The siblings locked eyes, each too alarmed to speak. The body was gone, which meant he could be anywhere. As they carefully looked around, the piercing quiet lingered, until Winter finally spoke up.

"Gun, now." Her words were grave.

The boy quickly nodded, capturing the handgun from the holster. And swallowed hard. "Do... do you see him?"

She didn't answer.

The silence came back and consumed the scene. A minute more would pass and then another. All the while, they obsessively studied the neighboring trees only to turn up empty every time.

Forest took an uneasy breath as he lowered the gun. She didn't stop him.

"Winter..." he muttered.

His sister watched him, hesitant. "What?"

"I... I think he had my rifle." The boy reluctantly returned her stare. "I think he's been following us."

After a long pause, she scoffed. "Are you serious?" When he didn't answer, the girl turned away and let out a heavy sigh. "Forest... I don't think we should have left."

The boy resisted the urge to look at her wounded arm. "We didn't find her, Winter. We... we didn't find Bambi. She and Holly are just gone."

Winter sniffled and wiped at her eye. "We better get going. I don't know where we are, but the worst thing we can do is stay put."

Forest averted his gaze. "Okay, come on." His voice was just above a whisper. "Let's go."

"Wait," she said suddenly. "Do you hear that?" It wasn't her word choice that surprised him, but her tone; she sounded upbeat. "It sounds like-"

"-water."

Their feet bounced with every step, an unspoken hope lingering in the air. The murmur of the waves only grew as minutes ticked by. Trees, sticks, and thorns mocked them in all directions, but they didn't care. If the lake really was up ahead, then home had to be close by.

And it was soon confirmed.

A deceased walker came into view and Forest recognized it immediately. It was the same one that he had stabbed and his uncle had shot at.

"We're close," the boy said, smiling. "Jett, Skylar, and I were here."

"Great." Winter watched her brother expectantly. "So where is that farmhouse?"

Forest ran a hand through his hair, thinking. "I... I think we go that way," he said, giving a sharp nod. "We should be back in under an hour."

"You go on, I'll follow you." She offered a weak smile, but then she lowered her gaze and frowned. "We really shouldn't have left..."

"I'm sorry about your arm," Forest said, averting his own eyes. "You didn't deserve this. I'm so, so sorry."

"Well-" she took a breath- "at least I'm not dead yet."

The boy let the silence drag on. "Don't talk like that. You're not gonna die, Autumn's not gonna die, and neither am I."

Winter chuckled dryly but didn't say anything.

"What?"

"It may not happen today or tomorrow, brother, but death is an inevitable part of life. It's not healthy to take it for granted."

"Don't say that, Win," he said, frowning. "Let's just get home."

"Yeah."

---

The daylight cast steadily over the woodlands as the siblings hurried through the trees. It did little to help their exhausted selves, but they had to get home. More than a few minutes had passed and more than a few times did they trip over the unforgiving twigs and pebbles. But they couldn't stop; not when they were so close.

Occasionally a walker would appear and one of the kids would use their knife, but never the handgun. It was far too loud and they couldn't afford any more problems.

Gasping for air, Forest finally came to a stop and wiped a layer of sweat from his forehead.

Winter turned to the boy, frowning. "Why'd you stop? It's like ten minutes away!"

"I-"

"-we're almost there!"

"I-"

"-what, are you tired? I am too!"

"No, listen! What are we going to tell them when we get back? They'll know that we left-" Forest glanced at her wounded arm- "Winter."

"You know what I'll say? The truth. I'll tell them that I made you leave and wouldn't take no for an answer. My arm? It's all my fault." When a single tear slithered from her face, she sighed. "Let's get going, okay?"

"Yeah."

"Anywhere's better than here."

"Hey, Winter?" The boy studied her once more. "You were going to tell me something, but instead brought up an earthworm. I know you were gonna say something important."

His sister let out an uneasy breath and shook her head. "Not now. I'll tell you later tonight. Let's get home first."

Despite himself, Forest still nodded. "Alright, I'll lead."

The boy hurried through the trees in search of their home, his sister following just behind. Moments later, the sight they had been waiting for was in view: the farmhouse. It peaked at them with reassurance, and it was suddenly clear just how close they were.

Forest stumbled out of the woodlands, only for his smile to vanish immediately. Two people were outside. His uncle and Jade. They stood side-by-side by the well next to the house, knives in hand. Just before them were five panthers, low and angry. The creatures hissed with a vengeance, ready to pounce.

No.

"Winter, come on!" he ordered, but no answer came. "Winter?" When he turned around, he noticed that she wasn't there. Overwhelmed, Forest looked back at the scene. If a cougar were to dart forward, the boy would only be able to watch. Without his sister, he wouldn't be able to stop it. Right?

That's when he remembered his gun. Wasting no more time, he took out the weapon, aimed, and pulled the trigger when a horrifying realization came over him. He was out of bullets.

And that's when a panther came right for his uncle.

Before the boy could comprehend what was happening, a loud sound tore through the air and a burning sensation hit his leg. He collapsed and felt a sticky liquid ooze from the wound. He had been shot.