The hour Vale had given us did not last a full hour.
Forty minutes in, Seraphina lifted her head.
"They changed pattern. One of the search lines cut west and is moving faster. They will reach this stretch of trees sooner than we thought."
Vale crawled to the edge of the overhang and looked out through the roots. She stayed still for a long time, then pulled back.
"She's right. They found something further down the slope. Blood, maybe, or broken branches from when we passed. They are following it."
No one needed to say the rest. Our borrowed time was getting shorter.
Elizabeth's shoulder was still pressed against mine. I felt her breathe in and hold it for a second before letting it out.
"How long?" she asked.
"Twenty minutes if they keep this speed," Vale said. "Less if they call the second line to join them."
Greta's voice came soft and lazy, like she was stretched out somewhere comfortable while we sat in dirt and blood.
