Where Are They?

As soon as the sun rose, Claude's figure was already moving. He had a lot on his mind because of last night's events, so he volunteered to scout the area where Noir and Etienne went. 

He narrowed his eyes as he moved like a shadow down the mountain. His steps were precise against the uneven terrain. He was fast, as though he was trying to exert all his energy on how to trek that mountain, rather than think of something. 

The wind howled against the jagged cliffs behind him. 

He stopped for a moment and gasped for air. But as soon as his body relaxed, his mind recalled what he had seen last night. 

"Damn it." 

He ran his hand over his face, frustratedly, erasing any thoughts that lingered in his mind. 

After an hour of trekking down the rocky mountain, he finally reached a dense forest. Trees loomed like sentinels, and their gnarled roots curled from the forest floor like sleeping beasts.