The woods acquired an almost ethereal nature beneath the soft glow of the moonlight. The trees appeared loftier, their gnarled branches creating elongated shadows that moved across the rough terrain. The atmosphere was moist and chilly, bearing the subtle metallic scent of nearby water—probably a stream or river winding through unruly land.
"We're nearly there," Noah remarked, his tone quiet yet confident.
Chloe shifted a bit in her sling, her tiny hand extending to grasp my jacket. I positioned her gently, my gaze searching the shadows while my heart raced in my chest.
"How can you know?" I inquired, my voice hardly louder than a whisper.
He paused, bending down to touch the earth with his fingers. The soil was soft and darker in this area, nearly black, with subtle specks of silvery material.
