With the mantis there to help him fend off the crawlers, Theo finally felt a little breathing room.
He stepped forward and smacked another crawler up into the air with a brutal kick, sending its massive body twisting awkwardly. The mantis caught the cue instantly.
It turned into a white flash.
In less than a second, Theo saw the crawler split cleanly into two midair, its body falling apart before it even hit the ground.
The path ahead finally opened up. Theo pushed forward, his pace steady but tense, until he halted for the first time since he had started running.
He stood before one of the largest trees he had seen anywhere near the camp.
Its branches were very thick, thick enough that Theo knew it would be a struggle to wrap his hands around it.
