Above them, the river moved first.
It had been running through woven branches past the first root island, clear water held over open sky. Now its channel bowed toward the fleeing crown. Silver bodies crowded the bend until the water shone like a blade being flexed.
Aylin felt Jiang stiffen beneath her arm.
Another Bellmother breath rolled the whole red ridge under them.
Water climbed the wrong bank.
It poured over glassy leaves, crossed a trunk that should have turned it aside, and came through the canopy toward the survivors.
"Higher bark," Hest called. "Unless someone has learned to breathe rivers."
Valea tucked both wrapped barbs under her coat and caught the old yoke with her sound hand. Her other sleeve was black with blood below the elbow. She did not look at it.
Before either human answered, the female had already moved.
