Mia woke suddenly, feeling as if something was very wrong in the world. Her hand was empty, and the sky was not quite light just yet. She looked around with concern, but there seemed to be no disturbance she could see.
Ford wasn't in his bedroll, and no one seemed to be keeping watch. She didn't see her father, either. A sinking feeling in her gut made her throw off her blankets and leap to her feet.
The secondary pull told her which direction Ford was. She looked for her father and had her fears confirmed, that they were off in the same direction. She strongly suspected what might have happened, but her feet couldn't carry her fast enough.
She skidded to a halt a short distance away from the campsite, where Seth gripped Ford by the front of his shirt.
Ford's hands were in the air in a gesture of surrender, and Mia's heart stopped.
