I look at Cal in alarm. We’re done for. The crew, seeing the ship as part of a rescue mission, are working as hard as possible to flag it down. I can’t blame them. They’ve been stuck in this forest for over four years.
Cal squeezes my hand as fear scatters my thoughts. The urge to shriek is very real. I focus on swallowing it. ‘They’ll kill us,’ I wheeze.
‘Not without a fight.’ Cal glances around for any kind of weapon and leaps up to wrench free a tree branch in easy reach. I don’t want him to harm this fascinating living tree and cast about for an alternative.
‘No, wait. Over there.’ I point to a gun leaning against a tree near the campfire. He nods, a grateful smile gracing his lips, before scurrying stealthily away to retrieve the more convincing weapon. When he returns to my side,
