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!]

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

knock to the side, unwilling to waste time fighting

pre-dug tunnel, master. I

likely the one he used to reach us in the first place. Any chance we

believe it's collapsing behind

[Dammit!]

the wind, Anthony! A thousand thoughts

meditation, letting my emotions run cold. I can't afford to get distracted

you

too fast. I'm not able to catch up

push yourself too hard. As long as he doesn't get too far ahead

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

considering he's a worm, but he's

I shout as I 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

up! He might be

Crinis

be leaving the tunnels!

climb our way out of the tunnels our hold on the trail grows ever more faint. By the

[Thissss way.]

[You're sure?]

[Alwaysssss sure!]

for me, let's

carpeted in battling demon larvae, we continue to run as somewhere ahead of us, just below the

of mind magic which may or may not even reach him. [Didn't

cause anger to bubble up within me but under the effect of meditation I allow

is right here,] I taunt, [you sure you don't want to let her know why you betrayed her? Did you know

her mind and I turn my head

[… sorry,] I mumble.