Leona huffed, forcing air from her lungs. She knew she had to keep her breath steady if she wanted to keep up with their relentless march. Even so, she felt her lungs burning, her legs itching with strain. She had been using magic to enhance her body, but even with that, they had been running since before sunrise. The terrain was rough, the forest riddled with rocky slopes and uneven ground.
The faint morning breeze brushed against her skin, but noon had never felt farther away. She tightened her grip on her supply bag, adjusting the weight on her back as she vaulted over a shrub.
"Faster… the first wave of goblins is catching up to us," Damon's cold voice cut through the sound of their hurried footsteps.
He led them at a relentless pace, carrying an extra supply bag over his shoulder. His gaze flicked toward the sky, where Matlock, the fairy, hovered just above the tree line. Though his wings had recovered, he dared not fly too high—predators lurked in the skies.
