Chapter 8. Forest of the Lost

Aria’s POV

May led us through a dense thicket as the sky turned a dark shade of blue with dusk. The sound of small critters filled the air. I frowned in discomfort as I bent to evade a tree branch. Jerry followed right behind me, and Sue was at the back. May led the way. Jerry had blatantly refused to be anywhere near May for fear that she would pull him through another portal.

"How much farther?" Jerry grumbled by my ear.

"Why don't you ask her?" I nodded towards May. Jerry shrunk back.

"She's scary."

"Wuss," I snickered, but I didn't feel any better. We've been walking for a good period of time, and my legs were close to giving way.

"How much farther?" I repeated Jerry's question, but this time to May.

"...not much. It's just beyond this cluster."

"Why didn't you just use your magic portal ball to take us there directly?"

&q