Okay, not sure how I feel about this one...but here you go. Hope you guys like it and please honest feedback! Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!!

Kayti

Forsythe was pacing near the mine entrance, wondering if he should go in or not? He wanted to help. But every time he went in to help, he felt like he was in the way. Like he was only slowing them down. He rubbed his forehead and continued pacing. One foot in front of the other, one step, two steps, three steps, turn. He had been doing this all morning.

A buck hurried out of the mine as he called out, “Almost through! Almost through! All able-bodied bucks to come and help! We’re almost there, lads!”

Forsythe perked up. They were almost through, almost to Kyter. He darted into the mine, never mind if he got in someone’s way, they were almost to Kyter! We’re gonna get you out of there, he thought.

It had taken four miserable days of watching them move rocks and debris. But now, it was almost over. Lord Blackstar would, for the first time in four days, come out of the mine. His father would sleep soundly at night without tossing and turning. And Forsythe hoped he would finally be rid of the nightmares which haunted him. When he slept, all he could see was the crushed form of Kyter, and all he could hear was, you left me alone.

Forsythe shook his head and ran down into the mine. He felt the grainy dirt under his feet and could feel the intensity in the air. This was the moment they had all been working towards.

He skidded to a halt when he reached the shaft where they had been digging. Just through the opening made in the debris was Lord Blackstar, holding the mangled, grime-covered body of Kyter. Lord Blackstar held the crushed form of his son close to his chest. Tears coursed down the older buck’s cheeks mingling with the dirt. A gash bloomed on Lord Blackstar’s head, and his fingertips were raw and covered in blood where the rocks had eaten them away. Kyter looked so small and frail, cradled in his father’s arms, his broken form covered in dirt and dried blood. He looked like a living nightmare. Forsythe realized with shock that he looked like the image of Kyter he saw in his nightmare.

Forsythe felt his heartbeat fast in his chest as he looked at the limb form of his friend. He couldn’t think, could hardly breathe. Were they too late to save him?

Luciana had tried to help her mother as much as possible in the last three days, but she was tried. What she had thought would be a grand adventure had turned into a weary work week. Well, it hadn’t been a week yet, but it might as well have been for how tired she felt. She bounced the little gold-grey baby she held on her knee, hoping he wouldn’t start crying.

She and her mother had been lead to the warren by Marie, who seemed nice. Once in the warren, they had gone to Lord and Lady Blackstar’s burrow where her mother had promptly gone to work and Luciana had helped. Lady Blackstar was almost sick with grief. She seemed unable to do much, for everything seemed to remind her of her son, Kyter, who was trapped in the mine.

So, Luciana and her mother had started making food for Lady Blackstar and her daughter Jaylee. Luciana felt bad for Jaylee, who always seemed to have just stopped crying every time they encountered each other. What would it feel like to go for days without knowing if your brother was dead or alive? She couldn’t imagine. Even with the distance between her and Lander, to lose Lander would break her heart. So, she understood Jaylee’s sorrow and wished she could help.

She looked down as Jonston cooed. She smiled and kissed the little guy on the cheek. “Poor you, you don’t know what’s going on, do you, Jonston? Things will get back to normal soon, you’ll see.” Luciana bounced him a few more times. “I bet you miss your dad. I miss mine right now, but he’s helping your dad find your brother. You know Kyter… I don’t know him, but I feel very bad about what has happened.” Luciana sighed. What good was talking to a baby? It wasn’t like he was going to answer.

“I think Kyter would have liked you,” came a timid voice from across the room.

Luciana looked up to see Jaylee standing in the doorway of her room. Her eyes looked sad but not as red as they usually were.

“How are you doing?” Luciana asked softly.

“Let’s not ask, shall we, Princess.” Jaylee said, curtsying as she added, “No one is very good these days. Except maybe Jonston because he doesn’t know what’s going on.” Jaylee came and sat beside her taking little Jonston from her.

Luciana straightened her dress, more by habit than anything, and was about to say something to comfort Jaylee when a loud, urgent knock sounded on the door. Jaylee looked worried, and Luciana watched as her mother came out of Lady Blackstar’s room and opened the door. Lady Blackstar, cheeks soaked with tears, stood leaning against the doorframe of her room.

Luciana looked back toward the door as her father and another buck came in, supporting between them the weary-looking form of a grey buck who was holding the broken form of a small black rabbit. Luciana gasped at the sight. The grey buck was a mess in himself with dirt clinging to his fur, a nasty gash on his head, and hands that were bloodied and covered in grime. But the young black buck. She looked away. What she had seen had been horrible, and she couldn’t stand to see any more.

She then heard her father’s voice. “We broke through, and Fleck insisted on carrying Kyter home, but he collapsed halfway here. We sent Forsythe for a doctor.”

Luciana heard crying and looked back toward the door. Lord Blackstar or Fleck had been sat in a chair, and he still held the limb form of the buck in his arms. Lady Blackstar was bent down in front of him, gingerly touching the young buck’s head as tears coursed down her damp cheeks. Lady Blackstar then looked to Fleck as she said, her voice choking with grief, “Do you think he’ll…”

Lord Blackstar didn’t answer, only looked down. Lady Blackstar gasped, obviously holding back sobs as she put a hand to her mouth. Then the other back who had helped her father carry Fleck spoke, “I think he will be fine. Kyter is a strong buck. He’s not gonna let a few broken bones stop him.”

“Gavin is right,” Luciana heard her father agree.

She hoped Kyter would be fine, but it was hard to believe that, especially if you looked at his mangled form. But maybe somehow, he would be fine. Then maybe this would all turn out better. Maybe, just maybe, everything would be alright.