The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon when Thalia, David, and Clarissa reached a secluded clearing. The weight of the jungle pressed in on all sides, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and the quiet hum of unseen creatures. Despite the beauty of the forest, an unease lingered in the air, like a predator hiding just out of sight.
Thalia wiped the sweat from her brow, her eyes scanning their surroundings with a hunter’s precision.
"We’re close. Bima spotted some of their trucks up ahead," she said, keeping her voice low but steady.
David, lagging slightly behind her, adjusted his gear and double-checked the tracking device in his hand.
"Their harvesting schedules match up with this area. If we’re lucky, we might catch them red-handed," he muttered, his voice tense, reflecting the weight of the situation.