Ressha's head snapped up. "She's slipping," she said tightly. "Move. Hurry."
At once, the clearing erupted into motion.
Nima passed the water.
They hurriedly brought out the small stone pot from the bundle they had packed up earlier. Water was poured in, and they set it over the quickly growing fire Vira coaxed from dried leaves and bark to heat — not boil, just warm enough.
Meanwhile, Sela and Eiran had already rummaged through their bundle and were already crouched over a flat stone, crushing the herbs they had gathered earlier — part of the same ones they intended to bring back to the tribe. They used smooth, dark pebbles until green pulp smeared across the stone's surface.
Drak, who had been standing off to the side watching their frantic actions with a deep frown carved across his face, finally spoke. "Ressha. I, Miren, and Tharn will scout the surroundings. Vors and Garrick will stay with you. We need to make sure the Sunmane lions didn't follow their trail."
