The tingling in my chest had grown so strong as I trudged forward that it almost started to burn. In spite of not understanding the feeling, I trusted that it was taking me where I needed to be.
I was close...
I went on and on until my feet ached, and felt them stop just before a large, rickety wooden shack, shrouded in the coverage of trees. Dead trees.
In the summer.
I let out the breath I'd been holding.
I found it.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

"She's what??"
The force behind Sora's shout caused his body to recoil tightly, and he broke into a coughing fit, even retching some from the intense strain he was putting on his body.
"Sora," Yuto tried to reason. "Please lay back down, you're making it worse..."
Haruka nodded her agreement but Sora stayed sitting upright, waving them off as he caught his breath. He looked back at Yuto with such contempt it made him whimper.
"How could you let her go like that...?" He hissed, pausing to hack some more.
Yuto looked at his master pitifully. "She snuck out... There's nothing I could've done."

"Then why didn't you go after her?"

"Haruka wouldn't let me...!"

Haruka nodded enthusiastically, clearly proud of the fact. Sora growled, albeit weakly, but threateningly enough that it made Yuto whimper again.
Then the two caregiver's breaths caught simultaneously as Sora started to throw the covers off of himself, attempting to stand.
They both jolted, reaching to stop him.
"No, don't!"

"Wait...! What are you...?!"

Sora didn't listen, wobbling as he stood and stumbling into walls and furniture as he tried to maintain his balance. His chest heaved visibly as he desperately tried to make it to the door.
However, he was of course intercepted by Haruka and Yuto, who stood in his way. Sora snarled at this, glaring down at his familiar.
"Move."

"Sora, you know you can't hold up out there! Your condition is too..."

"Move."

Yuto felt the power in his master's words compel him and he winced, reluctantly tearing himself from the doorway, as if he were a puppet being yanked away by the strings.
Haruka remained, and Sora glared her down, power in his gaze. When she wouldn't budge, he loosed a hard growl, strong enough even in his current state to make her go weak in the knees. She swallowed, trying to collect herself and stayed put, even as he commanded at her.

"Move."

"I won't."

Ayano would never forgive her if she let him go and put himself in danger like this. She wouldn't have it.
Then, Sora surprised her.
His face softened tenfold, and his eyes were begging as he looked at her pleadingly. His voice came out so soft she almost didn't hear him.
"...please....she needs me..."
It tugged on her heartstrings.
It was amazing...
He and Yuto both... The love they had for her friend... She was so grateful for it.
Her demeanor softened for just a moment before she tilted her head up to look at him resolutely.
"Then we're coming with you."