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The creature freezes for a moment, its grip tightening slightly. Then, it lets out a high-pitched creaking sound, almost like… surprise? The sound is so alien, so foreign, that it's hard to tell, but something in the way its body shifts makes me think it wasn't expecting me to talk back.

"If… this one talks…" the creature hisses slowly as if testing the words. "Then… zha must have it."

Before I can make sense of what it's saying, the creature tightens its hold on me and suddenly takes off, sprinting through the cavern with terrifying speed. I barely have time to let out a startled yelp before we're plunging into a freshly dug tunnel, the walls rushing past in a blur.

It’s gait is odd, then I remember from the quick flash that it had three sets of limbs and shudder.

"Rin!" I shout over my shoulder, my voice barely carrying over the sound of the creature's pounding footsteps.

I almost scream out my fear, demanding help, but then I picture her bloody and broken. I would never forgive myself if she got hurt.

I pull in a deep breath, unsure how to keep her from following. “I'll be okay!" I yell out, cringing when it’s just an echo of what I said before.

She’s probably completely unconvinced.

Rin's voice echoes faintly behind us, growing more distant with every second. "Olivia!" she calls, desperation lacing her tone. "Olivia, where are you?!"

I yell back, desperate to make her feel better so she won’t break her neck. “I'll be okay, I promise. I'll find you once I can."

"No, no, Olivia, please,” she begs. “I'll dig my way down to get you out. I'll find a way. Just hold on."

"Get to safety," I yell back, suddenly realizing she must be shouting and there are enemies up there. "I'll find a way out.”

“Olivia…” she says, but the sound fades as the creature races deeper into the tunnel, and soon, all I can hear is the pounding of its feet and the harsh rasp of my own breathing.

I stop trying to shout back. There's no point. The distance between us is growing too fast, and I need to focus on staying calm, on figuring out what the hell is happening. The tunnel twists and turns, the walls a blur of jagged stone and glowing lichen as the creature barrels forward with inhuman speed. My head is spinning, my mind struggling to keep up with the sheer madness of it all.

What is this thing? Where is it taking me? And what the hell did it mean by “zha must have it”?

Questions race through my mind, but there are no answers, only the hot, suffocating grip of the creature and the endless, twisting tunnels stretching out before us.

And of course my impotent, murderous rage.

7

Kroaicho

Ishufflefromonefoot to the one of the others, in a square pattern, my claws scraping against the rough stone, and I can't help but stare at the green-haired, green-eyed creature I impulsively brought back with me. Why did I do this? What part of my mind thought this was a good idea?

My mind supplies the answer with an image of the green lava gemstone the genali destroyed. The shifting colors of the creature’s long green hair are just as mesmerizing. Zha must have a story, I know it.

But is it worth the trouble?

Zha reeks of that smell… not quite the same, but now I realize part of the same species. It was the other one’s smell that drew me in, but it is this one that I chose. Zha came from the wrecked silver container I desired, which is no longer worthy of my hoard after I had to create a tunnel to divert it to me.

Instead I have this oddly signaling creature. Green? At a time like this?

The creature—zha—sits there, staring at the ground, carving strange marks into the dust with delicate fingers. Zha is small and fragile, especially in comparison to me, and yet, as I look at zha, I can't help but curse my own poor impulse control. Of all the reckless decisions I've made—topping even my foolish treasure-hunting expeditions up Mt. Rev'ercha—this one stands out.

I curse again, clicking my tongue against my tusks. What was I thinking? At the time, my only thought had been to steal the little thing away, putting distance between zha and the other one zha had been with. But now that I have zha here, alone, away from the other creature… I am faced with a glaring question.

What do I do with zha?

I consider the possibility of killing zha. It would be the simplest solution. I'd never have to worry about what to do next, about the complications zha brings. But as soon as the thought enters my mind, something ugly twists in my chest—a bitterness, a root that digs deep and snarls, making me feel sick. I discard the idea immediately. No. I won't kill zha.

Instead, I shoot a furtive glance at the diminutive creature. Zha is still busy with the dusty floor, zha's hands moving in patterns that I can't make sense of.

It is what zha started doing after zha realized trying to escape me was futile. The screaming stopped and zha froze in place for a long moment, then dropped to the ground and started… drawing.