Five gave a yelp of surprise and Twelve closed her eyes in despair. It made perfect sense: all the times Six had pushed them to go faster; the fact that he’d avoided Seven at the lodge, but then tried to rescue her when she was taken. The pieces fit together and Twelve was left with the ghastly realization that she’d set out on a mission to rescue a cave clan girl, had thought of a cave clan boy as a friend. The wrongness of it sickened her.

Oakhammer laughed in delight. “Ah, it’s been many years since I’ve met such an ill-matched group!”

“Twelve,” Six whispered, trying to get her to look at him.

The roots binding Twelve and Foxpaw retreated. She stood up slowly.

“Twelve,” Six said again.

She wasn’t sure which of her swirling emotions would rise to the surface if she met Six’s eye, so she hurried instead to Dog. He was still on the ground, dazed.

“She’s your sister?” Five asked numbly. “Why didn’t you tell me? You could have trusted me with that at least! I’ve followed you out here blindly, nearly died, and you obviously know far more about—”

“Enough,” Oakhammer creaked, his laughter fading. “I’ll keep my word and deliver you to the goblin stronghold so Boy Who Lies can rescue his precious sister. Or you can tear each other’s throats out, whichever you prefer.”

He smiled genially down on them and Twelve grabbed her axes where she’d dropped them. Before a conscious thought had formed in her mind, Foxpaw was beside her, restraining her with surprising strength.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his golden eyes swimming with tears. “He’s never been like this before. Like I said, the forest is changing. But please, if you want to live, control your temper.”

Ragged breaths shook her, but she managed a tiny nod.

“Gather in front of me,” Oakhammer boomed. “Moxie, stop your mutterings, and Guardian, get up. You’re made of stone—there’s no need for you to be quivering on the ground like a pup.”

With a snarl, Dog staggered to his feet, leaning against Twelve so hard she nearly fell.

“Good,” Oakhammer purred as Surefoot ambled cautiously over to Six. “Now I will open my mouth and you will walk in.”

“What?” For a moment, the group was united in disbelief.

Above them, Oakhammer opened his mouth. Inside, the same shiny blackness as was in his eyes greeted them.

With a shudder, Five drew back. “You’ve got to be joking. You actually think we’re stupid enough to just walk into your mouth?”

Oakhammer didn’t answer. His mouth yawned wider and wider. His lower jaw unhinged like a snake’s and the gaping darkness slid down the broad trunk until it touched the ground in front of them.