Six: Bane of the BeastTree limbs snapped and cracked feverously in the distance, followed by the grunts and the heavy breathing of beasts closing in on us. My heart raced and jumped inside my chest; I closed my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves. I opened my eyes once more and peered out a small hole in the wall of our shelter. I could see no more than a dark path in the courtyard and several burnt-out hovels. I could just make out the sound of pebbles being grounded under foot and now inching their way closer and closer. I was suddenly startled when a foot kicked my leg and I looked down past my chest to see Jareth. He moved his lips but did not make a sound for fear of alerting whatever was outside.
“What do you see?” mouthed Jareth. I shook my head and showed him
