The mud in front of them.
Both of them bent forward.
Bodies angled toward the ground.
Getting close enough to read what was there.
---
Footprints.
Clean edges.
Deliberate spacing.
Moving in a single direction.
---
They looked at each other.
---
Ha Joon spoke first.
"This is a trap."
A breath.
"There's no other way to explain it."
He looked back at the prints.
"We spent the whole day looking for her base.", "Every direction.", "Nothing.", "Then she stalks us in the morning.", "Then for some reason we just happen to find this."
---
Eun Byol looked at the trail.
Then at him.
"I understand what you're saying."
Her voice even.
Tired around the edges.
"But if it's a trap we have no choice but to walk into it."
A pause.
"I have no food.", "I'm exhausted.", "My mana core is nearly depleted.", "I see no other options right now."
---
Ha Joon looked away.
Into the trees.
The forest holding whatever it was holding.
Not offering anything.
---
A few seconds passed.
---
"Yeah.", he said.", "You're right."
He looked back at the trail.
"We take the bait."
---
Eun Byol.
"Like moths to a flame."
---
They both frowned at the same time.
The same expression.
Arrived at independently.
---
They got up.
---
And followed the trail.
---
The mud taking their footprints as they moved.
Adding them to hers.
---
Clump.
Clump.
Clump.
---
The forest around them quiet.
Watching.
The way forests watch.
Without eyes.
Without judgment.
Just present.
Just waiting to see what came next.