A Fateful Summoning – Episode 7: Lost and Found
Morning in the Camp
Naruto stirred awake, groggy and disoriented, the remnants of a restless sleep clinging to him like a heavy fog. As he blinked against the morning light filtering into the camp, he realized something was off. Octavia was gone.
He sat up quickly, scanning the area for any sign of her. That's when he noticed a small piece of paper lying on the ground beside him. Picking it up, he read her neat handwriting:
"Be right back."
His heart sank. Where could she have gone? Panic bubbled within him as he recalled the tumultuous events of the previous night—the chaos surrounding Jasper, the tension in the air, and his own inability to connect with Octavia.
--
A Search Begins
Naruto quickly got to his feet, his instincts kicking in. He could feel a deep connection to Octavia, a bond that made her absence all the more alarming. The glow from his hand—a steady, pulsating red—intensified as he focused on finding her.
"Octavia!" he called out, his voice echoing in the stillness of the camp.
But there was no response. He moved through the camp, searching each tent and space, but she was nowhere to be found.
"Have you seen Octavia?" he asked Wells, who was organizing supplies.
"No," Wells replied, glancing up with concern. "She left a little while ago. Should we be worried?"
Naruto's heart raced as he shook his head, trying to remain calm. "I'll find her."
He turned to the others, searching for anyone who might have seen her. Each person he asked shook their head, anxiety starting to seep into the atmosphere.
Finally, he approached Bellamy, who was talking with Clarke near the central fire pit. "Bellamy!" Naruto called out, urgency in his voice. "Have you seen Octavia?"
Bellamy frowned, a protective instinct flaring in his eyes. "No. She went out to get wood, but it's been over an hour. That's not like her."
"Then we need to find her!" Naruto insisted, his voice rising with urgency. The glow from his hand brightened, reflecting his growing anxiety.
Bellamy studied Naruto, his eyes narrowing as he took in the glowing red mark on Naruto's hand—Octavia's name inscribed there—and the glow of his red eyes. "What's going on with you?" he demanded, his tone protective and serious. "Are you—"
"Not now!" Naruto interrupted, determination in his voice. "I can feel something is wrong."
Seeing the intensity in Naruto's eyes, Bellamy's protective brother instincts kicked in. "Alright. I'll call a search team. We can't let anything happen to her."
--
Octavia's Dilemma
Meanwhile, Octavia wandered through the forest, gathering wood for the campfire. She hummed softly to herself, feeling at peace with the quiet surroundings.
But as she turned to head back, the world around her shifted. A sudden rush of wind and a dark figure appeared before her, blocking her path.
"Who are you?" she demanded, stepping back instinctively.
The masked man didn't answer; he lunged forward, and before she could react, everything went black.
--
A Search for Octavia
Back at the camp, Naruto was pacing anxiously, the glow from his hand flickering with his heightened anxiety. Bellamy had quickly organized a search team, but time felt like it was slipping away.
"Where could she be?" Naruto muttered to himself, feeling the connection between them growing stronger, almost as if it were pulling him in a direction.
"Let's check the western part of the forest!" Bellamy called out, leading a group into the trees.
Naruto hesitated for a moment, then followed, feeling an urgency that he couldn't explain. As they searched, he could sense a change in the air—a tension that told him something was wrong.
"Over there!" one of the searchers shouted, pointing toward a distant clearing. Naruto's heart raced as he hurried toward the sound.
--
Octavia Awakens
Octavia slowly regained consciousness, her head pounding. She blinked against the dim light of the cave she found herself in. The air was cool and damp, and she could hear the faint sound of water dripping nearby.
"Where am I?" she whispered, panic creeping in. As she tried to sit up, she noticed the masked figure watching her from the shadows.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice shaky but defiant.
The man stepped closer, his eyes piercing through the darkness of his mask. "You're in my domain now," he said, his voice low and gravelly.
Octavia's heart raced as she scrambled backward, fear gripping her. "Let me go!"
--
A Fateful Decision
Back at the camp, Naruto's red eyes scanned the forest, the connection he felt to Octavia guiding him deeper into the trees. "I know you're out there!" he called, his voice echoing.
He pushed forward, his heart pounding, the glow from his hand brightening as he focused on the pull he felt toward her.
"Octavia!" he shouted again, desperation lacing his tone. He could feel that something was very wrong, and it ignited a fire within him.
As he moved through the underbrush, Bellamy and the others followed closely, their faces etched with concern. But Naruto didn't pay them any mind; his focus was entirely on finding Octavia.
--
End of the Episode
The screen faded to black as Octavia stared wide-eyed at the masked man, her heart racing with fear, while Naruto's search intensified, the stakes growing higher with every passing moment. The bond they shared would lead them to each other again, but the challenges ahead would test their strength and resolve like never before.