Trekking onward ever deeper into the imposing and thickening forest Mason could feel his determination to find Emma fading fast. A sense of hopelessness at the futility of such a venture nagged at his conscious, and a tiny devilish voice in his soul whispered of how this might even be for the best. He didn’t know Emma very well after all, what would he really have to lose? And now that she vanished, presumably trapped in the body of a deer it would instill a greater awareness for the seriousness of the situation upon the others. This wasn’t a game, this was real life and the loss of Emma so early on might very well push the wannabe heroes to capitulation before they even engaged in their first battle.

	For half a second Mason stalled in his forward stride, ready to turn back and find his way out of the woodlands. To tell the others she was gone forever, to press that a similar fate waited for all of them. Then Emma’s voice range out in his head.

	“Aaagh!” Mason collapsed onto his knees, clutching at his head as his migraine kicked back into high gear. At last he knew what was causing the terrible pain. It was from when Visser Three and the andalite prince had spoken to him last night, forcing their very words into his subconscious thought. It must’ve been sore after the burst of unbidden feelings, and now it reacted worse than before, reeling at the foreign touch. But despite the pain, and the confusion and hurt Mason heard every plea that Emma made. She was trapped and scared.

	Forcing himself to his feet Mason pressed on, his determination reignited. He mentally berated himself for even considering giving up on his schoolmate as he marched doggedly forward. Opening his already dry mouth Mason yelled with a hoarse throat into the silent trees. “Emma! Emma if you can hear me answer! I heard your thoughts! Emma!”