Xaiden nodded as he studied the lines for their previous paths and marks for known dangers. "Should we try cutting cross here to get there faster today since we're short on time?" He asked as he pointed to a gap Ewen had found. The map made it a lot easier to track the ground they covered, and Ewen was really a genius when it came to logging their trips accurately. Xaiden and Jax had relied on the time it took to get places to give them an idea of the ground they covered, but Ewen used a black market GPS tracker that he kept in the tent so it could never be tied back to us.
Having the map was dangerous enough, that tracker would prove that he'd really been out here. At least with the paper map he could say he just made it up, and who would be willing to compare it to the real life woods to prove him wrong? They used to turn their imprints off completely in the beginning until Jax figured out how to loop the one time they all went to his house when they left school. He lived with his Dad who was almost never home, so it was the safest place to pretend to be. Not that anyone would be checking Xaiden's location, of that he was sure. It was still a good precaution, especially now that the other two had joined them out here.
"I-I'm down, it would be nice to fill in that area on the map too." Ewen agreed.
"Let's do it," Jax nodded and started grabbing his gear. Ewen and Xaiden followed suit, ditching their school bags for the packs they kept stocked with first aid supplies, rope, food, water, lights, knives, pliers and everything else they might possibly need.
"Eliana, last chance, you coming?" Xaiden asked.
"I already said no." She replied sharply.
"Any new books are mine then." Xaiden reminded her, not even sure why he was bothering.
"Whatever, I doubt you'll find any anyway. It's already so late and you're still covering a lot of ground we've already seen."
"So you say. Don't be mad later." Xaiden spoke over his shoulder as he led the way down the path they'd beat down with sticks last week. This was a spot they had overlooked for more than a year now. It could be insignificant, but at least it'll make a good shortcut later, Xaiden thought happily as they walked along. "Just tell me when we need to turn, Ewen!"