eyes narrowed with suspicion. Those, she knew, were but the welcoming act. She'd have to venture deeper, and find their 'queen' yet. Another day on the 'job'.

Her fist hit the glades below, and into the false earth did water flow, bursting from each fresh hole in the vein of spiteful geysers - one neutralizing blast after the other. The creatures reeled, bursting apart until naught but their stench had been left. Ai rose from her brief squat, >