Hina rushed into the forest, leading her companions away from the monstrous voice beyond the trees to the right. She couldn't keep her sprint going much longer, but a few moments could make all the difference.

"The trees!" Kai said through huffing breaths. "They can't move so fast in there."

Hina nodded, a broad up and down motion that Kai wouldn't be able to see from behind her. Bean clung to her shoulder, claws digging in. Olivia was following—Hina could hear her panting breaths.

She risked a glance back over her shoulder. The cave mouth stretched wide, tall and dark, and the rumbling sounds of dozens of the huld emerged from it. They were coming.

Hina ran. Past the leafy green vegetation at the edge and then in among the trees, darting between the trunks, trying to keep her footing on the uneven ground.

A stitch built in Hina's side, each great gasping breath stabbing into her. She wasn't going to be stopped by a little pain. It wouldn't be what killed her.

She led them through the densest parts of the forest to maintain their lead. To stay out of reach, for just a little longer.

The heavy footsteps behind them didn't get any closer, but they didn't go away either.

The trees thinned—the edge of the forest. Hina's hopes rose. They were almost there.

A vast open space stretched out, ground covered by tall yellow grass. The sky opened up, clear and deep blue. The sun dipped low in the west.

A hedge stood tall among the grass, like the Grambe hedge, only smaller in scale. Just across the field. Perhaps a hundred metres away.

Hina sprinted towards it, her lungs burning.

People lived there.

People who might be able to help.

And even if there wasn't anyone there, they could use it to hide until the huld gave up. If they could find a path into it, at least.

Other hedges dotted the landscape in the distance. Farms. And far off to the right—pale walls rose over the horizon. Blandmanch.

Hina moved into the knee-high grass. Coarse fronds whipped at her legs, stinging her skin. She barely noticed.

They needed to find a way into the hedge before the huld caught up.

If it was a farm, there would be a road leading to the city. There. On the far side of the hedge, a thin dirt track poked through the grass, leading towards the city.

Too far. They wouldn't make it.

But there would be other paths under the hedge. The farmers wouldn't use the main gate every time they went outside. A smaller passage would be better—the main path might be wide enough for the huld to follow. And that would be a disaster.

She ran towards the hedge, looking for a path, a gap in the wall of thorns.

Low to the ground, she spotted a dark shape. An opening, large enough that she could crawl through. Even if it didn't go all the way to the other side, maybe it would be enough.

She risked a glance back. The huld were out of the forest, huge figures running in pursuit. It was the first time she'd gotten a clear look them.

Almost human shaped, the smallest would have towered over Hina, and the largest may have been seven or eight times Hina's height. Five or six of the creatures chased them across the field.

Neither the smallest, human-sized nor the titanic figure that Hina glimpsed in the cave seemed to have followed them.

Thick dark fur covered their broad bodies. Their faces were broad and flat, with bulbous noses, and several had long tusks jutting out from between their lips. They pursued at a walk, their long strides eating up the distance.

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"Follow me!" Hina gasped. "There's a gap here."

Hina ducked into the low passage, slowing to avoid the cruel thorns. Their passage under the Grambe hedge flashed through her mind. Touching the thorns now would be a death sentence.

Kai and Olivia followed.

A great bellowing yell came from the field behind them. The huld had seen them enter the hedge.

Hina hoped the huld tried to push through the hedge after them. And were eaten by it, that the thorns grew over their bones.

This passage was well-maintained. Hina climbed to her feet and jogged forward. The path twisted and turned, but the thorns were cut back from the sides. After a few turns, she couldn't see the light from the fields behind them anymore. The bellowing of the huld continued, but the sound was muffled.

Bean pressed himself into the curve of her neck, a silent passenger.

Help must be nearby.

Her legs cramped, but she took another step, and another, unsteady on her feet.

The passage opened onto broad green leaves and a splash of yellow flowers. Fields, crops of some kind.

There were people ahead, hurrying in their direction with worried faces. Someone offered her a flask of water, and Hina drank deeply. She was parched.

