Being watched

"How are our favorite Others doing?" Verona asked, sitting down.

John walked up the hill, looking around, before walking off to the side. "Tired. I can't say much because we're being overheard."

"We could take a bit of a walk away from these guys," Avery suggested.

"I think this kind of overhearing is the kind that would follow us wherever we went. Small hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end, birds aren't singing, and the insects aren't chirping."

"Is that a thing?" Verona asked, listening.

"I don't know how often it happens, but I remember it happening once. Shortly after, a group of practitioners came for us. Our group shrank by one, that evening. I think there's an effect when the powerful listen in, where the little things avoid making sound, so they won't interrupt."

- Gone Ahead 7.1

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Verona and Lucy, holding each other's hands, made their way over to the far bank of the river. Avery put her hand down, grabbing Verona's, and hauled her up. She did the same for Lucy.

"Can you not cross running water, John?" Verona asked.

"I can. It doesn't bother me. But there are people following us at a distance."

"Who?"

"I don't know. They aren't moving like they're trying to catch us. They only seem concerned with where we're going. Maybe they want to keep us from finding a place to get settled."

"So we can't make a circle and camp out at night?" Avery asked.

"Maybe. Best to do what you need to do, before they decide to interfere or develop a better means of figuring out what we're doing."

- Gone Ahead 7.3

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"If you want me to step in, John, I can deliver the final blow. I can't promise it will be humane."

"I'll make do," John said. "And I might be making do soon. I think they'll come soon."

"You see something?" Lucy asked.

"No. But things feel quieter out there. It's not the same as when the Augury hit, but it feels meaningful.

- Gone Ahead 7.7