Lines of bioluminescent fungi traced the lower walls of the tunnels.
Ignatia and Seraphina kept to the front of the group.
"I can barely see a thing," Ignatia muttered.
Luminara walked between her two guardians, each keeping a light hold on her arm.
Another pair of guardians carried the injured butterfly.
Valeria, Ari, and Beatrice led the way.
Beatrice glanced over her shoulder at the group.
So those are the butterflies... I've heard about them, but I've never actually seen one before. Why would they possibly want our help?
Far at the rear, Nytheris moved in silence, his dark eyes fixed ahead.
Seraphina slowed.
Her gaze followed the delicate shimmer lining the walls.
"What a peculiar world you tunnel dwellers have down here..."
She reached toward a cluster of glowing threads.
Her fingertips brushed the fungi.
The strands brightened beneath her touch.
Their glow spread through the cluster.
Valeria slowed and turned toward her.
"This fungi is our primary source of illumination. It keeps the deeper tunnels visible. Don't touch it too much or you'll disrupt the light cycles."
"You don't say. That was very obvious," Seraphina said.
Valeria held her stare for a moment.
Then she faced forward again.
Luminara raised her hand slightly.
Her two guardians adjusted immediately, matching her pace as she eased her stride.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"It's been a whole year since I last saw you, Seraphina. How have you been faring?"
Seraphina paused for a moment.
"'Holding up?'" she asked, her voice lowering.
"Luminara, you make it sound as if I'm fragile."
Her eyes drifted over Luminara.
"Though I can say I'm faring far better than you."
A small smile touched Luminara's lips.
"Still as sharp tongued as ever."
She adjusted her pace.
Her guardians matched her without a word.
"I asked because you matter to me, Seraphina."
"Your concern is touching," Seraphina said.
"But I don't need it."
Luminara's smile softened.
"Even so... hearing your voice from time to time brings me a bit of peace in all this turmoil."
Seraphina's step slowed for the briefest moment.
"You know, sister..."
"Your sentimentality is more suffocating than these tunnel walls."
Ignatia released a slow breath.
"This place is smothering."
She turned to Ari.
"When will we reach those larger chambers?" she asked.
"It opens up after a while," Ari said.
"There are larger chambers with air shafts farther in. The airflow gets better, too."
Ignatia closed her eyes.
"I'll take your word for it."
Ari took in a slow breath.
What have I gotten myself into...? I only wanted to offer them a place to rest. I never thought it'd turn into this mess.
He turned his head toward Ignatia.
Then his eyes shifted to Valeria.
Brooks didn't even warn me this was coming. Though... he did say I'd have to take responsibility. Now I've got to deal with those elders on top of everything else.
His shoulders sagged as he kept walking.
Beatrice slowed her pace until Ari caught up beside her.
"Ari..."
She looked ahead for a moment.
Then she turned to him.
"We need to talk."
Her hand slipped around his wrist.
She guided him a few steps to the side, leaving a small space between them and Ignatia.
Ignatia's crimson eyes followed them.
Her gaze lingered.
Her expression tightened.
Beatrice let go of Ari's wrist.
"What is it, Beatrice?" he asked.
"Tell me... why did you break formation in the forest and disregard Valeria's orders?"
"Oh..."
His voice dropped.
So that's what this is about.
"I'm sorry for leaving the squad, but... I just felt like I had to go in that direction. That's how I ended up finding those butterflies."
"That doesn't excuse what you did."
Beatrice's eyes stayed on him.
"You put all of us at risk the moment you acted on your own."
She took another step forward.
"On a mission, we're one unit."
"We move as one."
"The next time you decide to play hero..."
Her gaze hardened.
"Remember that."
Ari's mouth parted slightly.
I never thought about it like that...
When I was human... I was always alone.
At home.
At school.
Everywhere I went.
No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't fit into that world.
Keiko's smile surfaced in his mind.
She changed that.
It was lonely... but back then, I never had anyone counting on me.
No one I had to stand beside.
No one depended on me.
His eyes drifted toward the ceiling.
This is different.
I've changed... but...
I'm not sure I've really faced the hatred I carried as a human.
Or the fact that my mother is gone.
Not completely.
But now... I know they really depend on me here.
"Tell me, Beatrice..."
Beatrice turned toward him.
"Did everyone in our unit make it back... and what about Nora?" he asked.
There was a brief silence between them.
"They all made it back," Beatrice said.
"The others returned to their chambers, and Nova was taken to the recovery chambers to have her wounds treated."
She let out a quiet breath.
"Of course... hers weren't as serious as yours."
"I see..." Ari said.
"Ari..."
Beatrice's voice grew quieter.
She looked away as her hands tightened briefly at her sides.
"I also... wanted to apologize."
Ari blinked.
His brow drew together.
"Apologize?"
"For what exactly?" he asked.
"For not coming after you."
Ari's eyes widened slightly.
"You were injured, and I still chose to prioritize getting the squad back safely."
"I left you behind."
No way... Beatrice was actually worried about me...
Ari shook his head.
His steps slowed.
"Beatrice... you don't have to apologize."
"I was reckless."
"I'm the one who ran off without warning."
"You did the right thing."
"I don't blame you."
Beatrice blinked.
For a brief moment, she simply looked at him.
