Maria.
Panic soon consumed me as the thundering sound grew closer with every passing second, echoing ominously through the dark woods.
Noah remained completely silent, not uttering a single word as he tightened his grip on the reins. His knuckles had turned stark white from the force of his hold, betraying the tension he was keeping carefully contained beneath his calm exterior.
Beside us, the quadruplets fell into the same heavy silence. Whatever tense bickering had existed only moments earlier disappeared completely, swallowed whole by the unmistakable reality of the imminent danger surrounding us.
Without exchanging a single word, every one of them gripped the reins of their horses even tighter before urging the animals forward.
At once, the horses responded, surging into a much faster run along the winding dirt trail. The rhythmic pounding of their hooves echoed relentlessly through the forest as they carried us deeper into the gathering shadows.
