He returned to the ledge overlooking the cavern. It followed along the right side of the cave, gradually descending to thefloor, and had the look of a deliberately created path, albeit one that hadn’t seen use or care in a long, long while.
With Callie secure, he began his descent. Every thread of his attention felt like it was being pulled in a different direction. Not only did he need to watch the spiritstriders, but he had to survey every bit of his path, had to ensure each leg came down in exactly the right place with exactly the right pressure lest the sound of a disturbed pebble or rustling plant draw unwanted attention. The care and control required was a strain on Urkot’s entire being, body and mind.
As they neared the bottom, the cavern’s distinct scents strengthened. The smell of clean water, cloying plants, and the spiritstriders could not mask the prevalent odors of blood and meat, both fresh and rotting.
The sound of the stream grew louder, and the spiritstrider voices more distinct, but Urkot understood little even with the improving clarity. Their tongue was like a root that had been hacked off its mother tree and had grown into something strange and almost unrecognizable, though the similarities could not be denied upon closer inspection.
When they reached the cavern floor, his chest constricted, and it became a struggle to draw breath. Looking upon the spiritstriders from above had not been nearly so unsettling, despite their numbers. The height of his perch had made him feel separated from the threat and granted him a false sense of safety.
No retreat.
Keeping as low to the ground as he could, Urkot crept forward along the stream’s right bank. The rasp of leaves against his hide made his hearts leap every time, though he was certain it was a sound he merely felt rather than heard. As much as possible, he kept the larger rocks between himself and theopposite bank, utilizing the cover and scant shadows available to him.
Whenever a spiritstrider made that clicking sound, Urkot’s insides churned. A shallow stream and a few segments of open ground was not enough of a barrier.
His whole body ached more with each measured step, but he could not allow weariness to deter him.
A pair of female spiritstriders gave stern words to their broodlings before striding toward the stream on a path that would bring them directly across the water from Urkot. His fine hairs stood, and his hide felt suddenly taut, as though it were stretched terribly thin over his body. Callie stiffened atop him, pressing herself as flush against him as she could.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Broodmother, grant us your mercy.
He hurried to the nearest boulder and hid behind it, bracing an arm against the cool stone.
With his breath caught in his throat, he listened as the females drew nearer, their heavy steps and voices sharpening. Something splashed in the water on the other side of the rock. One female made a throaty, chuffing sound, followed by more splashing.
Urkot held completely still despite the fire pulsing in his tensed muscles. Callie trembled, her face buried against his back, her nails and the knife’s handle digging into his chest. He and Callie hadn’t been spotted. They were hidden, out of sight.
Weren’t they?
The splashing continued. The spiritstriders exchanged a few more words before one began to drink. Her long, deep gulps were so close, so clear, that they made Urkot shudder. His instincts screamed danger, imploring him to either flee this place or fight—to do anything but remain unmoving.
But either choice would make his presence known to the spiritstriders, placing his mate in more danger. No, the safest option was to keep hiding…and hope the spiritstriders didn’t catch his and Callie’s scents.
Farther away, a broodling cried out in a high wail. One of the females growled. Urkot’s fingers twitched, nearly scraping the boulder with his claws.
With a series of angry splashes and stomps, the females stormed away.
Urkot exhaled and drew fresh air into his blazing lungs. His heartbeat pounded throughout his body, fast and loud, making the ends of his limbs feel oddly hot and tingly.
He forced himself forward. This endeavor demanded all his strength, all his control, all his concentration, all of him. Urkot would never understand how Telok and Ketahn moved like this—utterly silent, totally unseen—so effortlessly. But he would endure this again and again, endlessly, if it was necessary to keep Callie safe.
From rock to rock, shadow to shadow, he advanced along the stream. Dread built in his gut every time he lowered a leg; he anticipated a sound that would give him away with each movement. When no such sounds came, he felt no relief. There were too many steps to go before he left this cavern behind.
Yet even as Urkot’s tension built, a gentle air current grew more defined. It became his guide, leading toward a tunnel opening ahead, not far from the place where the stream flowed into the crevasse.
Across the water, the spiritstriders continued their lives—they mended tools, divided meat, scraped hides, braided silk cord, talked and played. In so many ways, they were not unlike the vrix Urkot had always known. But he knew there was no peace to be found here, no friendship.
Whether by the gods’ blessing, his own efforts, or aimless luck, Urkot made it to the tunnel entrance without drawing attention to himself and Callie. The airflow was unmistakable there. The tunnel was connected to the surface somewhere, beyond any doubt, and that somewhere was closer than ever.
After a final backward glance to ensure they’d remained unseen, Urkot stalked into the tunnel. He followed it cautiously. Soon, the sounds from the cavern faded to nothingness behind him, and the tension that had gripped him since discovering the spiritstriders’ hive finally began to ease.
The tunnel wound through a few turns before widening into a chamber where the path curved around the edge of a pool that lapped quietly against the stone. The ceiling sloped down toward the pool, leaving only a hand’s width of space between it and the water’s surface. A few clusters of crystal on the walls provided dim light.
“We rest a moment,” Urkot said quietly.
Sighing heavily, Callie relaxed. She lay there, limp atop him, several heartbeats longer before sliding down from his hindquarters. She stumbled as soon as her feet were on the floor.
