Dylan tried to scream, but barely a sound left his lips before a hand clamped firmly over his mouth. A brutal force slammed him back onto the ground. His head hit the stone hard, drawing a grimace of pain as a high-pitched ringing filled his ears.
He struggled, panic setting in, muscles tense, when he heard a whisper:
"Shhh..."
A soft yet firm voice, urging silence. He opened his eyes, confused, and recognized Élisa — shaved head, long ears twitching. She was straddling him, one hand still over his mouth, her gaze fixed on the entrance of the cave, her expression that of a hunter whose trap was about to fail.
Off to the side, Maggie was pressed against the wall. Her usually expressive face was locked in a concentration so intense it looked painful. Sweat slid down her temples, betraying the storm in her mind. She was murmuring soundlessly, as if praying... or pleading.
Dylan held his breath. He followed their gaze.
