The forest was dense with towering trees, tangled grasses, and wild medicinal herbs that grew in thick, unruly clusters. At night, everything blended into a sea of shadows and muted shapes, the darkness swallowing color and form alike. Kather's body was pitch-black from head to tail, and among the shadowy plants, he was nearly impossible to spot.
Rory searched anxiously for several long minutes, pushing aside grass and bending low to peer between leaves, but there was no sign of him anywhere.
"I'm sure I saw him fall right here," she muttered, her brows knitting together as unease crept into her chest.
Not far away, Jasper and Dax had already detected faint signs of struggle within the herbs using their mental perception. They knew exactly where the little bird was. At first, they had intended to point it out—but the moment they realized the creature was male, both of them fell silent at the same time.
Neither said a word.