"Huld," Hina said. "Following us. We lost them at the hedge."

"It's okay dear. You're safe now," a middle-aged woman said. She had a deeply lined face and a motherly look. "Let's get you kids inside. It sounds like you've had quite the ordeal."

* * *

The farmer's name was Pettie. She sat them down at a heavy wooden table and brought them fresh bread and water. Hina flopped into her chair, sheer relief flooding into her tired limbs. Bean hopped off of her shoulder onto the table with a croak.

The walls stood tall and strong around them, thick stone blocks. The chair sturdy under her weight. Hina relaxed, just a little.

She shared her bread with Bean. One of Pettie's many children brought her another cup of water while Bean drank, dipping his beak into her cup.

The horror of the forest faded as she ate.

"Now, why don't you tell me what happened," Pettie said, after they'd eaten their fill.

Hina looked up.

"We were travelling in the forest," Olivia said, her face red and blotchy.

"Hmph," said Pettie.

"And we stumbled across a big group of huld. Not the little ones, full sized. They chased us for a long way, until we saw your farm. We ran for the hedge, and Hina found us a way in. We lost them there."

"How many huld?"

"At least six chasing us. There may have been more. A lot more in the group we saw."

"The ones that chased you—let's focus on them for now—you said they were the big'uns?"

Olivia nodded. "Two, maybe three over eight metres. Others near to that."

"Oh, that's not so big. Now, if they were the twelve-metre monsters from the mountains, that'd be something to worry about. But a few of that size—we'll let the city deal with it in the morning. Lennert's heading over at first light, and he can give you kids a ride—I assume that's where you're headed?"

"Yes," Olivia said. "We were on our way to Blandmanch."

"Good. Well, you're welcome to spend the night here. I'll set you up with some beds, and you can get some rest. Lennert will come by and get you in the morning before he heads into town."

"What—what if they come back?" Hina said. "What if they attack the farm?"

"They ain't stupid. They'll hang about like a bad smell and hassle travellers on the roads, but you don't catch huld of that size attacking farms. And well, if they do, we'll deal with it. We've seen worse."

"Oh."

"If it'll make you feel better, let me tell you that my boy Hump—Humphrey—just got back from the academy a few months ago, learning gods know what." Pettie shook her head. "Any ways, he's here to help us out if something happens. So there's nothing to worry about. You kids get some rest. You're perfectly safe here."

"Thank you," Hina said. "We really appreciate it."

"Oh, it's no trouble at all."

Pettie led them through the maze of buildings inside the farm wall. Curious farm hands and children watched them as they passed. Some of them wore friendly smiles while others just stared.

"How many people live here?" Olivia asked.

"Thirty-five—no, thirty-six now. Estel's new baby was born just yesterday." She smiled, broad and genuine. "We're small, but we're growing every day. It's just the three families for now. We have room for five, but it's hard with the forest—look who I'm talking to, of course you understand. But we've got a good community here. Good people. The best of people, if I do say so myself."

She looked at them more closely then. "If any of you change your mind about wherever you're going, think of us. We've can always use more young folk, and we've got, hmm." Her gaze turned to Kai. "Three young women about your age who I would be delighted to introduce you to." She turned to Olivia and Hina. "And we have two young fellas about the right age for either of you. Or the other way around if you like, we ain't yellow here. Not yet, anyways, and not ever if I have anything to say about it.

"There's a place for everyone, like my dear mama used to say, bless her soul." Pettie shook her head, a strand of grey hair coming loose. "Now, I mustn't get distracted, there's a hundred things to do before dusk. But you come and find me if you're interested in hearing more, you hear?

"For now, here you are, this is you." She pushed on the wooden door of a thatched stone building. "Washroom's right across the way. And like I said, Lennert will swing by to grab you in the morning. Ask one of the kids if you need anything."

A boy near Hina's age were standing with a younger girl on the other side of the courtyard, eavesdropping. The girl smiled and waved.

"Thank you," Hina said again. "We really appreciate it."