Page 49 of Emerald

They must have been here for… eons. To capture the time represented by their growth fills me with a thrill.

For a moment, I allow myself the distraction. I crouch lower, examining the intricate structure of the crystal, and the way it refracts light into subtle colors. I decided I must have it. With renewed determination, I press all four of my forelimbs against the stone and attempt to pry the crystals free. The rock resists, solid and unmoving beneath my strength.

They are difficult to break and it impresses me. Makes me even more determined to have something so unique for my hoard.

I chitter in frustration, but then, a thought crosses my mind. I glance around, and a few paces away, a loose stone catches my eye. I pick it up, testing its weight in my hand before swinging it down with force against the crystal. The impact sends vibrations through my limbs, but the crystal chips away, just as I hoped.

Pleased, I settle into a rhythm. The steady sound of stone striking stone echoes in the chamber, and over time, my pile grows. I gather each chunk of crystal carefully, arranging them in a neat pile by my side. My thoughts, thankfully, remain focused on the task for once, the satisfaction of adding to my collection outweighing any lingering concerns.

The story of how hard I had to work is adding such a pleasing layer to the crystals. They will be a perfect addition to my collection of treasures.

I don't notice the shift in the air at first. It's subtle, just a tingling at the base of my neck, a sense of something… off. My skin shifts uneasily, flashing pale blue. I pause, my body instinctively tensing, my ears straining for any unfamiliar sound.

Then I hear it.

The low, almost inaudible growl—followed by the sharp clack of something moving swiftly behind me.

Instinct takes over.

I throw myself to the side, my muscles coiling as I leap just in time to avoid the snapping jaws that close on the air where my neck had been moments before.

I twist in midair, landing on all six limbs, and skitter backward, my heart pounding in my chest. My skin flashes violently purple, tusks bared in an instinctive display of threat.

The creatures step into the dim light.

There are a dozen of them, sleek and muscular, their dark fur blending seamlessly into the shadows of the cave. Their eyes glow a harsh amber, devoid of pupils or whites, their narrow, slitted gazes fixed on me with predatory intent. Their claws scrape against the stone as they prowl forward, the slime that drips from their jagged teeth casting an eerie glow across their maw.

They don’t look like cave creatures, which means we must be close to the surface.

My first thought is how unsettling they look. Not quite recognizable, but close enough to remind me of the predators of my home world—only more vicious, more… wrong.

I count them quickly, assessing the threat. There are too many of them to face head-on, but they seem uninterested in the crystals strewn across the floor. Their attention is solely on me.

Good.

I lower myself closer to the ground, my limbs bending as I prepare for the next strike. The room narrows here, giving me little room to maneuver, but it also limits their ability to flank me. I bare my tusks again, hoping to intimidate them, though I doubt they'll be so easily cowed.

The air hums with tension.

One of the creatures, larger than the rest, lets out a growl that reverberates through the cave, the others following suit as if responding to an unspoken command. I watch their muscles coil, readying for the attack.

My heart races, blood pounding in my ears as I tense for the inevitable.

I can't afford to lose here. I need to get back to Olivia. The thought of her, alone and defenseless, spurs me into action.

The tension in the air is unbearable. I can feel the sharp prickling at the base of my neck as the creatures circle me, eyes locked, muscles coiling, ready to strike. The acrid stench of the cave mingles with the smell of their bioluminescent slime, and I hiss lowly, positioning myself to minimize any chance of being flanked. My fingers flex against the stone floor as I crouch, keeping my body low, and prepared.

With a final snarl, I brace myself on all six limbs, ready for whatever comes next.

And then, they lunge.

It happens in a blur. The largest one lunges, its body cutting through the air with frightening speed, maw snapping with a wet, sickening sound. I barely twist out of the way, but not before it grazes one of my rear limbs. I chitter in response, my skin flaring violet with anger as pain shoots through me. No time to dwell on it. Another one is upon me, slashing with jagged claws that glisten with the same eerie glow. I manage to catch its limb with two of my upper arms, but the strength behind its strike surprises me, nearly knocking me off balance.

My tusks press hard against the insides of my lips as I snarl, thrusting the creature away with a violent push. It skids across the stone, but more are already closing in. There's no stopping them now. The fight has erupted in full force, and I am at the center of it.

I swing with one of my arms, catching one of the smaller beasts mid-leap, sending it crashing into the cave wall with a satisfying crunch. The others pause for a fraction of a second, assessing my strength, but they don't relent. They come at me from all sides now, claws flashing, fangs bared, moving in a coordinated attack. I twist and spin, lashing out with all of my limbs, trying to keep them at bay, but there are too many of them. Each time I fend one off, another sinks its claws into my flesh, leaving burning gashes along my limbs and torso.

My body surges with pain, but I push through it.Zhasie are resilient, I remind myself, and I've faced worse than this. I slam my forelimbs down onto one of the creatures that gets too close, crushing it beneath my weight with a sickening crack. I hiss in satisfaction, but there's no time to celebrate. Another creature leaps at my back, and I barely manage to throw it off before it can sink its fangs into my neck. My skin shifts to a dark, seething purple. Irritation and frustration course through me as I struggle to keep my focus.

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