Instantly, Griffith opened his eyes as if his snores were merely a clever illusion meant to deceive… us, I guess?

“Get everyone up!” he instructed with urgency. “Quietly.”

Thea and I moved as the world started to darken. When I shook Lyra and Velea silently, putting a finger to my lips, I looked up.

Vohan was closing the skylight of the dome he had created.

I turned to him. “Leave a small hole.”

He furrowed his brow, but after a moment, nodded.

Considering my sense didn’t spread through the solid ground, I didn’t want to leave us completely blind. Luna and I could hopefully perceive something through a gap. Even if small.

Thea and I got everyone else up and at attention, the dogs being the only to make a small commotion, but went silent with a stern look from Marcus.

With one look from me, Bristle—Ok, I know it’s dark. But I’m sure of it. That dog just nodded at me, right?

“You can understand me boy, can’t you?” I sent a phantom wiper to him.

He crooked his head, obviously not understanding at all, walking up and sitting on my feet. 

I rubbed his head, trying my best to maneuver the Spirit Sense I now had.

It was strange, the first time I noticed it was looking at the island from the beach. Then traveling through the forest. But I never willed it to do anything. 

If I focused on something in the distance, then I could sort of zoom in on it while keeping my current peripheral vision active.

But now it was more or less pitch black, and I was trying to see around me through a hole above us all. One that was still closing.

Now, I doubted one of our old orbs could even barely fit through it.

I think the pitch black actually helped. Less sensory overload. Though, recently, it did seem like I handle more of that too.

Maybe it was good Thea and Griffith were paying closer attention to the changes. There could be some so passive, I never bothered to think about them.

Luna, can you help me look out?

No problem, she responded. If anything approaches, I’ll say something.

I locked my eyes on the gap, activating True Sight at the same time.

Okay. Breathe. Focus. 

With a thought, I could see outside the dome. Really see, not just outlines, but details in the dirt and gravel making up the structure. Sound of the wind entered my ears, but unlike before, it felt like everything around my actual person had vanished. 

If someone talked to me right now, I don’t think I would be able to hear it.

A limitation to the sense? Or was I not actually using it before and instead experiencing the benefits of the Harmonic Foundation?

For now there was nothing in our vicinity. But time passed, and that changed.

Trudging through the forest, there were dozens at first.

Elongated torsos with webbed claws. Slippery, almost eel-like movement as they dragged themselves over rock and root. Their scales were soaked in a sheen that shimmered like wet moss.

They climbed the dome rather than go around.

Then more. Much, much more.

Peter? Luna warned.

Yeah. No, I got it.

Dozens more, then hundreds. All the same species.

A low growl rolled out from one of the creatures, followed by a snap of its jaws, discolored drool falling from its mouth. Another answered with clicks and shrill chatters, its hooked-teeth flashing as the two jostled in place. A few others swatted at each other with thin tails.

Then one lifted its head, and I saw more.

Frills.

A thin, spongy mane wrapped around the neck like a lion’s, but flexed and pulsed with movement.

It got louder, the scatter of steps turning into a stampede of noise.

All heading in a single direction. Toward the Vein.

I felt someone shake me and the vision disappeared.

“Mister Ironscribe is having some trouble,” Thea whispered.

I looked over… still pitch black. Instead, I activated my domain and walked toward the flashing figure.

“Are you alright?” I asked him.

He didn’t respond, so I figured he was exerting a lot of focus.

Crack.

I heard the sound from the distance, just before a pillar surged from the ground, supporting whatever section was suffering under all the weight.

I turned toward the shape I assumed was Elric, standing next to two other figures. “How many blades can you use?”

“What? What blades?" Sia responded.

Stupid dainty guy. “Point to your boyfriend!”

“No need to be rude,” she huffed.

“Sure. Also, your mom and you. How many multitarget spells do you know?” I added as she lifted her arm. 

“Mom probably knows a ton.”

I focused my attention on Elric next. “Get ready.”

“We going out?”

he asked.

“Yep.”

