The shout ripped through the woods.
Sir Lazar's and Nicolaus' conversation died instantly. Neither needed to ask where the voice had come from. They already knew.
Nicolaus was the first to move. He, Redlic, and Lazar abandoned the cave they had discovered, pushing hurriedly through the bushes toward the source of the commotion.
The snow crunched beneath their boots as they hurried through.
When they had already reached the clearing, the knights who had been searching the surrounding area were already regrouping. They formed a loose defensive line with their swords drawn. Several had their eyes fixed on the trees ahead, while others watched the surrounding forest in case whatever they had encountered tried to circle around them.
"Where!" Lazar called out.
The knight who had shouted lifted his arm and jabbed a trembling finger toward the edge of the forest, where the dark tree line swallowed the snow into shadow.
"There!"
