Authors Notes: I also like KodiakWolfe13's ideas, they are great, thank you to all of you who suggested what Toby's condition would be. I think I know where I'm going to take this now.
We're Not Your Lab Rats!
"Its a non moon day, Tom." Shannon told her friend as he read another football magazine. She was looking out the window depressed, more than usual. She missed Maddy, that was no lie, she missed her more than anything in the world, even researching the wolfbloods was no match to how much she missed herfriend. Tom missed Maddy too, but as the stronger one between the two, he had to hide it as much as he could, he did that with magazines... though he couldn't read them properly, he just looked at the pictures and would go into his own little world, remembering the good times. Shannons remark brought him out of his little world for a brief moment, he looked over at her, then back at the glossy pages in front of him. Shannon sighed, "Hey, I wonder how Rhydian is." Shannon thought out loud. She'd tried her best to keep them all together, for Maddy's sake! She'd announced to them both in the dark room. Rhydian had then stormed off, whilst Tom just sat at the desk and stayed silent just glaring at the wall.
"He's probably asleep, like all other wolfbloods. Don't worry about him Shan, he can look out for himself. He's proven that himself." Tom grumbled as he put down the mag and walked out of the room in annoyance. The door slammed behind him with a terrible thud, and Shannon watched through the window as he left, stopped and then turned back. She smiled slightly as she heard his footsteps pounding their way up the stairs, then looked at the door as it slowly opened, "Maybe... for Maddy... we should..." he started. Shannon smiled and nodded.
It wasn't a long walk to Rhydians foster home. But they arrived to police cars and policemen standing outside the front door. They picked up the pace, running towards the front door to see if Rhydian was alright. The officer at the front door stopped them, "Sorry kids, you can't go in." He spoke in a dull tone, his voice deep.
"But-" Shannon started, she was cut off by Mrs Vaughn walking outside, a tissue in hand, her eyes bloodshot, and big bags under her eyes.
"Shannon? Tom? Please, tell me you've seen him." She begged walking closer to both the worried teenagers, when they didn't give an answer she continued, "Rhydian, tell me you've seen him, please." She begged clinging onto Tom, her husband came out and pulled her away from a startled Tom.
"Apologies, Tom... its just..." he began trailing off as his wifes tears overpowered his voice.
"Wait... Rhydian never came home?" Tom asked after straightening out his shirt, his shocked tone and confusion only made Mr and Mrs Vaughn feel worse, with her cries getting louder and his eyes tearing up... either they really did love Rhydian this much, or they were taking things a little too over the top, or they were flipping good actors. Mr Vaughn quickly wiped his eyes before any tears did fall from his eyes and held his wife at arms distance.
"Darling don't worry, he's probably just trying to prove a point, you know how he's been since his girlfriend left." Mr Vaughn told his wife in a stern, slightly shakey voice.
As Rhydians foster parents comforted one another Shannon and Tom walked away to talk alone in private, "Rhydian does have issues, but he wouldn't run away, would he?" Shannon asked in confusion, Rhydian was known for running away, but why would he when he knew Maddy would return, and with Whitewood still out there.
"Not in this case, he wouldn't. He wouldn't risk being captured by Whitewood, after all, his girlfriend was chased away by that mad woman." Tom pointed out, he wasn't still upset with Maddy and Rhydian being together, but sometimes it just seemed that way.
"Right... well... we need to find out where he is then. You don't think... you don't think he'd go after her do you?" Shannon asked, biting her bottom lip and hoping her theory was wrong. As much as both of them missed Maddy, it was nothing compared to how much Rhydian missed her. There was one time he'd even drawn a picture of everyone they'd faced in the past – Kyle, Whitewood and Alric – dead, because of two wolves. Him and Maddy. Shannon had told him it was sinister, and that he should put it away somewhere... you can't throw away good art, apparently.
"Well for his and the Vaughns sake, we best hope not." Tom declared putting both hands in is pocket, pulling one out holding a phone. Shannon gave him a quizzical look, "I'm going to try calling him." Tom stated, as though it was the most obvious option.
Voicemail. Of course.
"You don't think the Vaughns have tried that already? Its up to us now Tom. Us and the wild pack." Shannon pointed out, looking, only briefly, behind her at the upset foster parents.
"Seems a bit fake, don't it?" Tom asked following Shannons gaze. When she looked back at him she gave him a glare, Tom held up his hands backing away slightly, "What? I'm just saying. No foster parents would get that upset if a foster kid ran away. We don't even know how long he's been gone." Tom stated. He had a point.
"Well, why don't we ask them." Shannon was already walking closer to the Vaughns before Tom had a chance to register what she had said. Groaning he followed her. "Mr Vaughn... I hope you don't mind me asking, but... how long has Rhydian been gone?" she asked.
Mrs Vaughn stepped back, and allowed her husband to do the talking, "Well, we noticed he hadn't returned home from school on Friday, we thought he'd just gone to one of your houses. But then he didn't come home." He explained, with a hopeful look in his eyes. Sannon thank him before turning back to Tom.
They walked away from the Vaughns to discuss, "Something doesn't feel right." Shannon pointed out to Tom. He nodded and followed her towards the woods they both knew Rhydian walked home through.
"Seearching for clues, eh?" Tom asked, not needing an answer as they searched the woodland ground. "Of course we are." He mumbled.
Authors Notes:I thank everyone who supported me after the mean review. Thank you, you are all beautiful. Its not long, it was going to be longer, but I needed to warn readers that I won't be able to update tomorrow. I'm going to see my schools play. I'm excited. Tell me what you think and I promise I'll make the other chapters longer.