RYLIE
My feet thudded to the floor as Silas put me down. Rayah, Jobi, and Kai weren't far from me, so I moved to stand by them, Silas silently moving with me.
The ground felt cool beneath my feet, a stark contrast to the warmth of Silas's arms.
The base of the trees held the people, families huddled together, groups of friends sharing soft laughter, children running around in circles. There was a large clearing up ahead, and everyone gathered in a sort of circle around it.
With the final rays of the evening sun disappearing, the council members descended, the group of six landing together on a high wooden platform attached to one of the big trunks, allowing everyone to see them.
