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ahead talking among themselves, but the acoustics inside the rock corridor prevented her from catching what they were saying.
                “Kyber, can you hear what they’re discussing?”
                “Not much. They are wondering what we will encounter once we reach this area of safety.”
                She stopped so suddenly, Cooter almost plowed into her. Clutching Kyber’s arm, she whispered, “What if Hoov is leading us into a trap? What if it’s taking us to where there are more of its kind, and we end up being prisoners?”
                He gave her a patient yet questioning look. “What makes you think that?”
                “Why should we trust him fully when we’ve barely met him? Remember those words the Adajuss wrote? Danger? Traitor? Beware?”
                “What words?” Cooter whispered over their shoulders. “What are you guys talking about?”
                “The glyphs carved into the walls. Some of them are in a language Kyber recognized. They’re from an alien race from his sector of the solar system.”
                “No shit! So there were other species who crashed here?”
                “We do not know how long ago this may have happened,” Kyber quickly interceded. “Hoov says all the Adajuss are gone. It is very likely they died from starvation.”
                Cooter grumped. “I tell you one thing. I have half a mind to go back and tear off a leg or two from that thing Hoov killed, just so we have something to cook once we get where we’re headed. No. Screw it. I’m going back.”
                “Cooter, no!” Kelen tried to stop the man, but he vanished into the darkness before she or Kyber could stop him. Ahead of them, Mellori peered back at them, giving them a questioning look. When Kelen shook her head, he turned around and continued forward.
                Kyber occasionally tilted his head as he listened behind them. After a few more minutes, Kelen softly voiced her concern. “Kyber, these Adajuss, are they a hardy race?”
                “Very tough. Superb warriors and survivors.”
                “Yet they were unable to survive here.”
                “Kelen, we do not know enough to come to any sort of conclusion about Hoov and its kind. The Adajuss may have been too injured. The food below, if there is food below, may not have sustained them. There may have been something in the water that affected them. There are too many unknown variables for us to conclude why the Adajuss died.”
                “You’re right, but I can’t help this feeling I get when I’m around that thing. Did you catch Dox’s reaction? He’s terrified of it.”
                Kyber squeezed her arm. “Vigilance, my one. It has gotten us this far. That and patience.”
                Kelen made a face but didn’t reply. He was right. All they could do now was watch and wait, and not lower their guard for a single instant.

Chapter 7
    Ice
     
     
                Kelen soon noticed the further Hoov led them down the tunnel, the slower everyone moved. It wasn’t because they were being cautious. It was because they were all past the point of exhaustion. With all they had been through these past few weeks, their stamina was shot. Old wounds hadn’t had the chance to heal before new ones were incurred. Worse, their senses were overloaded from constantly trying to keep themselves alert and attentive to their surroundings.
                Thankfully, Fullgrath called a halt to give them a chance to rest. Kelen dropped to the ground next to Kyber and rested her head against his arm.
                “Where’s Cooter?”
                She opened her eyes to see Jules standing over her.
                “He went back to retrieve some of the kill Hoov left