[Manardariel]

Porridge! He was alive, he was back, he wasn´t- "Oh Porridge!" Fiona´s eyes filled with tears as she kissed the squirrel everywhere, his bushy tail tickeling her sweetly. "Porridge, you´re hurt!" Fiona gently took his paw. She ripped a piece of cloth from her dress, and carefully wrapped it around the squirrels hurt paw. She kissed the improvised bandage and looked at Elena.

"He wants to thank you." She said simply, letting porridge on Elena´s arms. In a moment of simple understanding, the other girl petted his head.

"You´re welcome." Elena said, but it seemed much like she meant Fiona. Porridge jumped back on her shoulder. Fiona pulled her nose and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. Porrige was back. She felt things would be alright, some day. But where were the others?

"The barn!" Fiona slammedd her forehead with her palm. "Of course! They must have his in the barnhouse. Come on Elena, I´m sure they´re there. I know it."

Elena followed her quickly. They ran up the yard, past the swing and the oakes to the old barnhouse. The door stood open a jar. Fiona put her finger to her lips. Elena nodded. They tiptoed in.

The barn was pitch-dark. The familiar smell of hay and wood embraced and calmed Fiona gently. Slowly, her eyes adjusted to the dark. The stacks of hay were untidy, not neatly stacked as usual. Rian would faint! Fiona thought, smiling. But the thought of Rian being lost and apathic let her lips fall down again. Would she ever be alright?

"Fiona!" Elena wispered in alarm. Fiona swung round. Elena gestured her to listen. And sure enough, low, muffeled voices seem to come from a corner of the barn. What was that? Unsurely, Fiona moved forward, towards the noise. Suddenly, she bumped into something.

"Ouch!" Said the something.

Fiona screamed and backed off. Elena stood stil as a statue, her eyes wide open. Her mouth was shut tight, as if she was trying hard not to scream. Suddenly, the something -or someone, really- pulled back his hood.

"Elena? Fiona? You´re alive!"