CHAPTER TWELVE

“Okay,” I say.

“Okay what?” he asks, with a smile that I suspect says that he knows exactly what I’m talking about.

“Okay,” I repeat. My smile matches his. “If you’re really serious about this, I’d like to go with you back to your pack.

“I really don’t have anywhere else to go. And I appreciate your help. As I really think about it, I don’t know what I’d do otherwise.”

“I’m glad I can help,” he says. Since the moment I saw you sitting there alone I…”

He shakes his head. “That doesn’t matter. You must be starving though. I’ll give you some food while we walk. The quicker we get back, the better.”

He hands me some food from his pack which is much more filling than the berries I was trying to fill up on. After everything, I am starving. But soon my hunger abates.

“What are you doing out here by yourself?” I ask. “You have a pack still. Why aren’t you with them?”

“I’m trying to find my best friend, Caden,” Zach explains. “He’s been gone for days and we aren’t sure if he ran off or