The foursome followed the footprints all the way back to where the ambush had taken place.
The Warlock Spirits were gone, and so were James and Thomas.
In the pale moonlight, signs of struggle and dragging across the snow were clearly visible.
James had been trying to dig the tips of his feet in the ground all the time, which had resulted into two deep lines being drawn across the floor, leaving two heaps of snow behind at the end of the tracks.
The place where Thomas had been dragged away looked different. Since he’d been tied to hand and feet, Thomas couldn’t do anything. But the drag was clearly visible.
Samira also noticed something lying on the ground.
Something brown.
“Thom’s shoulder bag!” she said, while walking toward the leather bag. She picked it up and wiped the snow off the surface of the sealed bag.
“Thomas must’ve wriggled himself out of it. As if he didn’t want the Warlock Spirits to have it.”
“I’m not surprised he didn’t, since it contains our food and the map,” Bella replied. “He hoped we’d find it later on and took it.”
Samira hugged the bag. “Poor Thomas,” she whispered. “You’re so brave...”
“Samira, please don’t drift off,” Bella said. “We need you right here, right now.”
Samira looked at her. Her eyes clearly said: ”How do you know!?”, but Bella decided not to
continue talking about it.
They had a job to do, and that was saving their friends.