Further back, Kira and Derek dragged a half-dead Umbra between them.
The Umbra hung between them, more dead than alive, one arm across Derek's shoulders and his feet dragging through the leaf litter.
Kira had one hand locked round his wrist, her eyes shut. Lux stretched along the invisible tether that still connected the dying Umbra to its master. The direction burned clear in Kira's mind.
"That way," she said, pointing through the denser part of the forest. "She's heading for the borders. If she reaches human territory she can mask her scent completely."
Derek's head turned. "How far?"
"Nine miles, maybe less. We must not let her go."
Derek's huffed out a breath. "She won't make it." He turned to her. "Do you think you can see the tether without this one?"
"I'll try?" Kira replied, opening her eyes.
They dropped the body and started running.
