Chapter 328: Darkening Sky
The sky was starting to get covered by dark clouds when there was a massive echoing sound of something falling down. Elmo was only certain that it wasn't a tree. Not with how many he'd heard falling since he'd been in these mountains, not with how the bear had knocked so many down when it had started running.
He wouldn't deny that he'd hoped that it was the bear collapsing so they could all be done with this Chapter of this lousy competition. Even if they didn't get anything for beating the bear, not having Stanley and his group continue to be around would be reward enough. Just because of how he felt Stanley treated him whenever Elmo was around or how Frank was rather hostile to pretty much anyone who wasn't in his group, and sometimes even then.
If it had been announced that Harold had been killed right after he'd been 'sent' to get firewood, Elmo would have thought that Stanley or Frank had killed him, but without that notice, Elmo had to assume Harold was alive. Though, as he listened to what Stanley and Frank said in annoyance under their breath, he had a feeling that they didn't really think much about Harold, with how they occasionally mentioned him and not in a very nice way.
"Uh, shouldn't we start looking for some kind of shelter?" Elmo asked, not sure if the clouds gathering above them were dark because of the time of day it was or if they were otherwise storm clouds. "I'd rather not be stuck out here if it starts raining."
"Don't be a pussy, you little twerp," Frank snapped, not even looking at Elmo. "If you're going to let the thought of a little moisture make you wet yourself then you're just going to be in our way and you should go back and wait with the other dead weight."
Elmo stopped walking. He had been willing to accompany the others since Jonas and Kim were either with the bear, or were currently at least in that general direction. Yet, with what Frank had just said, he decided he wasn't going to deal with that. If he did continue on with them, he was certain that he'd merely receive more of that same ridicule from Frank and Stanley and be stuck with their negative attitude.
"Don't feel obligated to continue on," Owen commented as her noticed Elmo stop. "Go back and help care for Sonya. I'm sure Heather and Elin will probably spend most of their time tending to her, so they'll at least need someone to help them collect food and firewood."
Elmo looked at him, feeling a little surprised. While he hadn't really thought much about Owen, he did have the sense that Owen hardly even noticed him. Despite the fact that he seemed to almost always know what anyone was thinking at any particular time.
"Take Bart with you," Patricia added as she stopped herself and Bart with a hand on his shoulder. "He's a good fighter and he'll probably end up getting in a fight with Stanley's group if he continues on with us." Patricia looked back towards Stanley's group. "If only because they seem to need someone to try and bully."