Entering the city yet again

Erik urged the clones forward, making them dive deeper into the surrounding forest, staying off the main road and out of sight of the city gates. The others followed closely behind on their own clones.

The forest was dense but dimly lit by the sun's rays piercing through the canopy.

Erik let his hand trail the rough bark of an old oak as they passed, remembering simpler times spent hunting thaids around here.

But now the forest felt strange and watched, as if the very trees were listening for intruders.

They moved in haste, worried to be found by the guards littering New Alexandria's surroundings. The clones' paws barely cracking fallen twigs on the forest floor.

As the clones strode through the forest, Erik's mind wandered back to the night when he had fled the city.

The memory was still vivid: the deafening explosions, smoke filling the club, bodies littering the floor.