Daniel stood completely still.
His eyes drilled into the thick bush on his left because he wanted to see what was hiding there.
He did not breathe. He wanted to hear even the smallest sound.
His hand moved slowly toward his belt, and his fingers wrapped around the cold handle of his Twin Fang dagger.
He expected a monster to jump out, or he expected a straggler from the purge to attack him. Then, the leaves parted.
A small, grey creature ran out from the underbrush. It was just a field mouse. It stopped on the path and twitched its nose at Daniel.
It let out a tiny squeak before it darted away across the dirt and disappeared into the roots of a huge tree.
Daniel let out a long breath. His shoulders dropped, and the tension left his body.
"Just a mouse," he whispered to himself. "I am jumping at shadows." He shook his head and adjusted the strap of his Skyreaver Bow on his shoulder.
