A thunderous boom shook the mountainside. Several Sentry horses reared, snorting, hooves scraping at the stone. Dem's head snapped toward the rising plume of smoke and ash unfurling into the cold sky.
Reyka's breath hitched. "That's the main shaft!"
"Move!" Dem heeled his mare hard, and the Sentry force surged forward into the narrow pass.
Relief flickered across Reyka's face as soon as they emerged into the wide basin beyond. Hundreds of Frostridge clansmen swarmed the collapsed entrance, hauling stones by hand, shouting orders, sweating, bleeding—fighting for time.
Dem raised a fist. "Dismount. Hold fast. Telo and Reyka—on me."
Murmurs rippled through the Frostridge workers as they noticed the Sentry force. Dozens of faces turned. Whispering rose like wind.
"Reyka!" Taigon spotted his daughter, shock flashing across his stern features before the deeper worry returned. "What are you doing here?"
Reyka threw her arms around him. Dem answered instead.
"Our job," Dem said. "We're the Sentry force, remember?" His gaze swept the long human chain passing rocks down the line. "Cave-in?"
"Two days ago." Taigon dragged a hand through his white hair. "I don't know how we'll reach them in time."
"Should be plenty of air," Dem said. "Why 'too late'?"
Taigon pressed his lips tight. "The ore here releases a toxic byproduct. We vent the shaft during breaks, keep the miners safe. But the collapse happened before the midday purge." His voice cracked. "They're trapped in poison, Dem. Slowly dying."
"And you think they have… what? A day left?" Dem asked quietly.
"If they retreated to the deeper tunnels—maybe." Taigon turned back to his people, shouting, "Keep moving! Every stone matters!"
Dem grabbed Reyka's wrist gently. "With me."
She followed quickly, worry etched on every line of her face. "What are we going to do? I have family in there. Should we help clear rubble?"
"No." Dem shook his head. "Your father already knows it won't be in time. I think… maybe we can help another way. But I need answers first."
"Anything."
"Are there cracks? Gaps? Any way a small creature could get inside?"
Reyka blinked. "The ventilation shafts. But they're tiny, Dem. Too small for anyone. Even you wouldn't fit—you'd need to be the size of a toddler."
Dem's eyes shifted to Telo. "I need you, Sark, Dael, and Umi."
"I'll get them." Telo strode off.
Dem turned back to Reyka. "Is there a ventilation shaft that can't be seen from here?"
"Yes—dozens. Why does—"
"Less talking," Dem said, though his tone stayed gentle. "Just trust me. We can help your people."
He strode toward Taigon, who looked one question away from snapping at anyone.
"I know you're busy, so I'll be direct," Dem said. "Would accessing the interior help?"
Taigon paused, just for a heartbeat. "There's a mining drill inside. Runs on coal. It would be empty now. We keep the coal outside until detoxing. If someone could reach it, turn it around… Nevermind, it's empty."
"I can get in," Dem said.
"No one can get in," Taigon repeated. "We've searched every vent."
"Not the way I can." Dem's voice cut through the rising panic around them. "Tell me what you need."
Taigon stared into Dem's eyes, something like hope flickering. "You have your storage ring?"
Dem lifted a hand. The ring wasn't visible against his skin. "Always."
"Then take enough coal to fill the drill's reservoir. Start it. Turn it toward the collapse." Hope broke across Taigon's grief like a crack of dawn. "You really can get in there?"
"Yes," Dem said simply. "Keep your people working."
He pivoted sharply and returned to Reyka—now flanked by Telo, Sark, Umi, and Dael.
"Take me to the coal first, Reyka."
She didn't waste breath on questions—just broke into a trot. The coal pile was enormous, head-sized chunks stacked higher than their heads.
"How much fills the drill?" Dem asked.
Reyka shook her head helplessly. "I don't know."
"I do," Sark said. He pointed to a metal wagon nearby. "Fill that, and it'll load the reservoir."
Telo called over half a dozen Sentries, and in minutes, they had the wagon piled high.
"How exactly does this help—?" Reyka stopped as Dem vaulted onto the wagon. His hands blurred, brushing each lump until the entire load vanished into his storage ring.
Sark blew out a breath. "One day… I'm getting one of those."
"Show us the vent," Dem said. "Everyone else—back to helping the Frostridge."
Reyka took off up a narrow trail, climbing fast toward a steep ridgeline. After a long switchback, a hidden vent came into view—a metal grate half-buried in rock.
"No one can see us from here," Reyka said.
Dem immediately began undressing. Telo, without hesitation, followed suit.
Reyka blinked. "Why are you… what are you…?"
"You'll want your clothes on the inside," Dem said, storing everything neatly away. "You three shy?"
Umi jabbed a finger at Telo. "No looking!"
