LIORA’S POV
Panic clawed at my chest as I searched the area around the stream.
“Darren!” I called again, my voice echoing off the trees. “This isn’t funny!”
No response. Just the endless burble of water over stones and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.
He wouldn’t just leave me. No He wouldn’t.
Unless something had happened to him. What if he’d fallen? Been attacked by an animal? Or Gotten lost himself?
I had to find him.
I started walking upstream, thinking maybe he’d gone that direction to scout. My wet shift clung to my legs, making movement awkward.
The rocks along the stream bank were still slippery from the rain. I tried to be careful, but my focus was split between watching my footing and scanning the forest for any sign of Darren.
My foot landed on a moss-covered stone.
