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“Here they’re way more territorial.” Kal moved slightly closer as they passed another group of spiders. “In the south, theymostly ignore humans unless we get too close to their nests. Then they get aggressive.”

The tunnel widened into a larger chamber, its ceiling lost in the darkness above them. Lila noticed how both boys tensed slightly as they entered the space.

“But you’ve dealt with them before? You know about them?”

“Everyone who lives here knows about them,” Kal said, his voice echoing slightly in the chamber. “They’re part of the planet. Important part, actually. They maintain the cave systems, build these amazing structures underground.” He pointed to a series of perfectly symmetrical holes in the chamber wall. “No one knows why they make those patterns, but they’re everywhere in the south, too.”

“The southern continent,” she said thoughtfully. “That’s where you grew up then? Why aren’t you there now?”

Tor’s hand unconsciously went to his throat, and Kal’s expression hardened.

“We had to leave,” Kal said shortly. “There was an attack. We… we lost a lot of people.”

A skittering sound from above made them all look up, though the ceiling remained hidden in shadow. She noticed how Kal shifted his position slightly, placing himself between her and whatever might be up there. Tor’s eyes tracked the movement, and the krevasta ahead adjusted their formation subtly, several skittering off and climbing the walls up into the darkness. Scouts?

“But you’ve never seen them act like this?” she asked, bringing the conversation back to the spiders. The krevasta. “Even after all your time here?”

Kal shook his head. “Never.”

He glanced at Tor, whose attention was fixed on the path ahead. There was something they weren’t telling her.

The tunnel widened enough for them to walk three abreast. The floor was clear, and there was enough light that she could see well enough to walk without tripping over anything.

Kal drifted back to talk to Tor while she walked ahead, just behind the lead spiders. The krevasta continued their strange procession, their legs making soft clicking sounds against the stone.

“…can’t risk it…” Kal’s voice was barely audible.

Tor’s response was too quiet to hear, but his tone carried an edge of frustration.

“…seen what they can do…”

She tried to focus on where she was placing her feet, but her attention kept drifting to their hushed argument behind her.

“…not like before… could be infected…”

Her steps faltered. Infected? She glanced at the spiders as Tor made a harsh sound in the back of his throat.

“…your fault if…can’t control all of them…” Kal’s words were clearer now, worry evident in his voice. “…if they decide to…”

She’d had enough. Planting her feet firmly on the ground, she spun around to face them both. “Okay, that’s it. Whatever you two are whispering about back there… Spit it out.”

Kal and Tor exchanged guilty looks. The black armoring around Tor’s throat rippled as he swallowed uncomfortably.

“Is this about me? Am I in danger?” she demanded. Then she snorted, looking around at the alien cave system and the surrounding spiders. “Okay, am I inmoredanger?”

The silence stretched between them, broken only by the soft clicking of the waiting spiders. Neither of them would look her in the eye.

“Well?” She crossed her arms, fixing them both with a hard stare. “I think I deserve to know if something else is trying to kill me down here.”

The silence stretched out, but Kal finally broke.

“The krevasta,” he started but then stopped, shooting an apologetic look at Tor. “I’m worried about them… infecting you.”

Her blood turned to ice in her veins. Her gaze darted to the nearest krevasta, its multifaceted eyes reflecting the bioluminescent glow of the cave. “Infecting me? What do you mean infecting me?”

Kal shifted uncomfortably, still avoiding her eyes. “They… well, they used to…”

“Used to what?” she demanded, her heart hammering against her ribs. When Kal hesitated again, she fixed him with a hard stare. “Kal, I swear, if you don’t tell me right now?—”

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