We continued into the forest at a deliberate pace — not too fast, not too slow.
According to Nisha, our most dangerous enemies in the forest weren't going to be whoever was probably laying in ambush. It was the owners of the forest. The ones who knew it best.
Night had fallen, so we didn't venture too deep. Instead, we pushed far enough from the main pathway and built a small fire against the cold. Nisha provided a thick blanket for Emma to sleep in, then handed one to me.
"Here... should keep you warm through the night."
I took the rolled blanket from her hand and placed it at my feet, then went back to staring into the flames.
She watched me for a while, the cantaloupe light dancing across her face, shadows shifting with each flicker.
"You're not going to sleep?"
"I've slept enough."
"Don't be silly. You'll need all the strength you can get tomorrow. Sleep."
I stared into the fire for a moment, pressing my lips together.
'How could anyone sleep in a situation like this?'
