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There, caught on a bramble – was that a shred of bright purple fabric? He zoomed the drone camera in closer until there was no doubt. It was a ribbon matching the one Mia wore in her school photo.

Jonathan’s excitement mounted. This was the first real evidence that Mia had made it deep into the forest on her own two feet after losing her backpack. Proof that she had survived that long was a glimmer of hope reignited.