Them

Aelorin's mind raced as he stood in the dimly lit passage. He had been searching everywhere—searching every nook and cranny—yet something felt off. His instincts screamed that he was overlooking the obvious. Suddenly, an idea sparked like lightning through his mind.

"Not above... nor around... but underneath," he muttered to himself, realization dawning like a sharp blade slicing through fog.

Without wasting a second, Aelorin spun on his heel, his boots skidding slightly against the stone floor as he made for the exit. The abruptness of his movement caught the attention of Klaine and ShiVak, both of whom had been trailing him from a distance.

"Where the hell is he going now?" Klaine growled under her breath but instinctively followed. ShiVak's predatory eyes narrowed, amusement flashing across her face. She followed too, her strides calm but deliberate, unlike Klaine's impatient charge.