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We moved in short bursts, pausing between sections as I read the patterns. The rain continued to fall, turning to steam where it hit the hottest ground and creating a disorienting fog that reduced visibility to a few feet.

"Stop!" I threw out my arm, blocking Varek's path as a vent directly ahead began to rumble. Seconds later, a column of scalding steam erupted from the ground, so close I felt the heat sear my face.

Varek stepped back, his expression grim. "That would have been unpleasant."

"Understatement of the year." I wiped sweat from my brow, scanning for our next move. "We need to go right, then wait for that large vent to cycle before crossing."

We were halfway across the field when my scanner died completely, the screen going dark with a pathetic electronic whimper.

"Damn it." I smacked it against my palm, but the device remained dead.

"We rely on your markings now." Varek's voice remained steady, but I saw tension in the set of his jaw.

I nodded, focusing on the sensations flowing through my silver markings. The patterns grew more complex the deeper we moved into the field, with multiple vents operating on overlapping cycles.

"Wait." I held up my hand, concentrating. "Something's wrong. The patterns are changing."

The ground beneath us trembled, more violently than before. A low rumble built from deep underground.

"Hammond's drilling," Varek guessed. "It's affecting the pressure systems."

"Which means all bets are off on the eruption cycles." I scanned frantically for the safest path. "We need to move. Now!"

We broke into a run, zigzagging between vents. I led by instinct, my markings flaring with warnings seconds before each eruption. Behind us, the entire field seemed to come alive, vents erupting in chaotic sequence.

A vent directly in our path began to rumble. No time to change direction.

"Jump!" I shouted, leaping over the building pressure point.

Varek followed, but his injured body couldn't match my speed. As he passed over the vent, it erupted, catching his leg in a blast of superheated steam.

He stumbled forward with a sharp intake of breath, refusing to cry out despite what must have been excruciating pain.

"Almost there," I encouraged, pointing to the solid ground visible ahead. "Just a little further."

The field's edge tantalized us, just thirty feet away, when disaster struck. Multiple vents between us and safety began rumbling simultaneously, cutting off our escape route.

"Back!" Varek pulled me away as the ground in front of us became a wall of steam.

We retreated several steps, searching for another path, but found ourselves surrounded by active vents, the safe zones between them shrinking by the second.

"There." Varek pointed to a narrow path that might lead us out, but a large, bubbling pool blocked the way. "We need to jump it."

I measured the distance with my eyes. "It's too wide."

"Not if I throw you." His lifelines pulsed with determination.

"And then what? You can't make that jump on your own, especially not with your injuries."

"I'll find another way."

"No." I grabbed his arm. "We stick together."

The ground shook violently. Our time had run out.

"Trust me," Varek said, his eyes locked on mine.

Before I could protest further, he clasped his hands together, creating a foothold. "Step here, jump when I lift."