They also had archers. The archer stayed to the left flank, bow in hand, an arrow loosely knocked but not yet drawn. Her sharp eyes scanned the underbrush, watching for movement.
At the rear, the last two members, the mage and the healer watched the path behind them, ensuring nothing followed.
The group moved through the forest as if they were a single cautious creature, each member alert and ready to respond to danger.
Their formation was tight but flexible, keeping enough distance to avoid crowding yet close enough to protect one another.
Hearts pounded quietly in their chests, the unspoken tension connecting them more strongly than any words could. Every footstep felt heavy in the damp soil, and each small sound—a crunch of leaves or a crack of a twig—echoed in their ears.
