Blackfoot Forest every year is getting shorter

Her determination, dogged, turned suddenly savage as the fiery girl overtook her and blocked her path. Growling like some demon let loose, Maegi feinted suddenly to one side and then, like a small, pale shadow, slipped by, disappearing into the darkness. Take that, bitch.

She was tempted to throw the insult over her shoulder, but. . .no. Her chief concern was finding Mou, and so instead the Melonii raced through the tunnel at a hobbling trot, traveling twice as fast as the journey before, all the while calling out her friend's name.

She did not rest until she emerged into the murk of Namira's Mire.