I looked down at her in shock. This was Kalama?! She's the one Ivy talked about how her name meant "flaming torch" or something!

"It's nice to meet you, Kalama." I told her soft and she looked down. She must've been really shy. I squeezed her little hand and brought her towards the house. When we got there, June was sitting on the back deck with a water in her hand. She was staring far off into the woods surrounding the pack house.

When she saw me approaching, her face lit up. "Xavier, you're back!" She looked down at the girl holding my hand. "Who is this?"

"This is Kalama." I told her, emphasizing her name, hoping she'd remember.

She gasped and met my eyes in shock. "Kalama? As in. . ." I nodded and tears formed in her eyes. "Oh my, look at you! Come here, sweetheart, you must be terrified. Poor thing!"

She nodded timidly, but let the Luna scoop her up in an almost grandmotherly motion. Kalama stiffened, surprised, but relaxed pretty quickly and allowed June to hug her gently.

Suddenly the child started to cry, and I went rigid, instantly feeling like I did something wrong, even though I wasn't even touching her at the moment. June, an experienced mother, had no hesitation and pulled back to wipe the tears streaming down the kid's tiny face.

"Oh, Honey, what's wrong?"

"You smell like her!" She wailed and June looked over the kid's shoulder at me in confusion. I shrugged.

"What do you mean, dear? I smell like who?"

"April!" She cried, "I miss her so much!"

My eyes instantly welled up, knowing exactly how Kalama felt. I hadn't realized April and the kid were so close.

Looking at June, I saw tears spilling down her cheeks too. "I know, baby, I know. We miss her too. I'm her mother, you know."

Kalama stifled her crying slightly and leaned back to look at the Luna. "You-you are?"

She nodded and smiled. "I am. And as much as I want April here with me right now, I will do everything I can to make sure you're safe and well until she gets back, okay?"

"Okay." Kalama whispered with a slight smile on her face. She leaned back into June and rested her head on her shoulder.

"I'm going to take her to the doctor's wing. Why don't you go find Ivy and Star?" I nodded and she disappeared inside with the kid. I glanced out to the woods one last time before following suit.

I bounded up the stairs and used my nose to track down Ivy. Although I didn't really need it, as she was in her room with Star like usual. They didn't come out much, only to eat. I don't think they've even met April's brother before.

I tapped on the door and waited until Star's voice welcomed me in. I pushed open the door, but didn't step into the room.

Ivy looked up and saw my tear-stained cheeks and red eyes and instantly got a horrified look on her face. "Is it bad?" She whispered and gripped Star's hand as if bracing herself for terrible news.

I shook my head and she let out a breath I hadn't realized she was holding. "I found Kalama."

Instantly, both girls let out sons of happiness, springing off the bed and crushing me in a hug. I wrapped my arms around them and nodded, not being able to get anything else out.

"Where is she? Can we see her?" Ivy questioned while Star rushed out, "is it bad? She better not be half dead when we get to her!"

"C'mon." I told them, and they followed me giddily as I descended the stairs and led them to the doctors wing, where both sisters had gone after they came here.

"Which room did June take Kalama?" I asked the nurse at the front and she pointed to the first room. I thanked her and crossed the hall to knock. A second later the door opened and revealed June, but she didn't open it wide enough for us to see the kid.

"Can we see her?" Ivy whispered and June hesitated. I could she was already protective of Kalama.

Finally she nodded, "she won't talk to me about what happened. She very shy."

Ivy and Star exchanged a glance that told me this wasn't normal. Worry fluttered in my chest and I realized I was already attaching myself to the kid. I shook my thought away and followed them into the room.

Kalama looked tiny, her stick-thin figure engulfed by the hospital-type bed. Her dark hazel eyes stared unblinking at the ceiling. When she heard us come in, they flicked to a Ivy and Star, and she instantly lit up like a firework.

She didn't throw herself off the bed, probably feeling too weak and tired, it her face said it all. She beamed at them and they bounded over, gently wrapping their arms around her.

"I've missed you so much!" Ivy exclaimed and Kalama's eyes filled with tears.

"You're not dead!" She shrieked happily. "They said they were leaving you for dead, but you're not!"

Ivy nodded, "I know, I know. I'm here, I'm not going anywhere." Kalama clung to Ivy's arm, but still seemed incredibly sad.

"Has anyone cleaned her up yet?" Star asked, even though the answer seemed obvious to me. The kid was still dressed in rags, her hair a mess, and her arms and legs covered with dirt and scratches.

June shook her head, "she won't let anyone. We tried the doctor, a couple different nurses, and even me. But she screams and cry's when we suggest it."

I glanced at Kalama and it looked like she wasn't even listening, but her eyes were tearful and I knew she was. I walked around the side of the bed and knelt next to her. Her eyes flicked to me, but she didn't seem as nervous. The room seemed to hold their breath as I asked her the question we were all thinking.

"Kalama, why won't you take a bath, or at least a quick shower? You need to get cleaned so you can sleep more comfortably."

"I'm fine." She whispered and I glanced at the others. June gave me a look that said "I told you so," while the sisters just shrugged.

"What's wrong, kid?" She didn't answer at first so I tried again. "You can tell us anything, it's okay."

She gulped and shook her head. "I don't want anyone to see me," she whispered. "I'm broken."

My mouth fell open at her words, and I felt my heart break in pieces. That did not sound like something that would come out of a child's mouth. "Don't say that!" I insisted. "You're not broken, Kalama, don't ever think you are. And if you want you can shower by yourself."

She shook her head again. "I was three when I was taken." She whispered and everyone fell dead silent. "I was given baths still by my parents. But now they're gone!" She cried and Ivy looked shocked.

"You remember that much?" Kalama nodded. "Do you remember your name?"

The kid looked confused. "My name is Kalama."

Ivy sighed and Star gripped her hand. "She doesn't remember that detail, it's okay."

Kalama must've had questions, but she kept quiet about it. Instead she returned to talking to me. "I don't ever want to go back home, okay?"

Everyone stilled again completely at her words. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"I don't want to go back. I want to stay with April."

June looked choked up and pressed a hand to her heart. "Kalama, of course you can stay here, but April isn't home yet."

The kid nodded, her eyes dropping. I suddenly realized she must be extremely exhausted. "I know," she whispered, "I'll wait." Not a second later she was asleep.

June pulled us out of the room and quietly shut the door. "That was an interesting conversation to have with a six year old."

I nodded and Ivy looked like she still had tears left to cry about the whole thing. "She's not normally like that," she told us. "I think she was exhausted and traumatized. She's a very bright kid, and really funny too. This wasn't her; this was a side of her that believes she'll never get better without April. It breaks my heart."

I nodded in agreement and we went upstairs to bed after being informed by the doctor that she was getting fluids through and IV and would be fine by morning.

I collapsed on my bed, agony in my heart. I already loved Kalama, and hated that she had to go through all she had in the short six years of her life. I hated that I couldn't give her what she needed, because I couldn't find April no matter how hard I tried.

Kalama needed her. Ivy and Star needed her. June needed her. I needed her! So where could she be?