She always had been blunter than he was. He wasnâ€™t sure if he could just say something without considering the words and their consequences. So he just smiled wistfully at the comment and let it pass.<br/><br/>Almost resentfully, the opening pulled itself back together, until there was no way to tell there had ever been a way through. Kalab gathered a number of the pale yellow flowers from the ground and tied them together with a long blade of grass. He dropped the posy onto the rock. The branches of the old trees rattled, as if from a strong wind. The thick circle of wild undergrowth parted reluctantly on the opposite side.<br/><br/>Although the little unkempt patch couldnâ€™t have been more than a few meters across, the path that presented itself seemed to stretch on, straight as an arrow, as far as the eye could see. Brambles lined the path like fences, and lush, healthy trees stretched their branches overhead. Moons in every phase shone through the branches, skating across the heavens with stars clearer and closer than any in the human sky.<br/><br/>â€œNow!â€ An order was barked out across open space, far too near the sanctuary for Kalabâ€™s taste. â€œThey canâ€™t get away!â€ Something sizable fought its way through the tangle and a manâ€™s voice swore.<br/><br/>â€œRun Nehmahati. Stay on the trod,â€ Kalab told her, a sense of urgency in his voice and even posture. â€œIâ€™ll make sure he canâ€™t follow.â€ And apparently to the puppy, â€œLook after her,â€ before she went yipping alarm down the path.<br/><br/>Hyperion had been waiting at Drakiâ€™s behest, not understanding at all what was happening. Even though he did resent being ordered around like some common thug, he didnâ€™t let that stop him from trying to dart after his target the instant he broke free of the grasping thorns. Kalab snatched him and slammed his back against the fissured old ash tree. He took the chance provided by Kalabâ€™s surprised confusion at having caught a human to shove free.<br/><br/>Draki used the confusion to slip past, not far behind the female, and into the forest that shouldnâ€™t exist.