Page 52 of Emerald

It's not the same as before. This sound is fainter, more distant, but unmistakable. There are more of them.

"Fuck," I whisper, my voice trembling.

I stagger forward, my heart pounding in my chest as the chittering grows louder and closer. The creatures are coming, and I don't have the strength to run.

I don’t see the dark figure on the floor of the cave before I trip over it. After a painful crash to the ground, I have to swallow down the screech of terror that wants to rise when I see the gaping, green glowing maw.

Then I realize it’s dead, large scores across its black hide. There’s something even worse in this cave than the stinging bugs that are after me.

This is bad. This is really bad.

With my last bit of strength, I clutch the bundle of glowing mushrooms tighter, their soft light flickering as if mocking my futile attempt at escape.

Just as my legs give out beneath me, and I collapse against the wall, I hear something else—a different sound, deeper, more familiar.

Footsteps. Hurried, familiar.

That god awful chittering again.

I grab a nearby rock and lash out blindly, making contact with something solid.

Warm fluid splashes across my face and a vindictive scream bubbles past my lips as I repeat the motion again and again, screaming myself hoarse.

The feeling of life fluid splashing over my face is more cathartic than I care to admit. Too bad it doesn't stop me from keeling over after what feels like the thirtieth strike.

I can't feel my limbs.

Fuck…

16

Kroaicho

Iwakeslowly,thetightness in my limbs easing as I become aware of my body, no longer wracked with pain but sluggish with exhaustion. The familiar cold dampness of the soil surrounds me, cradling me like the deep cave system has done many times before. I flex each of my limbs, one by one, testing my strength. To my relief, my wounds have closed up. The ache is still there, a lingering reminder of the battle, but my body has done what it does best. Heal.

Faster than normal, judging by my lack of hunger, which is odd, but I don’t linger on the thought.

I push myself up, the soil sliding from my back and limbs as I rise out of the small pit I had dug. The crystals, my treasure, remain beside me, gleaming faintly in the dim light. I gather them, all four of my arms working methodically, gently brushing dirt from their surfaces before clutching them close. My hoard is safe, and I'm alive. A small, fleeting satisfaction flickers through me, but it's dulled by the nagging awareness gnawing at the edges of my thoughts.

Olivia.

The name surfaces in my mind unbidden, and immediately my skin flushes a deep, irritated violet. I know I've overslept. I know. I should have returned earlier. But my injuries… I needed time. Still, I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. It crawls up my spine as I shove the last crystal into my arms and begin the journey back, my pace quickening with every thudding step against the stone.

The cave is familiar, but I choose the shortcuts this time, the narrow tunnels that twist and turn but cut the distance down. My claws scrape against the jagged walls as I maneuver through the tight spaces, cursing under my breath. How long has it been? Did zha stay put? Probably not. Foolish, reckless human.

I push myself harder, my heart thudding in my chest. The air in these tunnels is damp, thick with the mineral staleness that clings to the back of my throat. But even that doesn't calm the irritation bubbling up within me. Why do I care? She's not my responsibility. The thought is ridiculous, and yet it's there, pulsing, undeniable.

When I finally emerge from the tunnels into the main cave, my arms full of treasure, my breathing ragged from the hurried pace, the first thing I notice is the emptiness. The silence. My eyes scan the cavern floor, the dim light making it hard to see at first. But then it hits me.

She's gone.

I feel a surge of frustration, so powerful it nearly makes my tusks ache. I toss the crystals to the ground in a fit of rage, the clattering noise echoing off the cave walls as they scatter wildly across the floor. I've never done that before. Not once have I treated my hoard with such carelessness, but right now I can hardly bring myself to care. I stalk across the cave, muttering curses in my native tongue, the sound low and sharp, but they do nothing to ease the storm inside me.

"How—how did I ever let zha into my life?" I snarl, the words hissing through my clenched teeth. My skin flares purple, then deepens into a dark, bruised shade as the frustration coils tighter in my chest.

This is why I shouldn't care. This is why. I lean against the stone wall, taking deep breaths to steady myself. After a long moment, I force myself to calm down, force my limbs to be still and push the rage back. It doesn't do me any good, not now.

With a resigned sigh, I move to gather the crystals again, handling them with more care this time. Piece by piece, I place them in my corner, where they belong. Normally, this would fill me with pride—admiring the shiny rocks, adding to my collection. But now, all I can think about is the human. The irritating, illogical human. Olivia.

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