A few small creatures scurried across the forest floor, shattering the stifling silence that enveloped the area. The moon's pale light filtered through the dense foliage above, casting a latticework of shadows on the ground.
"We can't go in there blind," Elliot muttered.
"What other option do we have?" Yuno countered calmly.
Elliot's head snapped up at the sound of rustling leaves nearby.
"That's just Mika." Yuno reassured him.
As if on cue, Mika emerged from behind the trees, her gaze fixed on Yuno's makeshift map on the ground.
Images of her slender silhouette from the pool earlier flashed Austin's mind. He rubbed his jaw aggressively, avoiding Mika's eyes and focusing instead on the location of the rogue lair.
Crouching down between Yuno and Austin, Mika suggested, "We should scout the entire area again. There may be a blind spot or an alternate entrance."
