“Uh-aww. Maybe it’s heard us.” Alan gulped. He took a rifle from Ben. Not that he had used one before, but he guessed he might learn quick. Flix was looking nervous, tail between her legs as she held Lily. She wore a brave smile, though. We all crouched behind a wall as the scouting party tried to get a look at the source of the fearsome noise – or what had been one. Now the silence was unbroken save a sort of resonant hum, presumably from the force field. Alan looked at the leaf from Tote, “Thanks, you’ve got some pretty amazing stuff!”.