The bus cruised steadily toward the forest, covering the 70-kilometre distance in less than two hours. Athar, seated beside the window, enjoyed the passing scenery a little too much. Though Ryler occasionally tried to spark conversation, Athar remained largely unresponsive, content to keep to himself. He was engrossed in the view outside- firstly the tall, large and elite buildings of the inner portion of the city, then the slightly impoverished outer part of the city which gave way to crop planted plain land and finally shrubs and grasslands just before the forest.
Eventually, the buses came to a halt, about two kilometres away from the forest's edge.
