Zluth made his way through the cracks along with the rest of the scouts. He'd not expected to catch the giant ant, not truly, but even so, the dreadful creature had once again proven its might in evading capture.
The others hadn't believed him, not really. How it had grated on him, a Krath'lath of his own tribe, to be looked down on by the slugs of the Bulg and Lirz tribes, as if he couldn't identify a deadly monster when he saw one. At least it had been satisfying to see the smug looks on their faces melt away as the giant insect had escaped their traps with ease.
The pores along the tunnel walls were beginning to grow. Soon, they would help propel the slugs at much higher speeds through the cracks. Even now, Zluth and the other Krath were able to move quickly, compressed down to only a few inches high, accelerating faster and faster as they raced to rejoin the main force.
Deep within the stone walls between the tunnels, where the heartbeat was faint and the mana a little less virulent, the Krath had hollowed out a temporary home. On the outskirts, Zluth encountered the guards, who watched him carefully as he began to expand back to his full size, their claws at the ready, acid ready to unleash.
"Zluth, Krath'rath of the Slee, returning with the scouting party."
The largest leered at him, acid pooling between their needle-pointed teeth.
"Little Slee," he burbled, "you return alive? I'm surprised."
"I always return alive," Zluth hissed, stalks extending to their greatest height, "but the same may not be said for you. I can see the ants consuming your flesh for Biomass now, guzzling your pathetic acid like water."
The larger Krath was incensed, popping and sizzling with the strength of the fury burning within.
"You dare speak to the Thuuz like this?" he spat.
"I speak to all fools this way, regardless of their tribe. Now get out of my way, dry-flesh."
Confident and unafraid, Zluth pushed forward, pressing the guards back. The insulted one warred with himself, eager to consume the upstart, but knowing he would be severely punished, perhaps eaten, if he did.
"The monster proved more capable than the hunters expected. I'm afraid it evaded their attempts to capture it with ease."
Chozth moved faster than any Krath Zluth had ever seen. One moment she was distant, the next she was right in front of him, her claws poking and prodding at him as her eyes stared deep into his.
"You were responsible for the hunt, Krath'lath Zluth. The failure of the expedition is yours to bear."
"Of course, I bear full responsibility for our successful reconnaissance," Zluth said smoothly, outwardly unafraid. "Though I query who is responsible when your hunters do not listen to my advice and alert their prey needlessly."
He could sense the acid burning within Chozth when she was this close to him, and it was potent. If he ate her, her flesh would melt a hole straight through him, he was sure of it.
His mouth watered all the same.
Silence hung heavy in the air, and Zluth, at one point, was convinced he would be devoured, but the moment passed, and he was not.
"You criticise the hunters I provided you?"
"Why don't you talk to them yourself, and ask about their success?" Zluth suggested. "I warned them not to underestimate the foe, but they wouldn't listen."
She considered him for a moment.
"Then I will," she burbled, and turned away from him.