CHAPTER 51 THE GROUP MEETS AGAIN

Dominic Pov The sun was setting, casting a little glow through the maple dome and intricate shadows across the forest floor. The search party members slowly trickled in, their faces filled with exhaustion and the weight of the day's strange encounters. The meeting place, located in the heart of the towering maples, served as a sanctuary, its natural architecture both grand and humbling. We gathered here, our spirits intertwined with the ancient trees around us. As the last of the seven groups assembled, I took a moment to study each member. Their expressions ranged from weariness to apprehension, and an unspoken bond of shared suffering connected us all. As the leader of this ragtag team of explorers, I stepped forward, feeling the weight of responsibility settle heavier on my shoulders. "Alright, everyone, let's start with the reports," I announced, my voice breaking the hushed murmurs. "Group one, you're up." A tall, wiry man named Jasper stepped forward, his eyes dartin