When they all reached the base, Zack immediately raced to go find Shadow. He needed to know if he was okay.

  He found the other blond sitting by himself on a log, overlooking the stream. Zack jogged towards him, and touched his shoulder. "Shadow, is everything alright? Max told us you won't be part of the plan..."

  Shadow didn't raise his head, but he did answer. "Correct..."

  "Why is that?" Zack wondered.

  Slowly, Shadow stood up and faced him with disappointment in his eyes. "Max isnt listening to me. Look, I've overheard Hunter's conversation with Twitch...they're planning to overthrow Max."

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  Zack felt appalled by this sudden news. Shit, he's right to not trust these people! He looked at Shadow with concern. "Oh my God what are we going to do?"

  Shadow laughed. "What CAN we do? Max isn't believing what I'm saying! He's putting himself into a trap."

  Zack shook his head. "It sounds like it's not just him, but all of us!" He looked at Shadow with desperation. "There's something you've got to do!"

  "I know, but - "

  "But what?" Zack exclaimed. Anger and uncertainty rising in his voice.

  Shadow hesitated and looked at him. "I can't....I just can't...."

  Zack felt disbelief. How can a guy like Shadow just step down? This isn't like him...but then he remembered the incidents from the last adventure. He looked up at him with sudden realization. "You're scared..." He concluded.