Ford dropped Mia's hand like a hot iron.
When he'd heard the strange hissing noise, he immediately thought of the snakes that sometimes were found in the mines. Grandpa had come running towards him with a similar fear in his eyes.
With an unspoken understanding between them, Ford pointed the direction Mia had gone, and Grandpa's eyes hardened. Bringing a finger to his lips, the two had set out silently into the tall grass.
Instinctively, Ford had cloaked them both, hoping whatever snake was out there hadn't found and bitten Mia.
Venomous bites were difficult to treat. Most miners just died in agony without the benefit of the expensive antivenom that the doctor sold.
A flurry of grasshoppers was gathering ahead, hopping frantically forward ahead of the two men.
