“Almark!” a voice called as soon as Almark and Tohrk left the woods.
Almark raised his head, and Tohrk clicked his tongue. Cecily must have spread the word about what had happened when she ran to the schoolhouse, because Wendy and Morgan were waiting for Almark, their faces contorted in concern.
“Tohrk! Oh, thank goodness, you’re all right, too?”
Deg and Garain, who were with them, sighed with relief when they saw that Tohrk was safe.
“What’s with you two?” Tohrk shrugged, looking annoyed. “It was no big deal.”
“Wow.” Deg and Garain exchanged looks. “You heard that? He said it was no big deal. Tohrk really is awesome.”
“Yeah, that’s Tohrk for you.”
“Cut it out.” Tohrk glared at the two boys and walked off.
“Thanks, Tohrk,” Almark called out. “You saved me today.”
“Hmph.” Tohrk didn’t even turn around, but his two cronies followed him happily.
“Almark, you’re hurt!” Wendy gasped, looking at his face.
“What, this?” Almark wiped a drop of jaranon blood clinging to his cheek with a sleeve. “Don’t worry, it’s not my blood,” he said calmly.
Wendy sighed. “That’s good, then. I was worried.”
“I’m sorry, Almark!” Morgan wailed as he tugged on Almark’s sleeve.
“Whoa!” Almark stumbled backward. “What’s wrong, Morgan?”
“It’s all my fault!” Morgan shouted. “If I’d have told a teacher about the shadow I saw by the woods, this wouldn’t have happened!”
“Oh, that’s what’s bothering you?” Almark smiled. “You were a big help. I only knew how urgent things were when Cecily came to me because of what you’d told me about that shadow.” Almark placed a hand on Morgan’s shoulder. “You said you saw it had claws, right? Between that and what Cecily told me, I figured out it was a jaranon. Just knowing what I’d be going up against helped me come up with a way to fight it. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“So what I told you was useful…?”
“Of course.” Almark nodded. “Jaranons have long claws, and that’s what you saw. You weren’t imagining things.”
“But I’m so pathetic…” Morgan hung his head. “When I heard you and Tohrk went into the woods, I wanted to go after you. But I couldn’t pluck up the courage and ended up just…pacing around here…” Morgan then recalled his conversation with Wollis and added quietly, “Well, even if I did come along, I’d just get in your way…”
“Well, actually…,” Almark said, realizing something. “If you’d come along, you would’ve been an even bigger help.”
Morgan looked up, taken aback by Almark’s words. Almark met his gaze with a carefree smile.
“I thought I could handle everything by myself, but I would’ve been in big trouble if Tohrk hadn’t come with me.”
“Huh?”
“I hate to admit it, but I don’t think I’d have found the jaranon on my own,” Almark said, his smile becoming strained. “I could’ve used your encouragement.”
“What? No…” Morgan cast his gaze to the ground. “I’m no good at anything…”
“That’s not true. You’ve got keen eyes—the kind that notice important details. You’d have been a huge help. So next time something happens, I’ll be counting on you, Morgan.”
He patted Morgan on the shoulder encouragingly.
“Me, too.” Wendy raised her hand cheerfully. “I also want to help you, Almark.”
“Thanks.” Almark beamed at Wendy. “Nothing could be more encouraging than having you around.”
“Just say the word if you need me.” Wendy spread her arms around Almark’s and Morgan’s shoulders in a big hug. “You too, Morgan. Okay?”
Visibly confused, Morgan looked between his two friends and nodded gingerly. “…Okay.”
When he saw Almark’s calm gaze, Morgan felt his withering heart begin to fill with courage.
“I’ll help wherever I can,” he said.
“Yeah. We’ll be counting on you, Morgan.”
“Oh, that reminds me…” Morgan faced Almark; he seemed to have remembered something crucial. “Wollis went into the woods after you two. Did you see him at all?”
“Wollis? After me and Tohrk?” Almark looked surprised. “No, I didn’t see him.”
“Oh dear.” Wendy lowered her arms, her expression clouding over. “What if he’s still in the woods?”
“I’m right here,” a serene voice said behind her.
The three friends turned around and saw Wollis walking out of the forest.
“Wollis!” Morgan looked relieved. “Oh, I’m so glad…!”
“I really don’t know what came over me,” Wollis said with a strained smile. “I went after you two when Morgan told me what happened, but the woods are so vast. The whole thing was over by the time I got there.” He approached Almark and patted him on the shoulder. “The first-year is safe, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Thank you.” Wollis smiled kindly at Almark and walked past him.
“Aren’t you going to head back to the dorms with us, Wollis?” Wendy asked.
Wollis shook his head. “I talked a big game to Morgan, but I wasn’t able to do anything when it counted most. Almark gets all the credit, so take your time and thank him for it.”
Almark watched Wollis depart for the schoolhouse.
“What’s wrong, Almark?” Wendy directed a curious gaze at Almark when she noticed he wasn’t moving.
“Oh, nothing.” Almark smiled. “Never mind me.”
That was a lie, he thought. Wollis reeked of blood. He lied about not getting there in time.
Almark looked in Wollis’s direction again. For a second, he got the distinct feeling that something sinister was brewing within the class representative. But then Almark blinked, and the feeling vanished.
“Next time I hear rumors, I’ll be sure to share them with everyone!” Morgan said, pulling Almark back into the conversation.
“Rumors?” Almark asked.
“Yeah.” Morgan nodded earnestly. “I mean, maybe those rumors will end up saving someone!”
Almark and Wendy exchanged a look.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” said Almark.
“Yes, keep the rumors coming.” Wendy smiled.
Morgan grinned at them.
“Let’s go back to the dorms,” Almark suggested. “I’m hungry after all that running.”
“Me too,” Morgan replied. “I’m hungry after all that worrying.”
Wendy giggled. The three friends walked side by side, their shadows cast long under the setting sun.