"So why are we walking instead of flying again?" Alia whined, swatting at a branch that dared to come too close to her face.
They had landed about a mile from Rosewood and were now trudging through the thick forest that surrounded the village. The trees here were tall and ancient, blocking most of the sunlight and creating a perpetual twilight beneath their canopy.
"I already explained this," Mara said patiently. "We need to assess the surrounding area for signs of corruption before entering the village."
"But my feet hurt," Alia pouted.
"We've been walking for ten minutes," Diana said flatly.
"Yes, and that's ten minutes too many!"
Grace tuned out the bickering, focusing instead on her surroundings. Something felt... off. Not the bone-deep chill that usually accompanied demons, but a milder discomfort, like wearing damp clothes. She rubbed her arms.
[There's something wrong here, but it's not like the demons at Oakridge. It's different. Subtler.]
