"Who?" Asha and Kaari asked in unison. Wren swallowed, his green eyes glistening with fear. "The kidnappers."

"I haven't even told you the whole story! How did you know?" Kaari asked as he clamped his uninjured hand over his bleeding arm. 

"I—I followed you," he whispered, his voice hoarse. Asha slipped her arm through the basket she was holding and grabbed her brother's shoulders to steady him. "We need to get him inside."

Kaari nodded and chased the fear away that was clawing up her spine. "I'll go get Flint."

She took off without another word, sprinting across to the shack with Quill and Kia in it. "Flint!" She called, glancing around. The shack was empty.

She backtracked and ran to the blacksmith. Hot air greeted her as she ducked inside. Flint was at the fireplace, twirling a rod of metal. "Flint!" She gasped, her breath stuck in her throat. Flint glanced back at her, the metal glowing white hot. 

His emerald eyes flashed with worry as he set the rod aside and calmed the blazing flames. "What?"

"You have to come to the house," Kaari told him, her breath slowly coming back to her. "It's Wren."

Flint wiped the soot off his hands and nodded. He brushed past her and lumbered across the green yard. 

"I have to go!" Kaari called after him and raced over to Cirrus, hoping he heard her. As much as she wanted to stay and make sure Wren was okay, she needed to find the kidnappers before they did anymore damage. 

As she heaved herself into the saddle, she scolded herself for not reporting them to anyone or checking on them in the morning. Her stupidity caused Wren to get hurt—badly. 

She felt her daggers at her belt and then snapped Cirrus's reins. He reared in surprise and Kaari reminded herself that she had to make sure that no one in town saw her talking with him.

He screamed out a protest and Kaari was forced to dig her heels into his flank because of the heads turning towards her. 

Cirrus must of understood her urgency and he landed his front hooves back on the ground with a loud smack. He nickered and jumped into a gallop. 

Gasps and shocked protests echoed around Kaari as mothers pulled their children close as she galloped past them. The clop, clop of Cirrus's hooves sped into a wild rythym, keeping time with her pounding heart once again. 

Kaari raced through Airendale in a blur. Thankfully Cirrus knew the way to Lady Sadek's house because her mind kept filling up with Wren's terrified eyes and his arm oozing blood. 

Finally, Cirrus stumbled to a halt. Kaari shook her head to clear her thoughts and jumped down off his saddle. She flung his reins over the fence post, not bothering to tie it, and grabbed her satchels. She raced up the steep steps to the grand house and pounded the door a little too hard. 

The door swung open and Lady Sadek quickly ushered her inside. Kaari gave her a note that was written by her parents and then went on to explain her rush. Her words garbled together as she fought for a breath. 

"Woah, slow down," Lady Sadek said, grasping her shoulders as Kaari stood, shaking from the effort not to run back out and track down the kidnappers. 

Her grandmother led her to a soft couch in the center of her living room and seated her. 

"Now, tell me what happened again but slowly this time, " Grandmother told her. 

Kaari took a shuddering breath and began from the beginning, not leaving out a single detail. Grandmother rubbed her back as Kaari leaned against her. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come," Kaari whispered, fighting back another wave of fear. She straightened and held still as Grandmother smoothed her hair. 

"Kaari, don't say that," Grandmother said. "I'm glad your here. With a big house like this, it gets quite lonely."

Kaari nodded and stood. "I need to get back out there."

Surprisingly, Grandmother nodded and took her satchels. "I'll put these in your room."

Kaari nodded and stood, taking her black cloak from the small bag. She secured it around her throat with a pin. Grandmother gave her a sad smile and straightened the pin. She spotted the chain of her necklace and pulled it out from its hiding place. She trailed her old fingers over the topaz and set it over cloak, in plain sight for all to see. 

The silence stretched on and Kaari started when Grandmother pulled her in for a hug. Suddenly, Kaari wondered why she was letting her go. 

A horrible feeling of doubt engulfed her. Grandmother thinks I won't find them, Kaari realized. Hurt sliced down her heart. Lady Sadek didn't have any faith in her. 

Swallowing, Kaari pulled away from the embrace and nodded curtly to her grandmother. "I'll be back," she said, proud that her voice didn't quiver. 

Then she turned but Lady Sadek grabbed her arm. Kaari looked back as she pulled the hood over her head. 

The woman beckoned for her to follow. Kaari reluctantly trailed after her, hoping it wouldn't take long. Lady Sadek led her through the kitchen and into an elegantly sculpted room with weapons on display. She stopped and pulled down a majestic bow with more than two dozen arrows held within a leather quiver. "Take this with you."

Kaari accepted the weapon with a slight smile. She had forgotten her bow and sword at home and was grateful for the extra weapon. "Thank you," Kaari said as she slung the quiver over her back and kept the bow at hand. 

Grandmother nodded and patted her shoulder. "You may go now."

Kaari nodded and quickly made her way back to the foyer. She glanced back at her grandmother standing in the kitchen now as she reached for the door. Kaari dipped her head in farewell and then left without another word.