#Chapter 111: Lost and Found

Almara’s POV The voices become clearer, and our footsteps become quieter. Mark and I have adopted talking through hand signals. He tells me to wait where I am and to get low behind this shrub. He moves stealthily forward towards a tree that’s a few feet closer. He motions for my attention from the tree he’s crouched behind and holds up three fingers and points to another nearby tree, which means stay three paces behind and meet me at that tree. I nod that I understand and watch him go. My heart beats wildly in my chest. I try to listen to the voices, but can’t make out what they’re saying but there doesn’t seem to be more than two voices. I stay low and make my way to meet Mark at the tree further up. This is the last tree as far as I can see that’s right before the voices. The next tree seems like it would pass whoevers talking. Though that’s hard to tell in this open space as voices carry, which is why I suddenly stop when a stick breaks beneath my foot. The snapping of a stic