Grace nods, though she doesn't appear to be particularly convinced. "I suppose," she says slowly. "Provided that everyone else feels the same way."
You consider this for a moment. "It's been a weird time," you admit. "I think everyone's just going to want to focus on getting through this. And once we're through, they're not going to care too much about who did what."
"If we get out of this," Grace says.
You nod. That's a good point, you suppose.
Less than ten minutes later, the trees start to thin, and you can make out some of the school grounds between their branches. There's no sign of the thorn bushes that tried to deny your entrance; it could be just another forest.
Relief spreads through you, and you move faster, the temptation to breathe fresh air and see the open sky overwhelming. With a few rapid steps, you're out of the forest. The sky, indigo and spotted with countless stars, is a beautiful sight, infinite above you.
With a rustle from behind you, the rest of your party emerges. Max, in particular, seems as cheered as you by the wide open space around him, and even Sonia seems to appreciate the return to what, if it only had an espresso bar, you could just about call civilization.
"Well," Michelle remarks. "We learned something, I suppose. The question is, what now?"