Ankyra Sound one thing on my mind

the girl directed her attention to the glistening waters. the to’lang came to life against her chest, the torc’s weight seeming to lift as energy warbled between them.

yes yes yes! they were close. the chipmunk skull in her pouch chattered.

qiao did not trust the girl, but she noticed the fearful way sobeille hung back. there was a relationship here she only got a thimbleful of context for; something had happened.

she inched close. the water seemed to sense her presence, sending blue ripples along the bank’s edge. the entire cave was illuminated by these dancing caustic networks, which flowed across the cavern’s roof like undersea clouds.

hardly two feet under the water’s rippling surface, qiao saw a shape. it was thin, and white — a blade wedged deep into the stone.

she reached for it, the contents of her to’lang brushing the water’s edge as she leaned down.