Then from the edges of his eyes, blood began to seep and run down his cheeks.
He stood there frozen, staring upward, as if he had just laid eyes on something his mind could not comprehend.
The soft soil below their feet was the first to flee.
Even a region of the Evil Forest was scared of whatever was speaking in the trees, and so the soil withdrew along with the black roots, retracting violently underground.
What changed was the texture of the black earth.
It was now as hard and steady as Damon remembered from normal ground.
Only now he felt dread.
Damon saw Seras slowly turn around and begin forming hand signs. She gestured to the expedition force and then to Damon next to her. She made a sign that would have made any person refuse the order.
Still, they all knew this was the only way.
She moved her hand to her mouth.
Without hesitation, she pulled out her own tongue and cut it off.
The severed tongue fell to the ground.
