"Ouch!"
Kel winced as another sharp branch slashed through her skin.
Her sleeves were practically in tatters, and her exposed calves were crisscrossed with scratches. Even her toes ached from the amount of stones she'd inadvertently kicked as she raced through the trees.
But she couldn't stop.
She had no idea what the cry she'd just heard was, but every bone in her body screamed that she needed to find the source.
She was more off balance than usual as she ran, struggling with the heavy feeling of dread clinging to her shoulders.
Something was wrong.
Something was horribly wrong.
The sounds of yelling guided her as she leapt across the stone path and bounded into the other side of the forest.
"Hurry up and finish him off!"
"No, we have to drag him back for questioning!"
"Don't you know who this i-"
The rowdy conversation between the two men was cut off as Kel crashed nearly into their backs.
As she leaned forward, catching her breath, the men whirled around.