Telo looked offended. "Why me? I'm naked too!"
Reyka stared determinedly at the sky. On any other day, the absurdity might have sent her laughing off the cliff. "Now what?"
"How long is the vent?" Dem asked.
"Less than a hundred meters," Reyka said.
Dem nodded. "All right. This part is dangerous. Run as fast as you can. I go first. Dael and Umi next. Sark third. Telo last."
Sark eyed the shaft. "I have no idea what's happening."
Dem's grin sharpened. His eyes bled crimson.
"Escadomai."
The air burst into scarlet mist—and a sleek black rat shot into the shaft like an arrow.
Confusion erupted behind him. Umi and Dael were suddenly hares—light brown and midnight black—both staring at each other with wide eyes. Sark had become a long white snake, and Umi bolted instinctively with her brother right behind her. The snake slithered after them, either following or hunting; it was hard to tell.
Telo's red fox form wriggled into the shaft last, barely fitting. Reyka, the Winter Wolf, remained outside—blue eyes fierce as she tipped her head back and howled.
Dem dropped from the vent into the main shaft moments later, landing lightly. Torches were mostly extinguished—miners conserving every breath of clean air.
The brown hare tumbled out next, then the black one, both retreating quickly from the snake that slid into view. Telo followed in a flash of russet fur.
Dem released them all, exhaling hard as he staggered once. "Four is… a bit much."
He pulled clothing from his ring, handing each Sentry their gear.
"Oh Saints!" Umi exclaimed as she dressed, glowing with excitement. "That was me? A hare? Did you know?"
"Yes," Dem said simply, already dressed himself. "I can see everyone's beastkin. And I can induce a change."
Sark straightened, flexing arms and shoulders, grinning. "I haven't felt this good in twenty summers."
Dem's tone shifted, serious and low. "This stays secret. One day we won't have to hide it—but today isn't that day. Lead us to the drill."
Sark jogged ahead. "This way. The machine's at the back of the primary shaft. I know it well."
They ran down the mine tunnel, footsteps echoing.
"Stop." Dem raised a hand.
Sark froze. "What is it?"
"Someone ahead." Dem's eyes darkened, focusing past the rock. "City scents. But the air smells wrong. Blood spilled. These aren't trapped miners."
Sark's jaw tightened.
Dem's shadow blades unfurled in both hands, armor rippling into place like liquid shadow.
"Quiet approach," Dem ordered. "Telo with me. Twins in the middle. Sark rear guard."
They moved in silence—swift, controlled, deadly—into the dark where enemies waited.
Dem vanished into the dark like a snapped shadow, his blades already moving before the others fully processed what they were seeing.
Two miners lay dead on the stone floor, crossbow bolts jutting from their chests. Three crossbowmen lounged with their weapons slung carelessly, while another trio of swordsmen guarded a robed man as he traced glowing runes onto the ground.
The mage never finished his next stroke.
Dem's blades punched through his back and into his heart, the withdrawal spraying blood in an arc across the half-drawn sigils.
All three crossbows fired at once—bolts loosed from only a few meters away.
Dem pushed off the floor with one hand, somersaulting upward. His feet found the smooth stone wall, body twisting elegantly as the bolts clattered harmlessly into the dirt beneath him.
The twins had their bows up immediately—two quiet twangs, two arrows streaking past Dem's shoulder. Telo's spear hissed through the air. Sark barreled forward with surprising speed for an old man.
Dem landed behind the swordsmen, forcing them to pivot toward him. Two never finished turning—Telo and Sark's spears rammed cleanly through their ribs. The crossbows hit the ground a heartbeat later, their owners following in broken heaps.
The last crossbowman bolted down the hall, shrieking.
Dem intercepted the final swordsman—steel clashed once—and then Dem's dagger carved a deep line across the man's throat. Blood fountained as he collapsed.
A spear flashed past Dem's ear.
Telo's throw struck the fleeing man square in the back, pinning him to the floor.
Silence settled.
Blood pooled, bodies twitched their last, and all six intruders lay dead.
Dem scanned the group. "No injuries?"
All shook their heads.
Sark crouched by the incomplete rune, studying the strokes. "I've seen something like this before—years ago. It's a transport rune, I think."
"People or equipment?" Telo asked, retrieving his spear.
Sark lifted one shoulder. "Can't say."
"Strip them," Dem said. "Search everything. Taigon can decide what happens to the bodies."
He knelt by the mage, tugging a ring from the cooling hand. "These storage rings are supposed to be rare. So why do we keep finding them?"
"Luck," Telo said, rifling through pockets.
"Destiny," Umi whispered, eyes shining as she watched Dem. "You're incredible, Commander."
Dael elbowed her, scowling. "Stop staring and search the rest, Umi."
She stuck her tongue out at him but obeyed.