They kept moving.
The forest was thick, tangled. Every branch felt like it was reaching for them. The moon above barely broke through the canopy. It was quiet—but not the peaceful kind. The kind that meant something was watching.
Mob's eyes scanned ahead. "Left."
Grace frowned. "Huh?"
Ruka vanished in a blur.
CRUNCH.
A creature dropped from the trees, twisted and dripping black slime. It didn't even get the chance to growl before Ruka's fist slammed into its jaw, sending it flying into a tree so hard the bark exploded.
He landed softly beside it. "Ugly."
Mob stepped forward and raised a hand.
FWOOM.
A pillar of white light dropped from the sky, disintegrating the creature midair before it could twitch again.
Fel covered her face from the sudden glow. "Ow—warn us next time!"
"Right," Mob muttered. "My bad."
Sarah glanced around nervously. "Why are there so many of them?"
"They're drawn to something," Mob said. "Probably us."
