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!]

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 on the case, our grip on his trail becomes

knock to the side, unwilling to

pre-dug tunnel, master.

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

it's collapsing behind

[Dammit!]

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

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

Do you

not able to catch up to

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

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

considering he's a worm, but

my senses about, trying to determine what has happened. My sense of Jim is fading, but not in the way

going up! He might be going

surface?] Crinis asks,

think he might be

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

[Thissss way.]

[You're sure?]

[Alwaysssss sure!]

enough for me, let's

larvae, we continue to run as somewhere ahead of us, just below

or may not even reach

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

let her know why you betrayed her? Did you know she almost died because of you? Why don't you

me with her mind and I turn my head a little

[… sorry,] I mumble.