Amber regained her mana and felt progressively better, but the clones never left her side. She felt better, but she was far from being in top shape.
[She can use her brain crystal power at least.]
The group then crossed a shallow stream, one Erik hadn't crossed before, and that he couldn't see back then given his position and how small it was.
The burble of the stream masked the sounds of their footsteps against the wet stones and soil, giving them some cover for their movement.
However, this same rushing water made it difficult for them to distinguish or hear other noises in the forest, forcing them to rely on their sight. But there was a limit to how much they could see there.
Luckily, Erik's clones were scouting the surroundings in a wide perimeter—some moving ahead to scout the path, others watching their flanks, and a few keeping guard behind the group.
