The woods became dimmer as we continued, the overhead canopy thickening until only weak slivers of moonlight broke through. The atmosphere was thick with the aroma of wet soil and pine, making each step seem increasingly precarious.
Noah moved several steps forward, his actions smooth and silent, his gaze searching the thick foliage for any indication of danger. Chloe rested by my side in her sling, her tiny fingers playing with the strap. She had been surprisingly silent, her vivid eyes flickering toward the darkness that twirled among the trees.
It was disquieting.
"She hasn't spoken in some time," I remarked gently, shattering the stillness.
Noah looked over his shoulder, his face tight. "Perhaps she's simply exhausted."
"Perhaps," I replied, although my instinct suggested something different. Chloe was seldom this calm, even when she felt exhausted.
Her tiny hand abruptly clutched my shirt, tightly enough to cause me to flinch.
