They moved quickly, silent, signaling Sophie as they passed. She rose instantly, barefoot and alert. Lucy stirred, blinked after them, and followed without asking questions. Stella woke next. Grace and Susan were slower, rubbing sleep from their eyes, but the way they looked toward the trees said they already knew. Something was happening. Again.
This time, they didn't stay behind.
They followed.
The path the others had taken curved away from the river, winding through thicker underbrush and into deeper woods. There were no lights ahead. No voices. Just darkness and the occasional flash of movement between the trees. It felt like a dream, the kind where sound didn't carry, and the air pressed against your ears until even your heartbeat felt muffled.
Then they saw it.
The clearing.