Chapter XX: Search Party

After a sleepless night I rose before dawn and began to pace at the cave entrance.
Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore, and I shook Ember awake.
"Mira?" He asked sleepily. "What is it?"
"Can we go look for the pups now?" I asked anxiously.
"Mira, the sun hasn't even risen yet," he muttered, yawning and rolling away.
"But I'm worried," I complained, prodding him again. "And the sooner we go, the fresher their trail will be!"
"Mira," Ember sighed, exasperated. "Calm down."
"I can't calm down, Ember!" I snapped. "I need to find my pups!"
"Shh, I'm getting up," he said, finally giving in.
I sat impatiently as he gathered groups to look for the pups.
"Wash, Yukon, Tanisha, Casey, you take the northern border," he called. "Wish, Smoky, Birdie, Valor, you look on the western border. I want Gravy, Advil, Kelebek, Frito on the southern border. Jay, Fudge, Pop, Frog take the east. Kana, Ash, Mira, and I will search within the territory. The rest of you go hunting. Any questions?"
A few wolves shook their heads.
"Great. Let's get going. If you find the pups, send messengers to the other parties. Everyone be back by dark."
The wolves divided up and we headed off to look.
"So I was thinking," Ember said as we trotting along. "That since the snow washed out any trail there could have been, we start in one corner of the territory and work our way back and forth until we're either done or the sun sets. How's that sound?"
"Sure," I mumbled, glancing around and calling out occasionally.

* * *

"Reed? Korea?" I called, anxiously awaiting a reply.
I heard nothing but the buzz of fireflies and chirping of crickets.
"Dammit," I said under my breath.
"We should head home," Ash muttered.
"I agree," Ember said. "Mira, come on, we'll look again tomorrow."
I sighed in defeat, turning and following him back towards the den.
When we reached camp everyone looked up, but they all visibly sagged when they saw the lack of pups.
"Mira!" Tanisha called. "Come share this hare with me!"
"No thanks," I declined, turning towards the cave. "I'm not hungry."
I sighed for the millionth time today and laid down, exhausted and disappointed.
Paw steps behind me announced Ember's presence a moment later.
Thump.
"Mira, you need to eat," he said, concerned.
"I said I'm not hungry," I murmured, closing my eyes again.
"But that doesn't matter." He dragged the hare closer. "Please, Mira. You need the energy."
"No," I said. "Not hungry."
"Mira, pl-"
"Not. Hungry," I growled.
"Well I'll bury it outside if you change your mind," Ember said, sighing in defeat.
I curled up and for the second night in a row, slept beside empty space.