Only a handful remained as darkness fell. Flashlights bobbed like fireflies in the gloom. Lisa’s throat burned from calling. Her legs shook from the uneven ground. And still, she pressed forward. If Coco was hurt, scared, alone—then Lisa couldn’t stop. She wouldn’t.
Then, something caught her beam. A patch of white near the base of a tree. Lisa’s breath caught. She dropped to her knees, scrambling through brambles. Her fingers brushed matted fur. She screamed for the others. Her chest heaved. But as the shape came into focus, hope dissolved.