A thin, middle-aged woman that had dark hair, gray fox ears, and a gray fox tail was sobbing inside of a small room that seemed teenager-ish. Her name was Sheila. Sheila's daughter had just run away the night before. Right next to her stood another fox-looking human that had wispy, graying hair. She comforted the devastated Sheila.
"Why?! Why did I have to forbid her from going into the woods? She must have gotten angry and ran . . . away . . ." Sheila choked, then broke into crying her eyes out again.
"Now, now, dear . . ." the elderly woman next to her murmured.
"Don't 'now, now, dear . . .' me, mother!" Sheila snapped. Surprised, the old Hume-Fox stared down to the floor.
Suddenly, a startling 'knock, knock, knock' was heard at the front door. Immediately, Sheila was out of the room, down the stairs, and answering the door. Had her dear Emmaline come back? Did they find any traces of her? To her dismay, however, it was not Emmaline, but just another relative to come and comfort her. It was her brother.
"Sheila . . . I . . ." her brother sighed with sympathy, "I understand that Emmaline was the only thing that you had left of Thomas. I'm sorry."
Sheila's hard face softened, and she nodded. "I am glad that you understand, Samuel."
A second after Sheila finished her sentence, an officer appeared at the door. "You are the one with the missing daughter, yes?"
"Yes, sir!" Sheila answered anxiously.
"Well, I am afraid to say that we lost track of her at the end of the Rhinestone River, Mrs. Rosren. Did she have any particular home or place she would run off to, to further our investigation?" the officer growled with a deep voice, "If not, the only thing I could think of would be her crossing the river."
Sheila's face turned pale. "Well, maybe -- it couldn't be . . . would she? No! It's not possible. Emmaline couldn't . . . she wouldn't have crossed . . . but . . ."
"I suppose it is the only possibility, then, ma'am. If she had, the only charge of price would be death."
"What?!" Sheila shrieked, "Never, ever, EVER! Don't you DARE say that! Even if she crossed, it wouldn't be her fault! I refuse to believe so! If it was her fault, I would take care of her myself. Now, if you please, officer . . . I request that you cut the case!"
The officer looked quite appalled, but he nodded hesitantly and tromped away. Sheila then slammed the door, furious. How could he accuse her daughter of such a thing? Fuming, Sheila stormed up the stairs and went into her room.
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Birds were cawing with annoyance up in the air. Emmaline rolled her eyes and continued walking. Axel must have been pestering the birds with his dumb jokes again!
David smiled foolishly and looked up, shouting, "Hey, Axel! Mind not saying anything at all?"
"Well, would you rather me tell little jokes down there?"
"On the other hand . . . uhh . . . I'd rather you not."
"Fine by me," Axel replied and soared higher into the sky.
"So . . . what are we going to do? Just wander around the whole continent?" Emmaline asked sarcastically.
"Actually, if you really think about it, yes!" Axel said.
"We have no goals or anything?"
"You've got it," David shrugged.
"Then what's the point?!"
David froze and slapped his hand over Emmaline's mouth. Even Axel seemed to be quiet. Confused, Emmaline just followed along with what they were doing. Quietly sneaking around and all. There was a rustling in the bushes, and a small female Hume-Tiger emerged. She looked strangely familiar.
"David! Where have you been?! You were supposed to meet me at the Ancient Oaktree hours ago. How can I keep track of ---" the small Hume-Tiger had exploded, hardly taking notice of the two other DNAHumes. They were so shocked, however, so they could not hide before she noticed them. Her mouth was dropped and gaping and her eyes were insanely wide. "D . . . David . . . l--loo . . . k . . . behind -- you!" she stuttered.
David, taking his chance, pretended to be puzzled. "What?"
The small Hume-Tiger pointed. David slowly looked over his shoulder and yelled with terror. David pelted away, along with the Hume-Tiger.
"Ahh, so adventurous, breath-taking . . . it's all worth it, isn't it?" Axel smile.
"Yeah, maybe breath-taking!" Emmaline spat and crossed her arms.
"Good," Axel said, satisfied.
Emmaline looked up a the sky and sighed. When would David return? Who was that girl? And how in the world had she gotten into this mess?!
