Page 14 of Shifter King
He held up one of the bands. "It's a suppression field. Blocks most scents until the suppression field collapses when the creature dies or the power source runs out. In this case, it's both as the tra as the power source is connected to the creature. It uses only the smallest amount of tra, which means that even if we had the ability to track the use of this technology, it would likely pass unnoticed."
"It's very clever." AaQar prodded one of the bands with a thin-bladed dagger. "Tiablo or perhaps Abliato technology that mimics lower Bealorn skills and fuses them together. With tools like this, they likely don't even need the Bealorns, which I doubt is good for the Bealorns."
Naatos grunted. He stood, wiping his hands on his trousers. "Don't remove the strips from those bands, Amelia. They record data and then transmit it at a set time. Our faces may be on it if we did not successfully eliminate that information, but yours does not need to be."
"It transmits at a set time? Do you know when it's going to start?" She stepped back, her gaze falling to the massive insect.
"Perhaps a few hours. It's hard to say for certain. QueQoa and I will take the bodies to the river and deposit them there. Between the current and the predators, the tech will be damaged beyond repair. They're likely to assume natural causes. Leviathan, parnassa monsters, crocs, and jumping groupers should still live in these parts, and they are more than happy to devour mantises. You'll return to the campsite with AaQar and WroOth and make preparations for our move."
Nodding, she shivered. "What are these for then?"
"Herding or tracking or training. It honed in on WroOth for some reason," AaQar said. "It didn't try to kill him. Just incapacitate him and move him in a particular direction."
WroOth and QueQoa climbed up out of the bunker. Smoke curled up around them, faint and pale. It disappeared almost as soon as it passed their heads. QueQoa gave a dramatic shrug, then put his hand on WroOth's bloodied shoulder and pointed down at the entrance as he said something in a low voice.
WroOth folded his arms. His mouth quirked. After QueQoa said something else, he smiled crookedly and held up his hands. Then he rapped two fingers against his neck. Something bulged along his trachea. Putting his hands around his mouth, he leaned over the bunker opening and blasted down a great arc of red-yellow fire.
QueQoa laughed, tapped him with the back of his hand to move him aside, and then did the same. Except his fire was blue and yellow.
WroOth just shook his head. He pushed QueQoa back with both hands, then took his spot once more at the front of the entrance. This time, he closed one eye, leaned forward, and hurled down green and blue fire.
Naatos set his arms akimbo. "The scent suppression needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Unless we spot them visually, we will be dealing with ambushes. Heat vision can compensate some but not as fully." He turned toward the bunker as QueQoa hurled down green and purple flames. Rolling his eyes, he growled, then raised his voice. "What are you two doing?"
"Cleaning out the bunker." WroOth grinned, but it still didn't reach his eyes. "You needn't worry. No one will see the smoke."
QueQoa offered another big shrug. "It takes care of the smell as well. Saves us a day or two of waiting and sterilizes everything."
Naatos sighed heavily. "QueQoa, you're with me. We're dealing with these mantises. WroOth, find your boot. You and AaQar and Amelia are going back to camp."
WroOth mumbled something under his breath. He then strode toward the second pile of trees.
Amelia frowned. This really wasn't good.
Naatos returned his focus to her. "You're all right to return to the camp?"
"Of course. I'm going to be fine, Naatos. And we've got the rels for now, so it isn't like I have to fight. Especially with AaQar being able to make more."
He gripped her arm, then kissed her gently. "Don't get hurt and don't do anything foolish."
She rolled her eyes playfully even as her heart fluttered. "Now I want to." She then nudged him. "Be careful out there."
A SIGN
The return to the camp passed without event. WroOth remained uncharacteristically silent though he either found his boot or made a new one. AaQar was also quiet except to point out a large lumbering beetle that smelled like old frying oil. "That's a goliath tunneler," he said quietly. It was as big as a bison. "They aren't tremendously dangerous though they may try to pick you up and carry you back to their nest."
"Sounds charming," she said.
"They'll seal you to the wall or floor and leave you there until you die. Then they'll eat you later when you've started to decompose and the corpse mushrooms have started to grow on you."
She grimaced. "You sound very calm about all that."
Chuckling a little, he shook his head. "Well, they have an obvious scent and are easy to track. And while their lairs can be challenging to navigate for the unprepared or the unwary, for us they've really just been more of an annoyance. Some of the cadres kept them as pets. They eat anything; the prey they snatch is for the hatching season or Grey Season, depending on the time of the year. If you're ever in a goliath tunneler's lair, use the scent to guide you out. Fairly standard. Though if you smell something overly floral and earthy do not head in that direction."
"All right." She made a note of that. It was strange for WroOth to not be participating in this conversation at all. A muscle worked in his jaw as he appeared deep in thought.
AaQar continued. "I would assume you would know this, but, just in case, if a mushroom does ever try to get your attention and beckons you close, you know not to do so?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "If a mushroom tried to get my attention, I'd have many other questions."
