“Nellie,” he says, suddenly worried about her. What if she’d tried to come after him? What if she’s just as lost as he is?

Eli: So I ran off ’cuz I was angry, but who cares? I’ll make it home soon.

Nellie: I thought you were already home when the hurricane started. And then Squizzle came in, and I realized that you hadn’t made it back!

Squizzle: I saved the day, as always. Now where’s Eli?

Eli might have made a single, teeny-tiny mistake in running off into the woods instead of following Nellie home. Well, he hasn’t made it yet, he decides. Just being outside in a rainstorm isn’t a mistake unless he gets super lost and they send out search parties and wind up finding him in the middle of a bear’s den or… something. Anyway, he’s pretty sure that he can handle a bear. Animals like him. Maybe the bear could take him home.

“Or maybe I’ll find my way home on my own,” he tells himself. He says it aloud, just to hear the sound of his voice in the quiet, dark forest.

A few minutes ago, it had been much lighter. There had been clouds in the sky all day, of course, but they’ve started moving faster, and now they’re gray and heavy. Every few steps, Eli feels a drop of water splash against his face.

It’s about to pour, and he has no idea where he’s going. Somehow, he’s gotten all mixed up. This part of the woods is confusing and thick, not like the clear paths that he and Nellie usually take.

“Nellie,” he says, suddenly worried about her. What if she’d tried to come after him? What if she’s just as lost as he is? “Nellie!” he calls.

No answer.

Eli shivers. “Nellie?” he says again. “Anyone?”