Max dropped to his knees and caught an exposed root as the earth surged upward beneath him. The wooded hill rose with it, carrying the path, the houses, and every tree surrounding him. Soil crumbled between his fingers as he dragged himself closer to the trunk, desperately seeking a firmer hold while branches whipped violently overhead.
Beyond the hill, a terrible tearing sound rolled through the forest.
A vast stretch of earth broke away along the distant slope, dragging centuries-old trees downward in an avalanche of tangled roots, broken trunks, and soil. Through the enormous opening left behind, Max could see the forest farther away, its canopy sinking lower as the ground carrying him continued to rise.
Something moved beneath the falling earth.
