und me-trees growing older and taller, branches stretching overhead like pro

s, I looked ov

d patch of so

en there was c

ndering

a ch

lost t

how to move wit

ne li

owing the stream uphill again, weaving through brush and ducki

scaped

tpaced h

idden valley deep

like I wasn't th

a small ridge overlooking a stretch of forest far below. From this he

d deeply, trying to steady

than the forests near the villages-no smoke, no hor

like I was the only pe

d, carrying with it

ok

snappe

k almost a full minute before I found it: a thin, wavering column rising

had buil

the v

n the

the smoke drifted ac

in pr

d-they were trained too well for that. Only

ho bu

iving off

unt

dug near the

searchin

tightened

der, watching that thin colu

lick

sip

orm

to be a

led to be a

pe

be

possibilities, but n

forest, careful not to leave a trail. I moved quietly, placing each step wi

es pa

e an

into the rhyt

alked, the smell of smoke

from my route. In fact... the more

e in the valley, o

ountains well eno

dig quietly nea

near my sleeping pla

r down my spine wa

n't a

re was watching the lan

ed again. I let out a slow breath, then perched on the edge of a fal

ss calm my nerves. The forest hummed softly-wind rustling leaves,

al s

th

echoed in t

a small

av

oot

walking stick as I lowered

hed, li

le

uch s

r snap-clos

ing under deli

mmered agai

ry shadow, every flicker of light between the trees. Was it an anima

dn't

knowing ma

me again-th

orest

ngle lea

or someone

chi

it

ick again, my steps light and silent. I braced myself ag

ogged in th

n't sta

eone stalkin

rising not fa

prints near t

ey was n

had claimed

ht twisted de

ding from th

ting something-o

the valley, determined to put distance betwe

r for

t for

val f

t grew colder and denser with each passing mom

didn't

dn't

smell of smoke

forest felt

ngs burned and

d me settled back into familiar rhy

eneath a low branch, m

, no matter how far I walked, no matte

t shake t

had seen

wouldn't