NineLivesLeft remained still beneath the rain.
Alexandra had expected anger, but his expression showed concentration instead. He looked at her the same way he studied Kumoe's abilities, breaking the performance down into pieces he could label and counter.
"Acting," he said at last.
Alexandra's smile sharpened. "You finally noticed."
"Controlled posture. Timed breathing. Rehearsed fear. That explains the bait."
"No. Being good at it explains the bait."
NineLivesLeft pushed off the ground before the conversation could continue. One boot struck the nearest trunk, and he disappeared into the branches.
Alexandra tracked the beginning of his movement.
Kumoe's right head followed what came next.
Neither of them chased.
NineLivesLeft had controlled the forest from the start. Every trunk, branch, root, and stone gave Prowler's Rebound another surface. As long as those routes remained available, he could choose where each exchange began and how quickly he escaped from it.
