maxy," she informed, striding over.
"Great," came the boyham's reply. "Come show me and I'll add it on."
As Maxwell listened and marked adjustments on the map, he couldn't help but marvel at the resolve of his friends. Sharing a common goal, the Ham-Hams had decided on a plan of action relatively quickly. Under careful instruction from Maxwell, the hamsters had divided up into groups. Boss and Stan paired up to scout downstream, looking for any signs of their missing friends. Any information, including updates for Maxwell's map, were carried back via relay system composed of Howdy, Dexter, Cappy, and Sandy, meaning that updates could be passed on quickly and frequently, keeping the bookham in the know.
"Like this?" he confirmed.
"Yeah that looks right. It starts to get wider farther downstream." Sandy's features shaped into a look of uncertainty. "Hey… you don't think—"
"Thanks for the update," Maxwell cut in with a reassuring smile. We can't give into doubts. We have to have hope.
Sandy mouth curved up into a soft smile of thanks. "Like, no problem." The girlham gestured over her shoulder. "I'm going to head out. I'll hurry back if they find anything."
The boyham gave her another smile as she ducked back into the bush and out of sight. Then, he began examining the chart again. Sandy had been right: the creek seemed to get increasingly wider the farther it flowed. Maxwell had hoped the waterway would have narrowed at some point, which would have given Hamtaro and Panda a chance to get ashore, but that wish didn't seem likely anymore. Still, the current might slow down, and it was Hamtaro. While he couldn't say too much for Panda, Maxwell knew that his cream and orange friend had gotten himself and the other Ham-Hams out of many difficult and tricky situations, and there was always a chance that they would find the two hamsters wet, hungry, and tired, but okay.
"Any news, Maxwell?"
The bookworm looked up to see Oxnard jogging towards him through the grass, Pashmina, Penelope, and Bijou not far behind. The large, grey-spotted hamster stopped in front of the map, breathing heavily; Oxnard never moved anywhere fast if he could avoid it, and the fact he had been was a clear sign that he was desperate for good news concerning his friends.
"Well," Maxwell began with a paw to his chart, "we've managed to plot out a good portion of the creek, but so far we haven't found them. However, Boss and Stan won't be giving up any time soon."
The three girlhams had caught up, and Penelope offered a concerned, "Oakwee?"
Pashmina gave her "little sister" a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, if anybody can find them, it's Boss and Stan." But in truth, Pashmina was doing her best to hide her own worry from the little girlham. She hoped Panda and Hamtaro were alright…
"How's Laura? And Mimi?" Maxwell inquired, fearing the worst. It had been Oxnard who had first volunteered to check on Hamtaro and Panda's humans, Pashmina, Penelope and Bijou being quick to join him.
Oxnard began nibbling on his sunflower seed, while answering, "Not good… they're both pretty upset. Kana stayed home from school to help Laura look, and I think her parents are making posters."
"Mimi's parents are out looking everywhere," Pashmina added. "How terrible it must be. I can't imagine how June would feel if I suddenly went missing…"
Oxnard ears twitched as he had an idea. "Hey! Maybe we should make some posters too!"
"Good idea!" Maxwell encouraged. "I think we still have some paper back at the clubhouse."
The four hams nodded, and began dashing off in the direction of their hangout. Oxnard practically wheezing from his first "Badda badda." The bookworm watched them go, and then suddenly had a thought. "Hey Bijou! Wait up a second!" The French girlham stopped and turned around. Maxwell quickly strode up to her and asked quietly, "Are you sure you're ok?" Hearing what happened the previous day had hit Bijou the hardest; for a little while, she couldn't even get up from the stool she had been sitting on. Sandy had walked her home, but had said she was in bad shape when she left.
But now, the white furred Ham-Ham only briefly looked down at the ground, before shooting her head back up and to look at Maxwell with determination burning in her teal eyes. "We will not find Hamtaro and Panda by doing nothing," she stated with fire. "I will help any way we can until they are back with us."
Maxwell couldn't help but smile. There's more steel to her than meets the eye.
Bijou turned and ran off after the others, ready to assist however she could in the search.
On the edge of town, Boss and Stan walked next to the creek, eyes keen and searching for any signs of their missing friends.
"That water's moving pretty fast, Boss-man. I sure hope-"
"Hey!" Boss cut off, "They're both fine! We'll find them…"
The pair had been searching for hours now, the sun just starting its long decent towards the horizon. Both hamsters were hungry, but neither gave a thought to stopping for a break. Stan lifted his gaze from the water and looked around. After all, there were more dangerous things than the creek.
Maxwell had told the Ham-Hams about the cat they saw, and Stan couldn't help thinking he was right to warn them. Sure, they had all been chased by cats at some point, but that one had just been… different. It didn't lunge at them, or hiss, or swipe at them with its claws. Instead, it had observed them with a cold, almost murderous calculation in its gold eyes. It was enough to make Stan shiver.
"Look up ahead," Boss motioned, shaking the boyham from his daydreams. The duo had reached the edge of the city. Ahead of them, running for miles upon miles upon miles, onward flowed the creek, its current just a quick as upriver.
"Boss…" Stan asked, voicing what they were both thinking. "How far do you think they were carried?"
The field hamster stood on his tiptoes, sniffing the air with his exceptional nose, but only picked up the scent of water and mud, grass, trees and other plants. Boss clenched his teeth in frustration.
"Hamtaro! Panda! Where are you!"
At that moment, far away along the riverbank, a young, golden-brown furred girlham walked along beside the water. The current was softer here, making it a great place to look for pretty rocks and other fancy things that might wash ashore.
She hummed merrily to herself as she skipped along across deposits of sand, admiring the way her paws made footprints on the shore.
"Marin!" she heard her dad shout from a little ways off. "Marin! Where'd you run off to?"
The girlham turned and looked over her shoulder. She'd go back in a minute, but first she wanted to find a nice, smooth stone to take with her.
Starting off again, she saw something strange in the distance, resting upon the wet sand. There was a bit of orange… and some green… wait…!
Suddenly, she realized she wasn't looking at something, but someone! Dashing as fast as her little paws could carry her, she ran up beside the nearest hamster. His black and white fur was drenched. Laying beside him on what appeared to be a green, wooden door was another hamster, this one cream and orange.
Marin grabbed the black and white one's arm and began shaking his body. "Hey!" she cried, "Hey! Are you alright?"
The hamster coughed dryly. His eyes opened, just barely, and he managed a weak, "Where…?" Then, his eyelids slowly closed again.
Marin squealed. They were alive!
"Papa!" she shouted. "Papa, hurry! I found some hamsters and they need help!"
Next Chapter: Our protagonists awaken, but where are they? And how will they find their way back home?
Thanks for reading.
~Macarov