Jude glanced toward the northern mountains. There were still places they had never fully explored. Deep valleys, narrow caves, and stretches of forest where the terrain became too difficult to cross.
"Perhaps," he said.
They reached the fallen tree shortly afterward.
Its trunk was thick, and several branches had broken away. The wood looked weathered but still usable.
Jude examined it.
"We can take some of this."
Sophie began collecting the smaller branches.
As Jude inspected the trunk, he noticed something unusual.
A small circular mark had been carved into the bark.
He crouched.
The mark consisted of three curved lines surrounding a tiny central point.
He touched it.
The wood around the symbol was dry, even though the rest of the trunk was damp from the rain.
"Sophie."
She approached.
"What is it?"
"Have you seen this before?"
She examined the mark.
"No."
Jude brushed away some loose bark.
