The deeper they pushed into the forest, the more the air changed. The towering mahogany trees gave way to ancient banyans, their sprawling roots forming natural archways that the team had to duck under. The ground sloped upward gradually, the soft earth giving way to rocky outcroppings covered in velvety moss.
Evelyn paused, pressing a hand against the broad trunk of a strangler fig. "We're climbing," she observed, wiping sweat from her brow. "The island's center must be higher than we thought."
Patrick crouched to examine the soil where a small stream trickled between rocks. "This isn't just runoff," he said, tracing the mineral deposits with his fingers. "This water's coming from inside the mountain. Probably an underground spring feeding the whole island's water table."
