Traveling along the ripped-bare path left by the bugs, the trees around them were gradually growing smaller and further apart, which made it more difficult for the snakes to continue dropping on them, something that Cal was thankful for, because he almost knew what was coming next, but only almost, it was an instinct in his bones, but nothing solid and certain yet.

Though seeing the trees give way to buildings helped to cement things a little. It wasn't New York, not exactly, but the had the same sort of towering steel-and-glass monstrosities, except that it also looked like some kind of bomb had gone off, broken glass littered the streets, pavement was cracked and even the asphalt was blistered where it had been heated and then re-solidified like a lava floe.

"Shit." Was all Cal said, having fallen silent otherwise, moving almost silently, using his spear as a walking staff, aware that the cat was still following even though he couldn't see it even with his peripheral vision.