Chapter 11

Chapter 11 BARON SWEETCHEEKS IS LOOSE. AND HE'S NOT RETURNING MY CALLS! Morgan grumbled all the way to Ash's house. But a promise was a promise. He would ask her if she wanted to join them for some Minecraft. He'd leave out the super-cool, possibly supernatural details. With any luck, the local Wildling Scouts would be keeping Ash too busy for another after-school activity. He rang the doorbell. He waited only five seconds before deciding no one was home. He turned to walk away. But then the door opened a crack. Ash peered at him from inside.

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She looked…strange. Her hair was all mussed. She had dust bunnies clinging to her clothing. There was a frantic gleam in her eyes. "Morgan!" she said. "What are you doing here? Who sent you? What do you know?" "Uh. Nothing?" said Morgan. "Are you okay?" Ash didn't answer. Her lower lip quivered. "Ash, what's going on?" "If I tell you," she said, "do you promise not to freak out?" Morgan was very confused. "Why would I freak out?" "Because I've lost him," Ash replied. "Who?" "Baron Sweetcheeks has escaped!" Ash cried. She let out a huge breath, as if just telling someone had lifted a weight off her shoulders. Morgan gasped at the news.

"I'm so sorry," said Ash. "I know how much Baron Sweetcheeks means to you. I'm going to find him. I'm sure of it." "Let me help," said Morgan. Ash looked at him with suspicion. "Really?" she said at last. "Of course," said Morgan. "Four eyes are better than two." Ash opened the door fully. "But I thought you hated me." Morgan gasped again. Hate was such an ugly word. He had never hated anyone, ever. "Why would you think that?" he asked. Ash shrugged. "I kept trying to show you how much we have in common. Animals. Minecraft. And we both like spending time with Jodi. But you never seem to want me around." Morgan felt awful. He knew he hadn't been very welcoming to her. But he'd never meant to make her feel bad. He felt especially guilty because she'd been

trying so hard to make a connection with him. To him it had seemed like she was trying to take his place, to show off, to be better than him at the things he loved. But she'd only wanted to be friends. "Ash, I'm so sorry I made you feel that way," he said. "You're right. We do have a lot in common. And we both want to make sure Baron Sweetcheeks is safe." He held out his hand. "What do you say? Hamster-hunting partners?" Ash smiled. She shook his hand. "Partners," she said. Then the smile disappeared from her face. "But I've looked everywhere. Where could he be?"

Putting himself in Ash's shoes had helped Morgan realize he'd been hurtful to her. Maybe a similar trick would work with the baron. "We just have to think like a hamster," he said. "If you were a hamster…where would you want to go if you got loose?" Morgan tapped his chin. "Hamsters love food…." "I checked the kitchen, including all the cupboards," said Ash. "And my parents don't allow