As they rode, Seth noticed the sounds deep within the forest. The chirping of many species of birds, the rustling of the leaves under Kirlin's hooves, the sound of the wind through the trees; it was very different from back home. He didn't hear the sound of cars driving down a paved road, airplanes flying overhead, or the sounds of any other modern technology that he must have heard at home, but had paid no attention to before.

They rode for a time, and it was surprising to ...