The forest drew Atal in. Something foul lay on the plain and shunning it he slipped beneath the trees and left the sight of all things. The fox made no comment on their change of path. Ever since they had crossed the mountains she had grown more reserved. But now, since they had entered the forest she seemed to grow alert. The trees grew at first sparsely, and then more closely, drawing them from the bright sunlight into dark musty patches.
There was little life and only quiet for many hours.