INDEX

1. Seeking what is lost
2. The first Clue
3. Flowing Rivers
4. Missed chance?
5. Aesteria
6. Floria
7. Reconnection
8. We are Family
9. New perspective

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"You want to do WHAT?"

"Dear...please..."


Three grumpuses arrived at the location where the accident had taken place thirteen years ago. No obvious signs, cause the debris and the rest of the accident spot were cleared out. "This way." Tobiano pointed the direction of the forest as he walked forward. "Old colleague said this was the direction, where the eyetwitness saw the grumpus staggering into the woods." Averie and Lin (who listened to the conversation and insisted to tag along) nodded to each other and then followed the police officer through the thicket.

"Averie...I was twelve...TWELVE when it happend. How can you be sure she's still...alive?"

"Maybe I'm not sure...maybe I am. But please...please, hear me out."


"Tobi! Lin! Come here, I found something!" Averie was standing near a shrub, as they discovered that something was caught in-between it's leaves. After a bit of yanking the piece of clothing got off from the shrub. "Hmm...interesting..." the light green grumpus investigated the piece of clothing and then seemingly compared it to something in the copy of the record, that he was carrying around. "The colour of the clothing has tarnished over time...a wonder it's still here." Tobiano walked back and forth, while he was currently thinking. "Maybe it was part of Minette's ribbon..." Averie, bringing their trusty camera along, took a picture of it. Could be useful later...

Some time later the small group continued their way through the forest. Many, many thoughts ran through the orange grump's mind. They were willing to solve the mystery and to bring back Minette to Filbo and Dextur. However...it's no guarantee that they will find her though.


"I...understand. It's not just about me getting reunited with her, but also for Dextur."

"I want to see both of you happy. I know it's been long...but...deep down...I have this sense...as if something calls me to investigate further...maybe the police missed a key point..."


The flowing of a river got louder the closer the group neared it's location. "Oh...ohh grump!" Lin exclaimed by the sight of the many rocks inside the torrential river. "I...I would not recommend getting to the water. I heard that many grumpuses have found their end..." Tobiano took a step forward and glanced over the spot. Meanwhile, Averie stared to the piece of cloth holding in their paws, and then to the rapid river current. What Lin said was right; only very few grumps survived the fall.

No matter how often the three looked over the spot, there were no other signs that would reason for another grumpus to be there, even less so from someone who could've been there a decade ago. "No, no other evidence here." Tobiano said with a small hint of defeat in his voice. "I'm...sorry, Averie. We looked everywhere...but it doesn't seem there are no other signs of Minette." That could be true...unless! A shocking assumption came over their mind. Their eyes widened when looking to the river, their body shivering as they collapsed on their knees. "What if...what if she...but...no it...it can't be..."

The next thing Averie could feel was a paw being placed on their back, soothingly patting over the spot. "I'm...I'm sorry, Avie..." they could hear from Lin with sympathy in her voice. All for nothing? Was the whole driving to the location all in vain? "No...no, no, no!" Averie whimpered, as they held the cloth tightly in their paws. "Is this really it? All in vain? I..."


"...I won't stop you then."

"Really? I...I pro...-"

"Please don't promise something you can't follow through...although...promise me you will call me if you do end up finding a crucial hint."

"I will, Filbo. I will call you if I find anything...or Minette!"


I found nothing. I...should've known it would be in vain...given how much time has passed...but is this really it? Their thoughts circled around the disappointment to not being able to solve the cold case and the fact that they got their hopes up too high. Averie would go home, still with the questions if Minette really was deceased, or being lost. And if she was alive...what was the reason she did not contact her son?

It's the rustling of leaves that brought Averie out from their state of shock. Tobiano and Lin followed their gaze, soon discovering a figure approaching the three grumps.

"What are you three doing here?"