I swallow. “It looks like the plants?”
Jolie nods grimly. “Exactly.”
“They’re connected,” Calista says. “But we don’t know how.”
Brook steps back, uncomfortable. I don’t blame her—she’s not built for this.
A Cavern Zmaj approaches, face tight.
“Is this poison?” he asks, speaking Common but his accent is thick. “This was not happening before we moved here. Is it…” He looks pointedly at the Urr’ki.
One of the Surface Zmaj rolls his eyes.
“Everything bad that happens is because of them,” the Surface Zmaj says in a mocking tone.
The Cavern Zmaj bares his teeth, barely suppressing a growl.
“At least we did not destroy the planet,” one of the Cavern Zmaj snaps.
“Nor did w—” Addison slams a bowl down so hard it cracks, cutting the Surface Zmaj off.
“Enough!” she shouts.
Silence drops instantly. Even the sick seem to flinch.
“This is not the time for old conflicts,” she snaps. “People are dying. It does not matter who did what in the past. What matters is now!”
All eyes swing to the Urr’ki, who tremble violently, their throats swelling with black streaks. Their breathing is shallow. Panic crawls under my skin.
“What’s your theory?” I ask Calista.
She exhales slowly, her shoulders sinking slightly as she leans closer.
“We think something is contaminating the oasis vegetation,” she says. “Something like a synthetic chemical. It cannot be native to Tajss.”
My heart thuds.
“Something human?” I whisper.
The generation ship carrying us crashed a decade or so ago, scattering wreckage across the desert. Could a portion of it have crashed here too—be the source of the poisoning? Calista gives a sharp nod.
“Addison found metallic dust in their vomit.”
Metallic dust. From what? Jolie touches my arm gently.
“We need someone to go toward the south ridge. Someone trained. Someone quiet.”
Calista adds, “Someone who knows the land.”
Brook chokes. “You’re picking her?”
“It makes sense,” Jolie says. “Lia is observant, she’s learned fast. And, most of all, she’s careful.”
I’m also young and easy to overlook—too small to threaten the Zmaj or intimidate the Urr’ki, too human to be momentous. My pulse pounds.
“You want me to go out there,” I say softly. “Alone.”
Calista holds my gaze with gentle but unyielding strength.
