13
I stumbled back and covered my mouth with one hand. Shade stood stiffly at my side, his cold eye staring at where the piggish man had hung.
“As I told you, dead.” Shade turned away and strode into the trees. “And his death gives us a chance to escape. The vines have fed and won’t attack us for some time.”
I stared at the spot for a moment longer, tears brimming in my eyes, before I stumbled after him. Shade’s quick stride was hard to catch, but I finally caught him out of sight of the horrible vines. I grabbed his sleeve and pulled him to a stop.
“Wait a minute!” I demanded as I glared at him. “How can you see that and not feel anything?”
“How can you see an enemy die and feel anything?” he countered.
“Because he was a living person,” I protested.
“He’s been trying to kidn
