Page 110 of Searching for Valor

“Valor’s locked in.” He nodded toward the dog, who was now circling a cluster of bushes with intense focus.

She fell into step beside him, their movements in sync. “He’s close. I can feel it.”

Rylan glanced at her, the corners of his mouth lifting. “You always have good instincts.”

“So do you.”

They pushed forward together, moving with practiced efficiency. Valor barked again, his body taut with excitement as he nosed a cluster of thick bushes.

Rylan crouched beside his dog. “What is it? Show me.”

Valor barked once more, pawing at the bushes, then he sat and triumphantly lifted his nose.

His signal.

“Got something!” Rylan parted the foliage, his breath catching as he spotted a small figure curled up against the roots of a massive redwood. Dylan Marsh. His face was streaked with dirt, and his jacket was torn, but his chest rose and fell steadily with each breath. He was alive.

“Dylan,” Rylan called softly, his voice breaking with relief. “Hey, buddy. We’ve been looking for you.”

The boy stirred, blinking groggily before his eyes focused on Rylan. “M-my dog,” he mumbled.

“Max is already back at your camp with your parents,” Rylan assured him. “He’s been worried about you. So have your parents. How about we get you back to them?”

“I-I’m c-c-cold.”

Rylan took off his RWCR jacket and wrapped it around the boy before carefully lifting him.

Dylan’s eyes widened. “You have a metal arm.”

Rylan gave the boy a reassuring smile as he settled him against his chest. “I sure do. Pretty cool, huh?”

Dylan nodded, his small hand reaching out to touch the sleek prosthetic. “Are you a superhero?”

Rylan chuckled. “Nah, I’m just a regular guy who got hurt and needed a new arm. But you know who the real superhero is? Valor here. See? He has a metal leg, too. And he’s the one who found you.”

At the sound of his name, Valor’s tail wagged, and he pressed his nose to Dylan’s cheek, making the boy giggle.

“He’s a good doggie.”

“Yes, he is. The best.”

“I miss my doggie,” Dylan murmured, his eyelids growing heavy as he snuggled into Rylan’s warmth.

“You’ll see him soon.” Rylan glanced over at Izzy, who was watching the exchange with a soft smile, her eyes shining with pride and love.

She reached for her radio. “Base, this is Sergeant Delgado. Tell Dylan’s parents we’ve got him. He’s cold and a little scraped up, but he’s safe. Heading back to base now.”

“Copy that,” Zak’s voice crackled over the radio, the relief evident even through the static.

A moment later, a cheer erupted through the forest, sending a flock of birds into the sky.

As they made their way back through the forest, Dylan dozed off in Rylan’s arms, exhausted from his ordeal.

Izzy fell into step beside them, reaching over to brush a lock of hair from the boy’s forehead. “You’re so good with him. With all the kids we find.”

Rylan met her gaze, his heart full. “Just practicing.”

He laughed when her steps faltered, and she fell behind. “Keep up, Delgado.”

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