Zane found the carved wooden wolf exactly where the map said it would be, wedged inside the hollow of an old pine tree. He reached into the opening, pulled it out, and turned it over in his hand. It was small, roughly carved, and probably something the retreat organizers had bought from a local shop. He slipped it into his bag and checked the map again. The red ribbon was supposed to be a little farther ahead, so he followed the trail until he spotted a flash of red high in the branches. He reached up, pulled the ribbon free, and stuffed it into his bag beside the wooden wolf.
He looked around as he checked the time. The forest had become noticeably quieter, and the sun was dropping behind the trees as the warm afternoon light slowly gave way to shadows. Melena should have been back by no
