Matthias kept his attention on the distant tree line, where the restricted forest climbed the northern slope in layers of dark trunks and old snow. The wind had strengthened while they spoke, dragging loose powder across the frozen basin and pulling at the hem of his field coat, but he barely seemed to notice it.
"Dean is not taking you from the connection," he said. "We understand when you close it because you are working, sleeping, dealing with your duties, or simply living your own life. None of us expects you to remain aware of the forest every hour."
Arion remained beside the broken foundations of the old service station, his gloves tucked into one coat pocket and his hands bare despite the cold. Hendrik's teams held their positions farther behind them, while Elias stayed beside Hunter near the vehicles, maintaining far more distance from Matthias than Arion now understood was accidental.
