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"I can manage both."

Halver moved through the perimeter in Veylith form, nose low as he followed scent beyond the trap field. He disappeared for several minutes, then returned from the east and shook water from his scaled shoulders.

Corian looked at him. "Anyone nearby?"

Halver sat.

Dannian interpreted. "Old trail?"

Halver dipped his head.

"Good enough," Corian said. "We clear the animals, record everything, then move. Nykos, find the power source."

"I can feel it," I said.

Corian looked at me.

I pointed rather than moving. "Under the broad leaves behind the second trap. Something living is generating the charge."

Dannian followed my gesture. "Living?"

"Algae, I think."

Nykos moved carefully around the dead space between the wires and used telekinesis to lift the leaves without approaching them.

A sealed metal unit appeared beneath.

Inside its transparent central chamber, strands of brilliant blue-green algae pulsed slowly.

I crouched where I was, keeping the safe distance Corian had established. "Volt algae. It stores electrical charge when disturbed. Several aquatic species use it defensively."

The trapped animals struggled again, muscles tearing and nerves firing as I closed my eyes for one second and felt one of them beginning to lose strength.

"Corian."

"I know."

"The smallest one is deteriorating."

"How long?"

I focused.

"Minutes before it becomes serious. Longer before it dies."

His eyes stayed on mine. "Thank you."

Corian turned toward Alex. "Can you lift the whole unit without grounding the current through yourself?"

"With Air, yes."

"Don't."

Alex sighed. "Why ask?"

"Because I needed to know."

Nykos crouched on the safe side of the trap field. "I can hold the wires off the ground with telekinesis while he moves the unit."