Mia woke just before sunup, as she usually did no matter how exhausted she was. Her hands were empty, and her heart strained with the prospect of another fruitless day tromping through the seemingly endless forest.
If she didn't have her gift to pull her forward, she would have sworn that they were going in circles.
But her magic was better than a compass, and hadn't failed her before, though she was growing less and less certain that it was working now.
A wide yawn escaped her lips as she rubbed the heel of her hand into her sleepy eyes. Part of her wished to go back to sleep. To give in to the hopelessness that had plagued her dreams.
But she was made of sterner stuff than that. She would get up, and keep going. Day after day, for as long as it took.
