Maybe she had fallen victim to the pogrebins, and possibly eaten by them, which was not good. This was a war against the creatures and they couldn't afford to lose any casualties. "Perhaps we should send her an owl. If the pogrebins are holding her hostage they will probably ask for ransom, then we can go save her." The start of school year was the next morning and Eino already had so much to do, but he couldn't turn his back on a friend, a fight against pogrebins, or the chance to actually see one.