( Peter had no doubts that Ruby and Ange would get there quickly, but the appearance happens so much sooner than he could've imagined. He's sure to have had a panicky reaction to the sound of thudding footsteps, but what comes instead is... swift and soft, and familiar. He's seen those rose petals and golden butterflies before. The boy looks up, wide-eyed, as his friends appear there before him.

He's just staring, weirdly at some kind of loss now that they're actually here. He doesn't know what to do. What to say. Where to go. (Of course he does know all of those things, but in the immediate moment he's just... shocked and horrified, and Peter's never been good at handling those things. He's almost numb for a long moment.)

Then Ange's hugging him. And Ruby's hand is on his shoulder. The gestures of comfort, the physical touch — it's exactly what he needed, even if he couldn't have known it. A feeling of security, the fact that he isn't alone.

Peter's wet-eyed and swallowing hard as he stares over Ange's shoulder, arms latching on to hug her back almost like a small child would. He hangs on, head tilting slightly up to watch Ruby's Omen as it takes to the skies, trying to hold it together. )

I've been f-following her for a while. Off and on for the past.... days, I think. ( He seems confused; he isn't sure how long it's been. Maybe even a week or so...? ) She seemed.... lost, just— tearing things up. But she didn't try to hurt me— she wouldn't do that—

( He stammers, eyes welling with fresh tears. Talking about it all out loud is... hard. He feels like he's going to break any second. )

She went off into the woods. I think Paimon's been with her for awhile, trying to protect her, but... I woke up and I—I don't know how to find her.

( A pause, and then he's crying openly now, with soft little whimpers. ) I'm scared the Hunters might get to her first.