Kael and the others made it through the forest in good time. On the outskirts, far away from where the battle had taken place, the plants were much healthier.
Maybe there was some hope for this forest to recover after all.
Finally, the line of trees came to an end.
Beyond was a marsh, stretching as far as the eye could see.
The damp air clung to Kael's skin as he stepped forward, boots sinking slightly into the soft, spongy earth.
The forest had been dense, oppressive, and suffocating. But this place was different.
The sky stretched wide above them, painted in a dull gray and purple as the sun began to rise.
The marshland ahead sprawled in every direction, an endless maze of stagnant water, twisting roots, and thick reeds that blew in the wind.
Ryker stepped up beside him, surveying the land with narrowed eyes. "Well," he muttered, "this looks like a nightmare waiting to happen."