"I know you don't."
Her jaw tightened.
"And don't think for a second that I'm asking for forgiveness."
"I'd leave you out there again if the situation called for it."
They walked a few more paces in silence.
Their footsteps echoed softly through the tunnel.
Beatrice raised a finger and pointed at his shoulder.
"I'm giving you a warning."
"Don't ever pull a stunt like that again without checking with me first."
"You got it?"
Ari nodded.
His posture straightened slightly.
"Loud and clear."
"I'll be more careful."
"On that note... how did you even meet these butterflies?"
"And how did you get healed?"
"You were badly injured, but now it's like nothing ever happened."
"Well, that's..."
Ari barely got the words out.
Valeria's hand snapped forward.
Two fingers closed around one of his antennae.
She gave it a sharp tug.
Ari's head dipped with the pull.
His shoulders jumped.
His face twisted.
"Ow! Ow, ow! H hey!"
"Shut it," Valeria said.
"Save your breath."
"You'll need it in our meeting."
"Y you're gonna rip it off!"
Valeria gave his antenna one last tug before letting go.
"I can only hope."
Ari staggered back a step.
Both hands flew to the base of his antenna.
He rubbed it carefully as a sharp hiss slipped through his teeth.
Seraphina watched him for a moment.
Her eyelids lowered just a fraction.
"That looked painful... what a shame."
"I never expected you were already on such a short leash."
She paused.
"Too bad."
"Beatrice," Valeria said.
She didn't look back.
"Take the butterflies to the recovery chambers."
She nodded toward the injured butterfly.
"That one needs treatment before anything else."
"Yes, Captain."
Beatrice stepped forward.
She stopped in front of the butterflies and motioned toward the branching tunnel.
"This way."
Valeria turned to Luminara.
"Oh... Luminara, was it?"
"Once our meeting is over, I'll have someone escort you and your sisters."
Luminara dipped her head in a graceful bow.
The green cloth over her eyes shifted as she straightened.
"Your hospitality is appreciated."
"My sisters and I will remain at rest until we're summoned."
Beatrice turned and led the butterflies toward the branching tunnel.
Without another word, Valeria started walking.
After rubbing his antenna one last time, Ari hurried after her.
His eyes drifted toward Valeria every few steps.
Is she angry...?
I can't tell what she's thinking...
"Listen to me."
Ari flinched.
His shoulders tensed as he turned to her.
"Be prepared for the worst when the Council of Elders hears about this."
"They'll probably assume you betrayed the colony."
She kept her eyes forward.
"I'm warning you now."
"This is out of my hands."
Ari swallowed.
What does she mean...?
A heavy silence filled the meeting chamber.
Brooks and his squad lowered themselves into a deep bow before Queen Celeste.
They remained there until the Queen gave a small nod.
As one, they rose.
Brooks stepped forward.
His hands rested behind his back.
"We discovered what caused the disturbance in the earthworms' burrow south of the colony," he said.
"A large centipede drove them out."
"According to the reports from the other squads, that's why they fled in our direction and toward the northeast."
Queen Celeste listened without interruption.
"So they were originally driven from a burrow south of here..."
She rested a hand against her chin.
"I see..."
Her gaze lowered for a moment.
"Well, I suppose that concludes the earthworm crisis."
A quiet silence settled over the chamber.
"Though I can't help but wonder..."
"Why were the centipedes there in the first place?"
Brooks smiled.
"It seems like something nudged the first stone."
"We're only seeing what's rolled downhill."
The chamber fell quiet once more.
Several of the elders exchanged brief glances.
Queen Celeste studied Brooks for a moment before giving a small nod.
"Your report is appreciated, Brooks."
"You and your soldiers are dismissed."
Brooks inclined his head.
His squad followed with crisp salutes before turning to leave.
As they stepped into the quieter corridor beyond the chamber, Brooks released a slow breath through his nose.
His eyes drifted toward the tunnel ahead.
I can't shake the feeling there's more to the centipedes... and the earthworms.
His gaze lingered for another moment.
Well... time has a way of bringing the truth to light.
A faint smile settled on his face.
As Brooks passed Ari and Valeria in the narrow tunnel, his eyes shifted between them.
He gave a small nod before continuing on.
I see... so he managed to win her over.
Ari watched Brooks disappear down the corridor.
Wait... Brooks was in there.
Did he tell them about the butterflies?
His jaw tightened.
No... don't start overthinking.
His eyes lifted toward the massive boulder sealing the chamber.
The Queen...
The Council of Elders...
They're all waiting on the other side.
He drew in a slow breath.
Then he stepped forward.
Princess Emilia stretched in her seat.
A quiet yawn escaped her lips.
Her wings unfolded with a light flutter before settling behind her.
She brushed away the small tear gathering at the corner of her eye with the tip of her finger.
I didn't expect sitting through all these reports to be this exhausting...
A small smile tugged at her lips.
Still... hearing about everyone's missions has been interesting.
A low scrape echoed through the chamber.
Stone ground against stone as the massive boulder sealing the entrance slowly shifted aside.
A cool draft drifted through the opening.
Valeria stepped inside.
Ari followed close behind.
Emilia looked up.
Her eyes widened.
Her breath caught.
"No way..."
Her hand flew to her mouth.
Ari...
He's alive...