"Master," Yuki said through the mental link.
"What is it?"
"Something is approaching our position quickly."
The group stopped in the middle of the road at the unmistakable sound of footsteps.
They were heavy and irregular, as if something very large were running but without coordination, stumbling over its own steps every few meters.
"Yuki," Mark said through the mental link. "Can you see what's coming toward us?"
"Give me a moment, Master"
The next instant, Yuki vanished from beside Zilu without any sound or visible movement.
Zilu, who had her right next to her just a second ago, startled so hard her ears shot straight up and her whole body jumped.
"W-what?!" Zilu said, looking at where Yuki had been a second ago. "Where did she go?!"
Then Zilu raised her eyes and saw her.
Yuki was standing on one of the thick branches of the giant trees lining the road, about thirty meters up, looking in the direction the sound was coming from.
