The mouth closed around empty air.
Veyrath did not order an attack. The living root remained connected to three larger trees, and none of them had been cleared of residents. He moved the expedition farther onto the abandoned platform while Halden ordered local roads withdrawn.
Two obeyed. A third curled around the platform instead.
Dagar's officer raised his shield as wooden plates rose from its surface. The plates arranged themselves in overlapping layers around a shape pulling free from the root.
The creature had six limbs but no fixed symmetry. Two ended in broad pads that gripped the bark. Others narrowed into hooked points. Its body resembled a knot of roots forced together around a pale internal frame.
No eyes appeared anywhere on it.
The head turned toward the communication token carrying Max's voice.
"Remove the token from the formation." Veyrath said.
