Ka'z rode North through the forest, the large wild boar moving steadily beneath him as its hooves crushed leaves and loose branches beneath its weight.
The forest path was uneven and narrow in places, forcing Ka'z to occasionally lean forward and shift his weight whenever North passed between trees or climbed over exposed roots.
Behind him, Layla, Tega, and the other Gnolls ran on all fours, their bodies moving with an effortless rhythm as they matched North's speed without showing any signs of exhaustion. Ka'z occasionally glanced back over his shoulder at the distant walls of Vaal'kor, watching them slowly disappear behind the dense trees.
Every time he looked back, the familiar sight seemed smaller, and after several minutes, the walls finally slipped beyond his vision.
