Arlo scanned through the village like an eagle- at least as best as a nine year old could- watching the environment for prey.
There!
He dashed towards a thicket of bushes and out jumped his friend, Troy, screaming.
"Ah! You got me." he frowned.
Arlo smiled as he shifted his gaze to Troy's shirt.
Troy looked down at his bright blue shirt, dumbfounded.
"Dammit!"
It was a breezy summer evening in their little town of Zealorus.
"Where are the others?" Arlo asked him.
With a toothy grin, Troy spoke in a hushed, mischievous tone.
"I know where all of them are."
Arlo followed Troy back to his home, finding it odd that... well... it was his home.
"They're... hiding in my house?"
"Shh..." Troy held up a finger to his lips.
He walked over to the big basket that Arlo's grandpa used to carry fruits. About the size of a well, just not as deep.
Before Arlo could even reach for the basket, the top swung open and Arlo jumped back. Inside the basket were two of his friends, Sara and Keith.
"Ugh, you ruin all the fun!" Cried Keith as he stood up.
"No kidding!" Sara yelled as she also stood up.
Arlo looked around for a moment before speaking again.
"...Where's Claire?"
They all looked at one another and thought.
"Oh, I know where!" Sara put a hand to her hip.
"Where?" Keith asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Probably in the flower garden?"
"Yeah... I thought so."
