Early Sunday morning, Tanner arrives at Kaitlyn's house wearing fluorescent orange gear and equips Arlo with an orange vest and a GPS tag linked to his phone. Casey gives him directions to Jasper's cabin and explains what little she knows about Jasper's truck. Tanner drives to the ramshackle cabin, recognizes it with a twinge of surprise, and prepares his supplies—fluorescent tape, flashlight, first aid kit, water, power gels, and space blankets. Arlo immediately heads to the edge of the property and disappears into the Uwharrie, with Tanner following on foot.

Meanwhile, Jasper lies in delirium, experiencing only raw physical sensations—darkness, cold, pain, hunger—and hallucinates Audrey's presence before seeing the dark shadowy figure again. Back at the house, Casey confesses to Kaitlyn that she secretly asked Tanner to search for Jasper. Kaitlyn is stunned and irritated but recognizes the logic. Later, Casey reassures an anxious Mitch that Tanner is the kind of man who won't stop looking until he finds Jasper, words that visibly move Kaitlyn.

After more than two hours of following Arlo's meandering path through the forest, Tanner notices the dog walking in a straighter line, as if tracking a scent. He spots the rusting bed of an old pickup matching Casey's description. Inside, he finds a hand-drawn map and Jasper's wallet with his driver's license. Studying the name and photo, Tanner is struck by what he perceives as a powerful coincidence. Using the GPS app, he tracks Arlo to a nearby location where the dog has stopped moving.

Tanner finds Jasper lying prone at the bottom of a steep ridge with Arlo beside him. Drawing on his military medical training, he assesses Jasper's injuries: a clotted head wound, severe dehydration, bluish fingers, a compound ankle fracture, and a swollen knee. He detects a faint carotid pulse and calls 911, pinning his location and warning that a hand-carried stretcher may be needed. He wraps Jasper in space blankets and carefully administers small drops of water. He texts Casey and Kaitlyn that he has found Jasper alive but in critical condition.

Kaitlyn calls back on speakerphone with the kids, and Tanner briefs her on Jasper's state. She offers medical advice and decides to head out with her own kit, but Tanner alerts her when the EMTs are en route with Jasper. Two young paramedics arrive with a stretcher and neck collar, and the three of them carry Jasper through difficult terrain to the ambulance on a fire road. Jasper is transported to the hospital in Asheboro. Tanner retrieves Jasper's truck, manages to start it after several attempts, drives it back to Jasper's cabin, and stashes the keys and wallet in the glove compartment.

Tanner feeds Arlo hamburgers and drives to Kaitlyn's house, but no one is home—they are at the hospital. He waits on the porch with Arlo sleeping at his feet, hoping Jasper will survive and reflecting that coming to Asheboro has changed everything for him.