As Martin walked, he started to notice the rustling of leaves and cracking of branches below his feet. And, after a while, he started to notice rustlings and crackings that didn't seem to be coming from his own feet - or at least, he couldn't be sure.

He stopped and looked behind him but there was nothing to be seen.

Martin quickened his pace, but it only served to make more rustling and cause more cracking, which made him all the more nervous. He could just see over the top of the shrubs that were looking more and more sinewy as the sun's angle sharpened. But, he couldn't eliminate from his mind the thought that he was being followed by one, or perhaps several clawed, toothy creatures.

Martin began to stumble and felt something fall from his pack. It doesn't matter, he thought. Probably just a bit of old cloth. By now, he was jogging and his entire pack was rattling and clanking with each step. Sweat stung his eyes and he tried to wipe them as he ran. Blinded and deaf from the sound of his own huffing, he tripped on a knotty root and crashed, face-first, to the ground. He could taste the sandy dirt in his mouth and feel the dust in his nose and lungs.

He waited for the swarm of bramble-dragons to descend on him. Slowly, a shadow spread above him.

"Martin! What happened?"

Martin managed to open his eyes to see feet wrapped in what looked like coarse leather sacks. He looked up.

"Lilith?" he asked as he stared at a silhouette haloed by sun.

"Martin. I told you we must keep together. Why were you running? You're pack's nearly burst."

"I. Uh. I thought I heard something."

"Out here? There's nothing out here. Maybe a few abandoned birds' nests."

"I heard a child at the mill talking, though. About bramble-dragons."

"You don't believe in those, do you Martin?"

"Well, I didn't, at least, not until I was alone out here."

"You're not along, Martin. But you must stay with me. There are things out here that should not be faced alone."

Lilith helped Martin rise to his feet, and led him as they continued on.