Once more, the ground beneath their feet altered.
The land ahead around the Ashlands felt soft and wet, dry and dead where. The bones of creatures long gone, and the stones and tree trunks, was covered with moss. It was a long ascent through tall twisted trees, their branches low, trailed with glowing moss that moved like breath. It was beautiful, but I didn't feel safe.
Serakha slowed her steps. Ears twitching, the Onyx Wolf stopped too. Behind them Lucian and Arden's eyes scanned the dense forest.
Serakha murmured, 'This place is alive.'
"Too alive," Arden muttered. Then, he put his hand against the bark of a tree and yanked it back immediately. "It's warm."
Lucian turned to look at the trees. "Are they watching us?"
"They remember," Serakha said. "The Root is strong here."
