Chrysalis

[He's close! We need to get all minds on the job. Try and find his mana signature. It'll be hard, he's good at hiding, so we need to get on this now!]

[Anthony…] Sarah's mind hesitantly reaches out to mine.

[Later,] I tell her brusquely, [I can hear what you have to say later. The Colony won't be dissuaded on this, not after what he did.]

I switch my mind directly to my allies.

[Crinis, reach out through the shadows, cover as much ground as you can.]

I reach back and pat her with one antenna.

[This will be a huge strain on you, so be careful. It's important, but not more important than you are.]

[I understand, master.]

[Al, I need you to help track down this worm.]

[I do not understand. Confusion. What is a worm?]

[It's a type of creature that’s long and burrows through the ground. Just try and find the damn traitor, please?]

[I will try.]

As I've been talking all of my minds have already bent themselves to the task of tracing the mana that Jim wove with such cunning. I refuse to believe he's so good that he can hide all evidence of his weaving.

Wherewherewherewherewherewherewherewherewherewherewhere?!?!

AHA! A sniff!

[This way!] I roar over the mind bridge to my team and we rush northwards. [Crinis! Let's go!]

call to her before I dash forward like a terrier on the trail. He covered his tracks as carefully as only a true coward can, but he can't compete with my mind power! Once I put Invidia and Al on the case, our grip on his trail becomes even tighter. Unfortunately, he’s just moving

we rush through the tunnels, brushing past numerous demons who we simply knock to the side, unwilling to waste time fighting them. A quick right hook from Tiny and a dash is usually enough to put them in

tunnel,

most likely the one he used to reach us in

it's

[Dammit!]

it is. The only thing this idiot is good for is betrayal and running away! But we have the scent and I sure as hell am not going to let him off that easy. Run! Like the wind, Anthony! A thousand thoughts try to intrude on my mind as we run. I spent time with

cold. I can't afford

Do you have

too fast. I'm not able

as he doesn't get too far ahead then we can follow the trail no matter where it

helps him hide his mana. I know he's not that far away, but I can't seem to grab hold of his core despite the fact that I should be able to sense it at my level of mana sight. I have a dozen minds out sweeping ahead, hunting for every little skerrick of energy that leaks beyond the fleeing coward's control and it's barely enough to

shouldn't be all that surprising, considering he's a worm, but he's one

sense something change. I screech to a halt as I cast my senses about, trying to determine what has happened. My sense of Jim is fading, but not in the way it was previously. The

going up! He might be

surface?] Crinis

plains! I think he might be leaving the tunnels! Quick! We need to

as we run and climb our way out of

[Thissss way.]

[You're sure?]

[Alwaysssss sure!]

for me, let's

carpeted in battling demon larvae, we continue to run as somewhere ahead of

the thoughts forward wildly, blasting out a wave of mind magic which may or may not even reach

up within me but under the effect of meditation I allow it

don't want to let her know why you betrayed her? Did you know she almost

mind and I turn my head a little to stare

[… sorry,] I mumble.