Morning came quietly.
Too quietly.
John stood outside the ranger station with his arms crossed, watching the first sunlight reach the trees.
The Silverwood looked peaceful again.
Birds had returned.
Small animals moved through the undergrowth.
The unnatural tension they'd felt when they first entered the forest had lessened.
But John knew better than to think the problem was over.
The facility was still there.
The documents were still in their possession.
And somewhere beneath Ravencross was another facility belonging to the same organization.
He heard footsteps behind him.
"You've been standing there for twenty minutes."
John glanced back.
Lythriel stood at the doorway, holding two cups.
"Coffee?"
John accepted one.
"Thanks."
She leaned against the wall.
"Couldn't sleep?"
"A little."
"Thinking about the underground facility?"
"Yeah."
Lythriel took a sip.
"I've been thinking too."
"About what?"
She looked toward the forest.
"The creatures."
John nodded.
