Waiting in the cave was even worse than it had been before, now everything was different. Nokto said he loved me... I don't even see how he came to that conclusion. Did I lead him on in some way? What did I do? He is probably just confused. I wonder if he has even been in love? Oh god, How am I gonna tell Chance about this? Maybe I shouldn't... not until we are far away. Yeah that's when I'll do it. It won't be lying if I eventually tell him, right? Oh god! Where could they be?

I step out of the cave to look down the trail, but it was empty. The sun was making the air hot and sticky, my throat was dry and scratchy. I need some water. I walk out into the sunlight and feel my body temperature rise 10 degrees, the inside of my cast was beginning to itch. Whew. I turn away from Nokto's village to make my way down to the stream. I don't want to think about the day's events so I focus on the nature surrounding me. The bird's chirping happily, the breeze blowing through the trees, they way the dirt felt against my paws. Despite the heat, the day was beyond gorgeous, like something you read about in a fairytale. I take a deep breath of the fresh crisp air and continue down the path, listening to the woods around me. I hear the stream ahead, but the birds have gone silent, opening my ears for the sound of a slight rustle in the bushes up ahead.

I stop walking and eye them suspiciously, the bushes rustled again, but not with the wind. The whole forest seemed to have lost all signs of life, no birds, no breeze, no noise. I begin to creep forward looking around innocently, like I had no idea that there was someone there. When it was about 10 feet away I increased my speed to a full on sprint and leaped into the air like a Machop and tackled the bush with all my brutality.

I heard someone grunt and felt them struggle against my weight. I start the claw at whoever it was viciously, sinking my nails into their flesh. I couldn't see with all the leaves in my face, but I hurt them screech in pain, so I slashed with more ferocity. They shifted underneath me and I lost my balance, sending both of us tumbling away from the bush. I landed face down in the dirt and my ankle was throbbing, the sudden intense pain was blurring my vision. I lifted my head slowly, searching the trees for who I had tackled.

I saw a white body a few feet away from me to my left. The body was white but the hair was a deep orange and red flaming brightly in every direction. A Ponyta? It's Jack!

"Jack," I called to him with my scratchy voice, struggling to stand," Jack, is that you?"

The white horse shifted into a sitting position, but it wasn't facing me. The white horse looked like Jack; tall, pale body, flaming red hair, a Ponyta. I would only know for sure if he talked to me... or if I saw his gorgeous pale blue eyes. The horse stood up and shook like a wet dog, sending embers in all directions, then turned to face me.

"Hello Violet," Jack spoke.

"JACK!," I rushed to him, but my leg's pain increased, so I collapsed onto the forest floor, not caring about the pain at all, " Jack, Oh thank god. Thank god you're okay!" I glance around him to look for a smaller body, but all I see are leaves and twigs. "Where is Theresa?"

Jack trotted over to me," It's good to see you too," he flashed his Hollywood smile," I'm fine. No broken bones," he winked with a devilish grin," and Theresa is in a safe place. I came to find Chance, he left a few days ago to look for you. I guess finding one of you is better than nothing," he winked again.

"So Theresa is okay? You found her?," I sighed with relief," I'm glad we are all safe."

Jack turned his look to the ground, clearing his throat, looking down,"Well...yeah. Except for Chance. We don't know where he is... like I said, he left a few days ago to find you... he never came back."

"Well, he did a good on his search and rescue mission, he found me," I smile and Jack looks up at me his mouth gaped open," It's a long story, but first I need some water. Can you help me up, Jack?"

He smile again," What are gentlemen for, my lady?" and he eased me up carefully with his snout. The movement still hurt my leg, but I hid the pain as well as I could. Jack frowned when I was standing," What happened to you? Where did you get that cast?"

"Long story," I mumble.

He gave a me a questioning look, "You're gonna have to tell me these long stories," but he didn't pressure me, Jack left it at that. "Why don't I take you to where you've been staying so we can get Chance, then I'll get you some water and go get Theresa?," he proposed.

"Sounds good to me," I say wincing from the abrupt pain caused by my movement. Jack and I walked back slowly, due to my annoying cast and I showed him the cave.

"Nice place," he said looking at it," Could use a woman's touch, though," he smiled.

"Shut up," I laughed.

"Where is Chance?, " Jack asked.

"Uhm..." I didn't know whether or not to tell Jack about Nokto. The fact that Nokto had almost killed Chance, might put Jack on edge. "He'll be back soon," I tell him.

"Okay," Jack shrugged it off," I'll go get water and Theresa. Don't get anywhere," he joked.

"Get out," I laughed, shooing him from the cave.

YEAH! I FOUND THEM! Now we can all leave and get to Qurxoon Falls! Everything was going back to normal. I could feel a gigantic weight being lifted off my chest. Finally! I can't wait to tell Chance that Jack is coming.

The sun was sinking into the trees fast and I decided to start a fire for when the night gets cold. I heard talking down the trail and strained my ears to recognize the voices but they were too distant to tell. I sit and wait for either Jack and Theresa or Chance and Nokto to enter the cave, hoping that it was Jack and Theresa. I hadn't seen her in so long, I wanted to know that she was okay, but Chance hobbles into my vision.

His neck was bandaged and he walked with a slight limp, but all in all, he looked like Chance. My hero.

"Hey you," he says standing in the entrance of the cave.

"Chance," my voice trembles. Chance was too good for me, he tried to save me, he was my everything. The fury, scruffy orange dog was my heart and soul. I didn't deserve him. He was perfect.

Chance's ears perk slightly as he comes to me," Hey. Hey, what's wrong? I'm okay, I promise. It's looks worse than what it is. It's okay. Don't cry. Don't cry, Violet," He nuzzled his nose into my neck. His act of affection only made me sob harder.

"CHANCE! CHANCE, I don't deserve you!," I weep loudly.

He pulls away to look me in the eye," What? What are you talking about, Vi?"

"You're too good for me," I sniffle looking the ground," You deserve someone better."

Chance lowers his face to mine," Don't ever say that, Violet. If anyone is lucky here, it's me. I'm the luckiest pup in the world to have met a girl like you. To have a girl like you. Don't you ever say different, you hear?"

"But Chance-"

"You hear?," he repeats.

"Okay."

Chance takes a deep breath," I'm so relived that you're okay, Violet. I was dying not knowing where you were or if you were safe," he nuzzles into me again and this time I nuzzle back. He feels so good, like warm blanket you want to wrap yourself in.

"I'm happy you're here. I was worried I had lost you," a tear slides down my cheek.

"Nope. Takes more than a bite to put old Chance out in the pasture," he chuckles.

"It's not funny Chance. Nokto could have killed you. They way they came in and rushed you out, I thought he had."

"I'm sorry. He could have, I know, but I saw you walking and thought he was.. I don't know, kidnapping you or something-"

"No," I jump in," He didn't Chance. Nokto saved me the night we all got separated. He saved my life."

"Mine too. You know, he's a pretty good guy," Chance said with some respect in his voice. SHIT! It would be a lot easier if you didn't like him.

"No matter what, you'll always be my hero," I lean into him and listen to the rhythmic sound of his heart beat. Why do you have to be so perfect, Chance? How am I going to tell you?