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I could simply chance it; I could assume that whoever had found themselves here would not be near the caves. That they would not see a strange girl disappear belowground without any sort of human tools to accompany her. Or if they did, that they would not ask those questions they were so infamous for.

Assuming was just another sort of risk I was unwilling to take.

I fixated on the car as I moved about the trees, keeping my footsteps silent like I’d learned to as a child. And then—

The car rocked.

I must’ve imagined it. But, even as I tried to reassure myself, I saw it shake again, like something was inside it.

The owner? Please, Great Mother above, let that be the owner. Then, after they were done with whatever nonsense had brought them out here, so far from their beloved cities, they’d drive away and I would not have to waste any additional time waiting or investigating.

The car shook harder, and then a sound from within it rose.

Something that sounded a lot like a pained cry.

What in all the worlds?

My eyes searched the car over again, noticing all the details that I didn’t see at first blush. This wasn’t just any vehicle. Normally the natives made cars from fairly rickety materials. Not this one. It was armored. And then came that horrible cry again, like the sound of a wounded creature, and it came frominsidethe vehicle.

Reflexively, my hand went to one of my weapons.

Sometimes humans ventured out to wild areas like this one, seeking adventure. But this wasn’t an adventurous human.

This was something else entirely.

Use caution, they’re crafty.

I waited.

More noises came from the car. The healer in me found them hard to ignore, even if it was a human that made them.

Perhaps the owner of the vehicle was hurt and could not drive away. I would be waiting quite a long time if that were the case. Making a quick decision, I dropped my satchel behind the tree. I would see what I could do.

Still, I pulled my daggers out.

Injured or not, this was a conniving human. I wouldn’t put it past them to harm me even as I helped them.

Twigs and underbrush snapped in the distance, and my head jerked toward its source. Humans had culled most of their fellow creatures, but things still lived in the wild areas, things I might need to use magic against.

Now on guard, I twirled my weapons between my fingers as I crept to the car, a nervous habit of mine masked as an intimidation tactic.

Believe you are dangerous and, more importantly, make sure your enemy believes it.

My father’s words echoed in my head as I circled the vehicle.

He’d made sure everyone knew just how dangerous he was.

More foliage crunched close by. Again I peered toward its source, my senses heightened by fear, for now I could make out the distinct sound of footsteps—

I felt it then, that nervous tingling at the base of my spine.

Not one of us.

Human.

It was coming straight toward me.

In a rush I slid the daggers back into their sheaths and sprinted for the tree line, my footsteps silent, unlike the blundering human heading this way.