Beyond the silent Ridge

ss spun a

e ticked and twitched-like something was pulling it beyond physical l

deeper into

ted," Will offe

aid. "It'

s were wide enough to hollow into rooms. The bark had a faint sheen to it, and

atural. Will brought up the rear with his camera slung but

searching, whispere

earth. From above, they formed a pattern-a spiral leading to a cir

," he said. "

owed it

birds, no insects, no clouds drifti

hirty feet high, wide as a cathedral. At its center, a door-round,

t a hollow at the center,

I reached into my pack a

that simple

caught in my chest, and presse

cli

eneath my hand. Th

oment,

ble, releasing a gust of air that smelled

s waite

ashlight. "We're r

e this far

d his samples. And together, we

rd, the walls lined with carvings-figures with elongated limbs, eyes

that arched like a dome. In its center was a platform surrounded by carved pillars. O

ked. "This is a re

we didn't

ass symbol was etched into the floor-this o

ass in my pocket b

st

rd

n it sh

ll backward, stunned, as the ground

go!" Dere

was t

blinding blue-and

we f