The Runaway

An abrupt sound woke up the sleeping yearling late in the night. Everyone else, including her little brother and parents, were still sound asleep. With drowsiness still on her mind, Bell came to the front door and opened it to reveal a frazzled Thorn.

"Please tell me he's here, he has to be here." Thorn said nervously, eyes wide as she glanced around.

"Who..?" Bell asked slowly, shaking the remaining sleepiness from her head.

"Bucky. He's gone." Thorn replied quickly, her ears lowered as she came to realize that her friend clearly wasn't aware of what had happened.

"Gone?" Bell repeated, frowning.

"He usually tells me if he leaves for the night...but he didn't this time....dad got mad at him again earlier today and I knew it hit him hard..." Thorn took a deep breath and lowering her head, "I think he ran away."

"Ran away? Then we have to find him." Bell said, stepping forward but Thorn shook her head and began to turn around.

"I'll go look for him. You should stay here, you don't want your family to worry." and with that, Thorn began to pace away from her friend.

"But what about your family?" Bell asked after her. 

"If my dad comes by asking about us...don't tell him a thing." the young doe replied bitterly and picked up her pace.

She continued on trotting until the town houses got farther away behind her, determined to find her brother no matter what. Suddenly another set of hooves behind her made her stop in her tracks. There behind her, Bell came running to meet up with her.

"Bell, I said.." Thorn began.

"As much as I don't want to cause my family grief..Bucky is my friend, and I can't just stay home if he's somewhere out there alone. I'm going to help you look." Bell interrupted with a smile, coming to her friend's side, "And there's nothing you can do about it."

Thorn thought about it, but then she soon found herself smiling too.

"You're a good friend."

~~~~~

Sort of rushed story X3 but this happens a ways after "The Argument" between Thorn and Arrow, they are yearlings. And Bucky has finally reached his limit with his father's harsh words. So Thorn and Bell are going to go find him, but there's no telling how long it could take.