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“Split up!” Anna shouted when they crossed the treeline.
Jack didn't argue with her; he merely turned right down a winding path that snaked its way around twisted tree trunks. A moment later, he vanished behind a curtain of leaves from a drooping branch, leaving her to go her own way. This far south, it seemed that the trees were close to full bloom, which meant decreased visibility.
Anna went left, following the same path in the opposite direction. It wasn't long before the ground to her right began to slope downward with trees poking out at slanted angles. A carpet of dead leaves littered the hillside, leaves that would almost certainly squish or crunch underfoot, creating noise that would draw her enemies' attention. What was she doing? She had no weapon! Bloody Antaurans and thei
