The voices outside the rocks grew clearer.
Someone was giving short, sharp orders. Another soldier answered from further left. They had reached the place where we left the stream bed and were now spreading through the trees in a slow, careful line. They were no longer rushing. They knew we were hurt and could not have gone far.
Inside the triangle of rock we stayed completely still. Even breathing felt too loud.
Greta's presence was still there, but it had the feeling of something that was already halfway out the door.
"They are very close now," she said, almost idle. "I can hold the others a little longer, but if these soldiers walk straight onto you I will not stop them. I told you I would not fight a clan for you."
Vale's eyes moved to each of us in turn. Her voice was barely a whisper.
"If we stay, they find us in the next few minutes. If we move, we make noise and they hear us. Both are bad."
Lydia's face was tight with pain, but her mind was still working.