Back to Griffith. “Can you create a spot for us to get through? Considering they’re obviously predators, they might give chase to some free food.”

“Rnng,” he grunted in response.

Peter? Luna chimed in.

One second.

Almost making a full three sixty, I focused in on another person, this time actually hitting the mark. “Can you keep up with our speed?”

Miss Star jumped, but answered. “Scared me! Don’t do that… Keep up with kids. Yeah, easy enough.”

“Walk over to me.”

“Where is that?” she asked, shaking her head. Or her form just fizzled a bit. Hard to tell.

Screw it. “Elric, Sia, Miss Star. Get over here please.” I gave up, speaking in a normal whisper.

They did.

Peter? Luna came again.

Yeah, sorry what’s up?

“WOOOAAHM.”

The call again. But this time, much louder, much closer.

Nevermind, Luna answered, obviously not needing to alert me of whatever was the new thing. Oh, actually, a couple stopped when you spoke. I think they are curious.

I sent out my Spirit Sense again, just for a moment. Not just to confirm what Luna had told me, which was true, but to see the giant beast approaching slowly. Surrounded by smaller versions of itself.

It really didn’t look all that different, but there was a detail I could make out due to its size.

Under the strange mane were gills.

Maybe that spongy outcropping was to keep its skin moist?

These things must be some sort of aquatic creature with the ability to go on land… or the Dragon Vein is just that amazing that they would suffocate themselves.

Doubt it.

The—I'll call it alpha—of the group was about three times the size of the others.

Its steps shook loose bits of debris from the roots above. Same slick, scaled skin as the rest, but broader. The mane around its neck was near golden and thicker, surrounding it like soaked seaweed and silk.

The others slithered back at its arrival. Some even dropped low in submission.

It raised its head.

WOOOAAHM.

The sound rolled out again.

Actually, one more person. “Thea, come here too.”

Lightning seemed like a good option.

One definitely heard that… I think it’s digging, Luna informed.

Thea quickly walked up putting all of us together.

“RRG!” Another grunt from the commander as a pillar exploded from under the small group, heading straight up.

A new hole was created just above us, replaced by the pillar as we flew, disconnected from the land… landing toward a horde of very pleased, and hungry looking lizard-fish.

Crack—crackle!

A weave of frost-blue lightning darted downward, moving like a serpent through four different monsters giving us just enough room to—

“Crap!”

I couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t possible, right? 

Even as the rest landed, I stood in shock, uncaring of the monsters encroaching on me.

“Peter, move!” Sia shouted, helping her boyfriend up.

“I’m enjoying the moment!” I fired back, nearly crying. Thea tugged at me, hard, preventing me from really sealing in the moment. 

Maybe he had expected to land gracefully on an aquatic lizard. Some amazing moments of skill and valor, but Thea had ruined it. Causing a shift in position for his original landing. 

Elric had slipped. Messed up. Embarrassed himself in a situation so dangerous.

And I loved it.

I moved all the energy I could in my body straight to the vortex at its center, still basking in the experience. “Everyone, get ready to run.” I turned to Elric, doing my best to adopt something close to the commander's authoritative voice. “Shape up!”

I don’t think I’d ever seen him genuinely annoyed.

“Now?!” he shouted, obviously not appreciating my timing.

My entire foundation shook at that moment.

More World Force that I had ever experienced flew to me, condensing, then shot away.

An enormous pressure fell on me in an instant. And all faces turned my way. I mean all. Easily over a hundred ravenous beasts forgot about the others, ignoring their original target and zoned in.

As the alpha angled its head curiously at me, much like Bristle before, time felt as if it had stopped.

It opened its mouth, forked tongue flinking across its lips hungrily as a single glob of drool fell on one of its companions.

Ssss.

The smaller beast writhed in pain only for a moment, as the slime burned through its skull. It twitched. Then flopped on the ground.

I want that. Get me some, Luna requested.

“Peter, run.” Thea whispered.

I didn’t need to be told twice. I summoned every ounce of power, forcing it to my legs, and jumped.

Everything followed.

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