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!]

totally hidden from sight, so I make sure to 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

tunnels, brushing past numerous demons who we simply knock to the side, unwilling to

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

to reach us in

it's

[Dammit!]

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

I sink myself deep into meditation, letting my emotions run cold. I

Do you

not able to catch up to

As long as he doesn't get too far ahead then we can follow the trail no

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

be all that surprising, considering he's a worm, but he's

trying to determine what has happened. My sense of Jim is fading,

going up! He might be going to

surface?] Crinis

be leaving the tunnels! Quick! We need to

us, as we run and climb our way out of

[Thissss way.]

[You're sure?]

[Alwaysssss sure!]

for

larvae, we continue to run as somewhere ahead of us, just below the surface, Jim continues

wildly, blasting out a 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 to your own

only serves to 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 she almost died because of you? Why don't

I

[… sorry,] I mumble.