The next morning, the group moved with a new, focused silence. The playful energy from the previous day was gone, replaced by a sharp, anticipatory tension.
"Dori," Julian commanded, his voice a low murmur. "Conceal us."
Dori nodded, her face set in concentration. She raised her hands, and a subtle shimmer passed over the group, bending the light around them and muffling the sound of their footsteps. The forest around them seemed to swallow them whole.
"Ooh, are we sneaking?" Emma whispered, her eyes alight with excitement.
"We're assessing," Julian corrected, his eyes scanning the dense foliage ahead. "We don't know their numbers or their capabilities. We move quietly, we observe."
He then glanced at Fey and Clarissa. "Fey, a moisture barrier to dampen our scent trail. Clarissa, a telekinetic shell. Minimal vibration, just enough to deflect casual observation."
