A sharp echo sliced through the forest.
It bounced off the trees like a warning bell, loud enough to rattle the silence between Steve, Tonya, and the girl who had joined them — Mia. Not Fiona, no — Fiona had stayed behind. It was Tonya now, sharp-eyed and tense, clutching her knife like it could explain the sound.
Tonya spun toward Steve, her voice low but urgent.
"What the hell was that?"
Steve didn't look at her. His eyes were scanning the trees, jaw tight.
"I don't have time to explain. We need to move. Now."
He glanced over his shoulder. "The goblin clan… they're on their way."
Tonya froze. "What?" she whispered, fear rising in her voice.
"How did they find us? How did they know exactly where to look?"
"I don't know," Steve said. "But if we wait around to figure it out, we'll all be dead."
That was all it took.
