the Fiuri here seemed to be darker Greens, but she also saw a number of Reds. Scientists, she realised, probably working on new medicines and new cures. Nobody was smiling or laughing, unlike Cave Seventeen where even the poorest Fiuri children seemed to have a ready smile or a game of pat-the-puffball to play.
Ever onward they droned through the gloomy tunnels, past fields and forests of mushrooms, through a world so far removed from pleasant Cave Seventeen that Shioni felt anxious to the point of nausea. By evening they had passed through but a ‘small slice’ of Fifteen, according to Viri and Char, and were on their way through the connecting tunnels to Cave Fourteen, home of the crystal workers.
Suddenly, Viridelle shouted, “Slow down!”
The drivers hauled at their reins, barking commands to slow the great Vermilion Dragonflies as they approached a mountain of rubble.
A cave-in! Shioni peered past the Yellow Fiuri driver. A vast section of tunnel wall had collapsed inward, avalanching rock and pulverised crystal across a broad plain of lurid pink mushrooms. The trail of destruction continued to the opposite wall, where an equally massive burrow had been excavated.
“Cave-Crawler,” said Viridelle, confirming her suspicions. “Big one. Good thing it passed far from any Fiuri habitation. See here, Shionelle. The plants are dying. They poison everything they touch.”
Shioni tilted her antennae. “Listen, Viri. You can still hear it.”
Viri gaped openly at her. “Pollens and nectars, Shionelle …”
“What’s so amazing about hearing a Cave-Crawler? It sounds like crystal chimes singing …”
Her voice trailed off. Everyone stared at her, tongues unfurled and wings stilled in amazement. Ashkuriel’s expression was especially poisonous. She knew at once that Lord Tazaka would be hearing all about this.
Chardal said, breathlessly, “Shioni, any old Colour can hear a Cave-Crawler digging, or feel it–because they’re as strong as an earthquake when they move. But only Blue Fiuri hear Crawlers singing. It’s magic, you see–an incredibly rare ability. I’d guess at most two or three Azures have ever claimed this power. It is said they could speak to–”
“Shut your nectar-hole, scholar!” snarled Ashkuriel.
Shioni stared at Char, mouthing, ‘Blue?’ He nodded.
Ashkuriel grated, “Lord Tazaka grows impatient, Hunter!”
“Move on,” said Viri. “That Cave-Crawler is long gone.”
Long gone? Then how could she have heard it? Shioni stared down the side-tunnel as they passed by, but there was nothing to be seen in the darkness. Strange to think how Fiuriel was constantly being hollowed out, as though it were a busy underground insect-warren. But there did not seem to be too many natural enemies for the Fiuri, especially when they banded together and used their magic.
Then Shioni saw Viri’s head snap about. “Weapons and shields!” she yelled. “Silverfish!”
A cloud of wasp-like creatures boiled out of the Cave-Crawler’s exit tunnel behind them, swimming through the air with strangely sinuous undulations of their bodies. They fired gooey purple balls toward the caravan as the Vermilion Dragonflies picked up speed, but for the most part their attack splattered harmlessly against Chardal’s shield. The trailing Dragonfly, however, was struck on the tail and vented a terrible, grating shriek.
“Poison,” muttered Char, waving his hands furiously. He tossed a handful of crimson powder into the air.
Shioni sneezed violently. Red peppers?
The Silverfish advance stalled in the cloud of powder, allowing the Vermilion Dragonflies to build up speed. But the silver creatures wriggled frantically. They were so fast! Squealing at a pitch which pained the ears, the Silverfish soon began to overtake Ashkuriel’s caravan, dive-bombing Char’s shield with increasing frequency. Viri and Tellira let fly with arrows, downing several of the creatures, which flew using fins either side of
Ever onward they droned through the gloomy tunnels, past fields and forests of mushrooms, through a world so far removed from pleasant Cave Seventeen that Shioni felt anxious to the point of nausea. By evening they had passed through but a ‘small slice’ of Fifteen, according to Viri and Char, and were on their way through the connecting tunnels to Cave Fourteen, home of the crystal workers.
Suddenly, Viridelle shouted, “Slow down!”
The drivers hauled at their reins, barking commands to slow the great Vermilion Dragonflies as they approached a mountain of rubble.
A cave-in! Shioni peered past the Yellow Fiuri driver. A vast section of tunnel wall had collapsed inward, avalanching rock and pulverised crystal across a broad plain of lurid pink mushrooms. The trail of destruction continued to the opposite wall, where an equally massive burrow had been excavated.
“Cave-Crawler,” said Viridelle, confirming her suspicions. “Big one. Good thing it passed far from any Fiuri habitation. See here, Shionelle. The plants are dying. They poison everything they touch.”
Shioni tilted her antennae. “Listen, Viri. You can still hear it.”
Viri gaped openly at her. “Pollens and nectars, Shionelle …”
“What’s so amazing about hearing a Cave-Crawler? It sounds like crystal chimes singing …”
Her voice trailed off. Everyone stared at her, tongues unfurled and wings stilled in amazement. Ashkuriel’s expression was especially poisonous. She knew at once that Lord Tazaka would be hearing all about this.
Chardal said, breathlessly, “Shioni, any old Colour can hear a Cave-Crawler digging, or feel it–because they’re as strong as an earthquake when they move. But only Blue Fiuri hear Crawlers singing. It’s magic, you see–an incredibly rare ability. I’d guess at most two or three Azures have ever claimed this power. It is said they could speak to–”
“Shut your nectar-hole, scholar!” snarled Ashkuriel.
Shioni stared at Char, mouthing, ‘Blue?’ He nodded.
Ashkuriel grated, “Lord Tazaka grows impatient, Hunter!”
“Move on,” said Viri. “That Cave-Crawler is long gone.”
Long gone? Then how could she have heard it? Shioni stared down the side-tunnel as they passed by, but there was nothing to be seen in the darkness. Strange to think how Fiuriel was constantly being hollowed out, as though it were a busy underground insect-warren. But there did not seem to be too many natural enemies for the Fiuri, especially when they banded together and used their magic.
Then Shioni saw Viri’s head snap about. “Weapons and shields!” she yelled. “Silverfish!”
A cloud of wasp-like creatures boiled out of the Cave-Crawler’s exit tunnel behind them, swimming through the air with strangely sinuous undulations of their bodies. They fired gooey purple balls toward the caravan as the Vermilion Dragonflies picked up speed, but for the most part their attack splattered harmlessly against Chardal’s shield. The trailing Dragonfly, however, was struck on the tail and vented a terrible, grating shriek.
“Poison,” muttered Char, waving his hands furiously. He tossed a handful of crimson powder into the air.
Shioni sneezed violently. Red peppers?
The Silverfish advance stalled in the cloud of powder, allowing the Vermilion Dragonflies to build up speed. But the silver creatures wriggled frantically. They were so fast! Squealing at a pitch which pained the ears, the Silverfish soon began to overtake Ashkuriel’s caravan, dive-bombing Char’s shield with increasing frequency. Viri and Tellira let fly with arrows, downing several of the creatures, which flew using fins either side of
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