"Nekoette? Nekoette!" I call out, dogging branches around me. I place my hand on a branch, looking around. "Dimitri, where could she be hiding?"

We've gone further into the woods. I cannot find Nekoette in our game of hide and seek. I found Dimitri, but even he does not know where she could possibly be. It's worrying me greatly.

He shakes his head. I can tell he has fear in his eyes for not knowing where she was. For not protecting her like he promises he would. It isn't his fault.

I call out her name again, and soon I fear what sounds like muffled screaming. I look at Dimitri and grab onto his hand, going closer to the voice. It grows louder and becomes Nekoette calling out to me.

"Nekoette!" I yell, stopping in front of a large hole that breaks into different pathways. It's dark, but I can somewhat make out her figure. I get onto my knees, trying to see just how far down she is. "Are you alright?" She sounds like she is crying now. The poor thing has every right to be afraid. "Dimitri, take the way we got in and go get help."

"But, Alex, will she-"

"Dimitri, please do as told!" He runs off quickly. I watch as he recklessly runs past trees and creates a path of distraction behind him. I look back down at Nekoette and choke back my own tears. "Don't worry, sweetie, help will be back soon."

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

I've sat here on the ground talking to Nekoette. I've tried lowering long broken branches to her, but I fail at meeting her grasp. I've tried so many things to help, but I've been unsuccessful every time.

Kawaii~Chan runs over to me, falling onto her knees as she looks down the hole. Once she somewhat sees Nekoette, she looks at me. "What happened?"

"We were playing hide and seek. She must've slipped when she separated from Dimitri," I say, dropping my gaze down to the ground. "I'm so sorry, Kawaii~Chan. I didn't know this was here."

She doesn't respond to me. Instead, she goes to speak with Nekoette and tries to see how she is feeling. Nekoette says she's cold and scared of the surrounding dark. I only feel more ashamed of allowing this to happen.

I hear more rushed footsteps. I look behind me to see the boys and Aphmau. I keep to myself as I slowly remove myself from the situation. Aphmau clings to Kawaii~Chan for comfort as the boys try to figure out a solution to the problem.

I look around to see if they brought Dimitri. I don't see him in sight, so I assume they left him back with the few others. Zoey will watch over him. Zoey is at least responsible with children.

Garroth comes over to me. We begin a conversation on what I have tried and how they all have failed. He looks stumped before looking over at Dante. "We brought a rope. Do you think she can climb it?"

I look over at the hole. "I don't know. She may be too frightened where her strength has weakened," she says. "Oh, she may not be the best at climbing rope. I don't think I've heard her mention learning that in her training of becoming a guard."

He nods his head before he sighs. Slowly he turns to look between the rope and me. Garroth lets out a quiet hum. "Scared of heights?"

"Very."

He bites his lip. "You can't be right now. Dante, bring the rope here!"

My eyes widen at the thought of tying the rope to me. I shake my head at this, but Garroth continues to try to convince me that tying a rope to my waist and lowering me down was possibly the best option.

I give in when I look over at the hole and then at Kawaii~Chan.

That's the one fear of becoming a mom I have. Maybe, the second. The fear of losing your child is something I never wish to have to endure.

My first fear is not being the mother they need. I grew up not having a mother. In the orphanage, you don't truly know what being in a normal family is like. I want to give my children what I never had. A mom. A dad. A true family. I had Laurance.

I don't want them to have the fear of losing someone like I always did. Like I always do.

"Just don't make it too tight, alright?"

He nods his head and begins to tie the rope around my waist. Slowly, Kawaii~Chan is moved and held in Dante's arms before I reach the beginning of the hole.

Garroth squeezes my hand before I nod my head to him. There's a gasp that escapes my lips as I'm slowly lowered down the hole. The rope is uncomfortable, but I try to learn how to deal with it.

I see Nekoette as she sits on the floor. Her head is in her hands as she pulls her knees to her chest. I softly call out to her, and she looks up at me.

She jumps onto her feet and runs to me. I grab onto her and hold her close. She's holding onto dear life to my body as we're slowly brought up. I feel like we're both squeezing our eyes tight.

I feel myself being lifted onto the surface. The knot is tight around my waist, and Nekoette is safely in Kawaii~Chan's arms.

I place my hands on my waist to try and soothe the aching pain under the ropes. My eyes dart to Kawaii~Chan and Nekoette. The guilt I feel within is strong, but the relief of her safety exceeds it for now.

Garroth crouches down to me and kneels. He unties the rope from around my waist as we lock eyes. "Is she unharmed?"

He nods his head as a response.

I smile softly. "Good. . . I think I need to lay down."