Page 53

My attention drifts to the empty space again. I know I won't be able to sit here for long. How can I enjoy my collection when the centerpiece is missing?

With a frustrated huff, I rise to my feet. Fine. If zha won't stay put, then I'll find zha. Again. My tusks press against my lips as I let out a sharp breath, focusing on the task at hand. I trace the ground carefully, searching for any sign of zha’s passage. The soft dirt and stone floor show little, but I find the faintest of footprints after a few agonizing minutes. They're fresh, leading deeper into the tunnels.

I follow them, my pace quicker than before, irritation spurring me on. My heart pounds as the trail grows faint in places, almost disappearing entirely, and for a moment I feel panic rising. What if I can't find her? What if something's already happened? My skin flickers violently purple at the thought, but I push it down. I won't lose zha. Not yet. No… never.

After what feels like an eternity of tracking zha by scent, I spot something—signs of a struggle. The ground is disturbed and scuffed in a way that sends a chill down my spine. My muscles tense as I hurry forward, my senses straining. And then I see it. The faint blue glow of bioluminescent mushrooms ahead, casting their eerie light on the tunnel walls.

There, in the faint glow, sits Olivia. She's resting against the tunnel wall, zha's head tilted upward, eyes closed. Relief floods through me, but it's quickly followed by annoyance. Zha doesn't look hurt, not even slightly. If anything, zha looks irritated.

I approach cautiously, but before I can say anything, Olivia's eyes flick open, and Zha gives me a flat, unimpressed look that freezes me in my tracks. Zha's voice cuts through the air, dry and sharp.

"You took your sweet time getting back, didn't you?"

The accusation hits me square in the chest. I snap back, unable to hold back the frustration any longer. "I had to fight off aggressors! Do you think I was just lounging around?"

She doesn't flinch, doesn't even blink at my words. Instead, Zha sucks zha's teeth, an imperious look crossing zha’s features as zha rolls zha’s eyes making me flinch.

“You should know better than to leave me alone in this cave, unsupervised, Kroaicho. What did you think would happen?"

My skin flashes deep purple with anger, tusks pressing hard against the inside of my lips. "You shouldn't be wandering around like a fool, human. You know how dangerous it is."

Her response is immediate, dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was supposed to be remain still while you ran off to do whatever it is you do. Next time, try not to leave aladybyherlonesome, hm?" Zha stands, brushing off the dirt from zha's clothes as though it's the least of zha’s concerns. "And for the record, I wouldn't be so annoyed if I wasn't so hungry."

I stare at Zha incredulously, the cave lighting blue broadcasting my emotions. I’m still processing zha’s words when zha gestures lazily toward a dark shape lying not too far away. My eyes focus on it, and I realize it's the carcass of one of the creatures I fought earlier, its body limp, fur slick with its own blood.

"Carry that, will you?" zha says, zha’s voice casual as if zha is giving a mundane request. "We're heading back to the cave. I plan to make a meal out of it."

Without waiting for a response, zha picks up a makeshift torch made from one of the glowing mushrooms and starts walking back toward the cave. I stand there, momentarily dumbfounded, the audacity of this human leaving me at a loss for words.

"Unbelievable," I mutter under my breath, a string of unflattering complaints slipping out. But despite my irritation, I move toward the carcass and lift it with one of my larger arms.

Of course. Of course, she's the one giving orders now.

I follow after her, the weight of the creature barely registering compared to the weight of my growing annoyance. As we walk back toward the cave, zha’s form illuminated by the faint glow of the mushrooms, I can't help but think that this human is more trouble than zha’s worth.

And yet, I can't seem to leave zha alone. Instead, I follow, skin flashing my jumble of thoughts. Blue, purple, orange… when will I return to a steady white?

***

As I follow Olivia back through the winding tunnels, the creature's carcass slung over one of my larger arms, I can't help but glance at zha. Zha’s steps are light, though zha is clearly tired, the glowing mushroom zha uses as a torch casting a pale blue light across zha’s features. I clench my jaw and grind my tusks, irritation still simmering beneath the surface.

I have so many questions, so much I want to say, but I hold back for now. The silence stretches between us, punctuated only by the rhythmic clack of my claws on stone.

Finally, after a few minutes, I can't help myself.

"How did you kill this thing?" I ask, my voice a low rumble. "With your—" I hesitate, searching for the right word, "—constitution?"

The question is genuine, but the moment it leaves my mouth, I see Olivia's shoulders stiffen, and I know I've struck a nerve. Zha whips around, glaring at me over zha’s shoulder, eyes narrowing.

"What thehellis that supposed to mean?" zha snaps, voice sharp and cutting. "You think just because I'm human, I'm weak?"

I hold zha’s gaze, trying to suppress the flare of white amusement that wants to light up my skin. "Well, youarehuman, and you haven’t demonstrated any noticeable strength or endurance."

I gesture toward the creature's body hanging over my arm. "This creature is twice your size. So yes, I'm curious. How did you manage it?"

Olivia's face flushes with the red that is not fear, zha’s lips pulling down at the edges. Zha turns fully to face me now, planting zha’s hands on zha’s hips. "I'm sorry, do you think I need brute strength to handle myself out here? Is that it? Maybe you're forgetting I've survived just fine on my own before you showed up."

I snort, tilting my head. "Survived, yes. Thrived? That's another matter."