Where is the child?

Wherever she went, he followed. Guilt increased tenfold whenever he looked at Thistle, wishing for her husband and her son and whoever else was dearest to her to return. To make things right again. It depressed him to see the pack in such a state with little members, food and defences. Their Beta, too, had vanished. Dread had already begun to fester in the pit of Atreyu's stomach, but he did not let it grow. Charon explored often.

The coastal weather seemed the echo the sorry state of the Bay and it's inhabitant's moods — dark clouds blanketed the sky and a slight ocean breeze brought a chill to the air. A single howl echoed over the crashing of the waves, low and mournful, calling.

Picking up his pace (for he had been trailing a ways behind his leader as if he were her personal guard — though not so close as to invade her privacy), the boy limped to where she padded along the borders. He knew who her call had been for. "He'll be back," he said with a forced, hopeful smile as he approached, dipping his head in respect to the sullen leader.