Heron Lake Plateau The clock may run out on us.

At some point, Elwood and Finley had been filled in on what had happened with Screech. Elwood was horrified and disappointed; after countless chances the boy had been given, he had managed to screw up royally -- once and for all. He was only glad that Raven's injuries hadn't been worse, and he hoped that she and her puppies would be okay. And he bitterly admitted that Clover had been right; Screech wasn't to be trusted.

The retirees also knew about the expedition led by Towhee, so when X's familiar figure wheeled overhead, he squinted up at the bird questioningly. "They're back?" he called, and while he wasn't nearly as adept at Towhee at reading X's body language, there was something in the urgent shift of the hawk's wings that told him to hurry. He didn't know what situation he would find after following X, but his stomach gave an uneasy turn.

His worry was warranted. He was greeted by the sight of the search party, and at their feet, a crumpled black and white figure. He breathed in sharply as his gaze lingered on Orca's broken body. "What happened?" he asked, looking to Towhee for an answer.