Illandria stopped as Adam put his hand up. He pointed for her to go into the forest, then flashed more complex signs to Bart, who showed no evidence of hearing other than vanishing into the forest opposite from Illandria. Adam crept down the road. She was briefly tempted to follow him, but she hadn't heard what made him so cautious. Safer to wait.

The forest became still, then rustles betrayed birds and squirrels going about their business. The hair on the back of her neck crawled, ...