I kept glancing around as we moved forward, every few steps making my skin prickle. The terrain had changed from the rocky mouth of the cave to a dry, cracked ground, scattered with dead roots and patches of brittle weeds.
The sky above was dull gray, not cloudy but lifeless. No bird was singing or insects crawling, there was no sound except our boots pressing into the dirt.
Damon walked ahead, his shoulders stiff. Alaric and Mr. Four Eyes flanked the sides, both unusually quiet. Something was off with all three of them, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
Rhydian walked at the front, his steps calm as always. He reached into a small leather pouch and brought out what looked like a tiny glowing insect, except it shimmered like it was made of crystal.
Its wings fluttered without a sound, and a faint light pulsed from its core. It hovered above his palm before lifting into the air and darting ahead of us like a lantern on an invisible string.
