The broken branch showed Zach and the others that they were on the right track. It also showed them that whatever had taken Rierdan wasn't infallible. It made mistakes. They had found one trace. They would find another. And another. Until they finally found Rierdan.
Hopefully, they wouldn't be too late.
Finding the broken branch had given the group more energy, and they worked like ants to uncover the next trace. They kept moving in the very same direction without faltering.
Any doubts they had were pushed aside, regardless of how long it felt they walked and looked without finding another sign. Eventually, they walked so far that Dukiel was starting to get worried about where they were.
They weren't heading deeper into the forest since they were walking parallel to the edge. But sooner or later, the scenery would change. They had even got so far that there were traces of other animals moving around.
"Schh."
