Ellis looked over at Jaz. "Run, Jaz!" he called frantically, holding up his weapon. "I'll meet you back at camp! Run!"
Jaz would be returning to camp a few hours later, and the clan members looked up. Lucy approached the gate with Aisling, looking excited.
Blaise was there as well, Moose on a makeshift leash. Jaz ran up to the camp, his eyes wide. "Is Ellis here yet?"
Lucy looked surprised, blinking in confusion. “What? No. He’s with you, right?” Aisling’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Why isn’t he here?”
"We were separated by Plaguers," he told them, his voice low. "He told me to meet back here. Maybe he's still on his way. "
"We were separated by a river!" he explained, the panic growing on his face. "He said to meet back at camp, a-and I trust him.."
“You don’t leave your scouting partner behind,” Aisling growled. “How long ago did this happen?” Lucy frowned, stepping forward and taking Jaz's hand. “Calm down, Aisling. I don’t think it was his fault.” “He should know better. Answer the question, Jaz.”
“I can’t believe you abandoned him,” Aisling said bitterly, shaking her head slowly, her dark hair falling in front of her face. “You should be ashamed of yourself. I’m going to go look for him. You lost him by the river?”
"You lost him by the river?" Aisling asked again, stepping forward menacingly. Lucy took Jaz's face in her hands, cupping it gently. "Don't be a bully, Aisling," she said worriedly, kissing Jaz's cheek before dropping her hands. "The river, Jaz?"
Aisling frowned, pulling on her pack. "Ellis is faster than Jaz is. He should have been back before him. I'm going to go look for him."
She pulled her hair back, tying a knot and glaring at Jaz. "Yeah, well, someone has to be looking out for Ellis' wellbeing," she said sharply. "Aisling," Lucy snapped. "That's enough." Aisling's glare moved to Lucy, but after a moment, she turned to Blaise. "Could you tell Di that where I've gone and that I'll be back?"
