Burned clothes

The fox's erratic trail of black flames led us deeper into the forest, weaving between dense trees and over uneven terrain.

The flickering remnants of his magic looked unstable, fading and reigniting in irregular bursts. I wasn't sure what was more infuriating: the fact that we were still chasing him, or the fact that Thalindra seemed so unbothered by the entire ordeal. 

"Does this thing ever slow down?" I grumbled, ducking under a low-hanging branch and narrowly avoiding another face full of foliage.

Thalindra glanced back at me, an amused smirk tugging at her lips. "He's faster than you, that's for sure."

I scowled, brushing a leaf out of my hair. "Not all of us have endless reserves of energy, oh great and powerful Thalindra."

She rolled her eyes but didn't respond, her focus returning to the faint trail ahead. 

The forest grew quieter as we pressed on, the usual sounds of birds and rustling leaves replaced by an eerie stillness.