'They've gone to fetch the old woman,' the man continued, 'she'll be here soon, really. You just have to wait a bit longer and…' Elen, whom Meryn figured to be the woman against the tree with her knees up, didn't wait for the man to finish but screamed again, the shriek an inhuman sound that shattered the stillness of the dripping forest. Screaming yet again, she reached out with both hands and pulled the man and the other woman towards her with a savage show of strength. They both struggled to get free, but she held on, continued heaving herself forward, as she dragged them down, her face echoing the pain of her cry. Everyone, including Meryn, gazed at the heavily pregnant woman and wondered anxiously what they should do.
'Breathe Elen, just breathe and everything will be all right,' cro
