ed, reflecting the frenzied pounding of her heart. She leaned against the door, gasping for air, her

walls, loaded with botanical journals, dried specimens, and well-worn field guides. A cast-iron stove stood in the corner, its em

nder, to examine what she'd seen, to grasp what it meant. The Ghost Orchid, the broken r

itings. She picked one out, its cover old and faded, and went through the pages, seeking any reference to the Silen

about them, even in his notebooks. She recalled his cautions, his whisp

They observe," one entry stated. "They wait. They grab what they desire." An

. The emblem she'd seen on the Ghost Orchid,

The Silent Path, her sister's disappearance, the or

to the Ghost Orchid, to inspect the situation again, to uncover more clues. But the notion sent a shu

he mountains loomed about her, black and quiet, their summits shrouded

She whirled around, her heart beating in her chest. She held her br

er grasp strong. She crept nearer the window, her eyes searching the darkn

ghostly forms in the darkness. Then, a flash of movem

igure, black and unclear, walked through the woods, its motions flowing and qu

ow, her pulse thumping in her ears. She knew she had

-aid kit. She moved to the rear door, her fingers quivering as she twisted t

eet. She went out, shutting the door carefully behind her. She

, away from the person she'd seen at the window. She went into

could see the cabin from a distance. She halted, gathe

nce of movement. But she couldn't ignore

inating it around the area. Nothing.

moving through the woods, coming from the direction

eturning, seeking something, or maybe they had stol

ched the alcove, her eyes probing the darkness. The dim illumination got

he form was petite, delicate, almost infantile. They moved with a

wasn't a human. It was a little, pale creature, its

d been buried in the orchid's roots. It turned, and its face was exposed.

It peered straight at Elara, its eyes gleaming in the darkness. Then

he just seen? It couldn't be genuine. But she'd

gone. The roots were ripped, and the earth was a me

g she didn't comprehend, something... unearthly. And they had removed the orchid, and they were