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!]

He covered his tracks as carefully as only a true coward can, but he can't compete

worm so nimble?!] I rant as 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

travelling down a pre-dug tunnel, master. I can

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

believe it's collapsing

[Dammit!]

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

impulses away I sink myself deep into meditation, letting my emotions run cold. I can't afford to get distracted when the trail is this

you have

fast. I'm not able to

yourself too hard. As long as he doesn't get too far ahead then we can

organ or skill that 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

be all that surprising, considering he's a

change. I screech to a halt as I cast my senses about, trying to determine what has happened. My sense of

going up! He might be

surface?] Crinis

be leaving the tunnels! Quick! We

passage speeding him on his way it takes far less time for the worm to wriggle his way up than it does for us, as we run and climb our way out of the tunnels our hold on the trail grows ever more faint.

[Thissss way.]

[You're sure?]

[Alwaysssss sure!]

enough for me,

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

wave of mind magic which may or may not even reach him. [Didn't you have something to say? Come back! Or are you unwilling to face up

me but under

sure you don't want to let her know why you betrayed her? Did you know she almost died because of you? Why don't you come on back and apologise? My mandibles will

I

[… sorry,] I mumble.