The path to Eir's core took less time than Damon had expected.
The forest seemed to have abandoned any attempt to hide the direction.
Roots moved aside before the group reached them, branches lifted out of the way, and even small streams temporarily altered their flow to allow Neria's stretcher to pass.
It wasn't a permanent transformation of the terrain.
Eir was simply using what already existed to make her daughter's return easier.
Neria remained silent for most of the journey.
Liora walked beside her.
At times, a thin root would emerge from the ground and reach toward Neria's hand.
It always stopped before making contact, waiting for her to respond.
Sometimes Neria held it.
Other times, she simply let the root remain there.
Eir accepted both.
When they finally reached the central clearing, the enormous tree that served as the entity's main point of communication was already awake.
Dozens of tiny eyes had appeared across its trunk.
Damon looked at them.
