They tore through the dense, dark forest, dodging and weaving around trees with low branches and twisted roots. Aria's breaths came in short gasps as she pushed forward, she glanced nervously over her shoulder.
"Think we lost them yet?"
"Don't jinx it!" Milo snapped, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
Before he could even take a breath, a chilling howl echoed through the trees, followed by the rumbling of the swarm in pursuit.
He grimaced.
"You had to say something."
Aria's face fell.
"What do we do now?"
His tone left no room for argument.
"What else can we do? We keep running until we get back to camp,"
Aria faltered slightly, her steps growing heavier with every passing second as she struggled to keep up her pace, each stride slower than the last as she dropped further and further back till she was in line with Milo.
