Xeluu

 Sergei panted, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his shirtsleeve. "Where is she…" he grumbled. The stars had appeared, and the small amount of light they gave out was barely enough for him to see where he was stepping. It was a new moon, no moonlight to help his search. He swore under his breath, stretching his sore muscles. He'd been running around aimlessly for hours now, and there was no sign he was even on the right track. Slowly, he started moving forward again, his ears pricked up. The sound of the forest animals had lessened, perhaps bothered by an intruder. Branches and twigs snapped under his boots, and he swatted at th