As the contents were examined, Jonathan’s unease deepened. The backpack contained several detailed sketches of birds, a wood carving of a small bird figurine, and a notebook filled with observations. On one page, a rough but vibrant sketch showed a large woodpecker with distinctive black and white plumage.

The drenched search teams fanned out into the darkening woods as thunder boomed overhead. Everyone worked with a desperate urgency, sensing this was now a rescue mission. Hope remained that Mia had simply lost her way in the woods.