Page 62

Why do I even care? Zha is the most chaotic, difficult to keep, disruptive treasure imaginable. Zha has zha’s own ideas about treasure and I should simply let zha go to gather zha’s own hoard of “wit” and “freedom”. Zha’s own sense of value does not match my own.

I pause in my stride, shaking my head at the ridiculous thought. Zha is not a treasure. Not even close. I've spent enough energy on zha for one day.

As I continue through the tunnel, something catches my eye—small, freshly drilled holes dotting the cave wall. I stop, my limbs going still as I lean in to examine them. The light from the vines, still visible from the distance, flickers faintly against the dark stone, casting an eerie glow on the strange markings. The holes are uniform, lined in neat rows, and I can smell something acrid lingering in the air, like the faint scent of burned meat.

My skin flashes dark purple, and I pull back, uneasy. These tunnels weren't here before. I know this part of the cave system very well, and there's something wrong about these holes. Something… too new. Too fresh. And that smell. It's biological. Unnatural.

A shiver runs down my spine, my skin flickering between colors as I take in the sight. I've never encountered anything like this in my years of exploring the caves. The thought crosses my mind that something new has entered this space—something dangerous, perhaps. My breath catches for a moment, and I find myself considering what sort of creature could have made these. Something new to the cave? Something that could pose a threat to my hoard? My skin darkens further as I contemplate the possibilities.

I should check it out, but—

"KROAICHO!"

The scream hits me like a physical blow, echoing through the tunnels. My head snaps up, my heart pounding as Olivia's voice slices through the cave. The panic in zha’s tone makes something tighten in my chest, an uncomfortable, foreign sensation. I freeze, torn between continuing my exploration of the tunnels and rushing back to the human.

It's just a human. The trouble is likely one zha found. Zha is not part of my hoard. Zha is not valuable.

I shift on my limbs, the pile of treasures still balanced awkwardly in my arms. I could drop them. I could run faster without them. But I just collected these… I need these.

Another scream tears through the air, and my decision is made before I can even think it through. With a growl of frustration, I let the stones clatter to the ground, some of them shattering on impact. My skin flashes a deep violet as I hiss, angry at myself for abandoning the new treasures so easily. I'll have to come back for them later. But Olivia's screams echo again, louder this time, and I push aside my irritation, spinning on my many limbs and racing toward the main cave.

The tunnels blur as I move, each step sending a jolt through my body as my limbs carry me at full speed. The acrid smell from earlier clings to the air, but I shove it out of my mind, focusing instead on the path ahead. I don't know what's happening, but Olivia sounded terrified, and that tight feeling in my chest refuses to go away. It's a strange sensation, a gnawing discomfort that I can't quite name, but it drives me forward nonetheless.

As I near the cave, I hear more sounds—growling, the scraping of claws against stone, the unmistakable hiss of something large. My skin flickers between purple and red, fear creeping in as I slide to a stop at the cave entrance. I peer inside, my heart hammering.

The scene before me is chaos. Olivia is backed into a corner, zha’s eyes wide with terror as a massive creature looms over zha, its scales glinting in the firelight. The thing is larger than anything I've ever seen in the caves, its body coiled and ready to strike. Its eyes, glowing faintly in the darkness, lock onto Olivia, and a low growl rumbles from its throat.

My chest tightens again, and without thinking, I rush forward, the glow of my skin flaring bright red as I charge at the creature. I have no plan, no strategy, just an overwhelming urge to protect zha.

It's not about value anymore. It's about something else.

I burst into the cave, my six limbs moving in rapid unison as I skid to a stop, nearly slipping on the slick stone beneath me. The dim light of the cave flickers against the creature's scales, its long body slithering menacingly across the ground. Olivia is huddled at the far edge of my hoard, barely visible beneath the piles of shiny trinkets I've so carefully amassed.

Zha is frozen, wide eyes locked on the creature as its massive, elongated head turns in zha’s direction, its maw stretching open far too wide, revealing rows of sharp, needle-like teeth. The acrid stench of burned flesh clings to the air, and my skin flashes an intense violet in response—fear and anger mingling, coursing through me.

This thing. It's too big. Too strong.

I hiss loudly, the sound echoing off the cave walls, and the creature swivels its head toward me, its two glowing eyes narrowing as if sizing me up. Its body is long, insectoid, with far more clawed legs than should be natural that scrape against the stone as it moves. It's nothing like anything I've ever seen in these caves—more dangerous, more… unnatural.

But Olivia—zha is valuable in a new, mysterious way. One I need to figure out. That thought is enough to push me forward, despite the chill of fear tightening my chest.

I lunge, my bottom four limbs propelling me as my two upper limbs stretch out to grab hold of the creature. My claws rake across its scaly hide, but it's shockingly durable—my hands barely leave a scratch on its dark, iridescent body. With a furious hiss, I throw myself against it, using my weight to drive it back. But the thing is fast. Faster than I expected.

With a snarl, the creature twists its body, whipping its tail at me. I duck just in time, feeling the wind rush past as it smashes into the cave wall. Stone cracks under the force of the blow, sending shards flying in every direction. My skin flashes red—fear pulses through me, but I push it down. I can't afford to falter now.

I swipe at the creature again, aiming for its legs, but it's already moving, darting to the side with an unsettling speed that belies its size. I'm forced to rear back, my two larger arms raised defensively as it snaps its massive jaws at me, missing my head by mere inches.

"Stay back!" I roar, hoping Olivia understands as my skin flickers between violet and red. Zha shouldn't be here. Zha is too close.

I can feel the pressure mounting in my chest as the creature coils and uncoils, its glowing eyes fixed on me now. It's testing me, watching for an opening. Every instinct screams at me to run, but Olivia's still cowering behind the pile of treasure—zha is frozen in place, terrified.

I can't let zha die.

With a frustrated growl, I lunge again, this time trying to drive the creature back toward the tunnel. If I can just get it away from Olivia… if I can just…

The creature moves faster than I anticipate, its many legs scrambling across the stone with an almost eerie fluidity. It darts around me, its tail whipping out to strike. I manage to block it with one of my massive arms, but the impact sends a jolt of pain through my body. My skin flares violet as I stumble, my feet scrambling for purchase on the uneven ground.

I let out a low growl, my teeth bared as I rush the creature, slamming into its side with as much force as I can muster. It screeches, an awful, high-pitched sound that makes my ears ring, but I manage to drive it back toward the tunnel.