Chapter 5-13: Basic Lessons in Survival

The situation that Deuce hasn't come back at camp is concerning to the group.

"Deuce isn't here? But it was just me, Leona, and the ghost at the cabin," Ace says.

"Then where's Deuce?" Jack asks.

"No idea," Ace answers.

Then Leona says, "Vargas mentioned somethin' when he was lecturin' us… He was all like, 'You and Trappola are the only two dumb enough to skip out on a perfectly good camping trip!'

"What?!" Everyone exclaims in shock.

Briar also grows concerned, "And none of us have seen him in the woods."

"Yeah. No one has seen him since he disappeared in the mines," Jack says.

Ruggie responds, concerned, "You mean Deuce really DID go missing in the mines?"

"If that's true, then he's had no food or water for nearly a day… I'd be a goner if that was me!" Grim says.

"We'd better tell Coach Vargas!" Jack says.

But Floyd says, "Aren't you forgetting somethin', Sea Urchin? If we're not all at the cottage when time's up, our clubs get the axe. Finding the coach, reporting this, goin' out searching, and coming back… That'll take you way past time and your whole club'll go poof."

Jack turns to Floyd in anger, "You can't be serious! We've got more important things to worry about than—"

But Floyd says, "So how's about we just find him ourselves? He's only lost, right? Let's go get Macky and bring him back. It'll take two shakes."

"Hate to admit, but I think it's a good idea," Jasper says.

"I agree. We need to find him," Briar says.

"Floyd, you sure you're not suggesting this because you think it sounds fun?" Ruggie asks, concerned.

But Floyd laughs, "Ahaha, why does it matter? I said I'd help find him, so what's the problem?"

"Welp, might as well go along if only to see Deuce shakin' in his boots. Besides, I wouldn't want people saying I chickened out when even Briar's going," Ace says.

Then Grim says, "I'll join you! Deuce is gonna owe me big time for this!"

"I'll go help too," Sereia says.

Trinket nods.

The twins say, "We'll help too."

"I'm in too, of course. Us Track Club guys gotta stick together," Jack says.

Then Sebek says, "I shall accompany you as well. I could hardly tell my liege that I abandoned a fellow freshman in his hour of need."

Floyd turns to Leona and Ruggie, "Sharksucker? Sea Lion?"

Leona & Ruggie soon answer, "In your dreams. / Nope."

"Look, if we really think Deuce is in danger, we should tell Coach Vargas," Ruggie says.

Then Sebek says, "Listen up, humans. Allow me to impart a few basic lessons in survival that Lilia was kind enough to teach me. They say humans can survive up to three weeks without food. But going a mere three days without water will put them in grave danger. If Deuce has traveled so far that he has not the strength to make it back, then any delay on our part could be fatal."

"...For real?" Ace responds, concerned.

Ruggie thinks for a minute, "Hmm... Okay, but… We've got less than two hours until we need to be at the cottage, right? I still think tellin' the coach is the best call, and besides, there's nothing in it for me…"

"There are magestones," Jack says.

"Huh?" Riuggie responds, confused.

Then Jack says, "I didn't want to say anything about it yesterday, but… There are tons of big magestones in the tunnel where Deuce went missing. I bet they'd go for a lot of thaumarks."

This has Ruggie thinking and soon says, "...What are we waiting for? Let's get this show on the road, boys."

"How swiftly he changes his tune when money's involved. His unworthiness of my esteem could not be more clear!" Sebek says.

And Leona says, "Well, good luck with all that."

What? You're not coming, Leona?" Ruggie asks.

"Of course not," Leona says.

"Oh, that's a shame," Ruggie says, "I guess you'll just have to be in charge of taking down the remaining tents and doling out instructions while I'm gone!"

Leona remains silent a little and says, "Okay, I'm in. Be grateful for my company, herbivores."

"You were just trying to decide which task would be more work, weren't you?!" Ace questions.

"That's all of us, then. Macky Search Party, move out!" Floyd says.

"That's the spirit!" Tanzanite says.

"If we want to find Deuce before the meeting time then we better get to the mines now," Briar says.

And with that, everyone in the group rushes to the Dwarf Mines to find Deuce and hope he's okay. Unknown to anyone, there appears to be something lurking within the mines, and it's something Briar and her friends from Ramshackle, Ace, and Deuce are familiar with.