to my trek,

r tr

ints curved along the higher ground-meaning they

lse s

ks moved south, toward the main road. They

expanding their

aven wasn't

slithered cold

y where the mud was firm enough not to leave prints. M

Shafts of sunlight broke through the canopy, wa

htshirt away from my arms. It had dried uneven

kled m

like this, I'd look li

anyone. I couldn't trust villagers-not when r

litude. Dis

eeper into

der my feet. The faint hum under my skin flickere

ned. No visions. No su

o

te stirred,

drink. The cold water soothed my dry throat. I splash

ripples-tired eyes, tangled h

ti

al

, the faint crunch of leave

fr

ho

ri

tst

foot-moving

cl

sing my back to the bark. My

steps dr

os

ice-young

.He

jumped

a ri

a so

ch

around

tream with a fishing pole over his shoulder. He wore p

trees with wi

meone

allo

sk for help. Beg fo

everything. Kids talked. Paren

the wrong ears could send

slowly backed away, eyes sti

wn a narrow trail, I s

cl

k running into

ward the darker part of the woods, where fe

easier to deal