“No idea? How is it that you do not know of these fiends?” Rovender said, aghast. “I have encountered several here on these grounds. These grounds that surround where you say your home lies.”

Eva shut the Omnipod off. “I . . . I have never been up here on these grounds before. Ever.”

“Up?” Rovender cocked his head, studying the girl. “You mean to say you have just hatched?”

“Hatched?” Eva raised an eyebrow at him. “No. I didn’t just hatch. I don’t even hatch. I’m twelve. I live in an underground home, a Sanctuary—just like the one you were camping in.”

“Unbelievable,” Rovender replied, rubbing his whiskered beard.

The moon had reappeared through the cloud cover, illuminating the world with an eerie, dim smile. Eva saw no sign of the sand-sniper.

Otto spoke to her. You. Home. Come. He stepped out onto the open plain.

But what about the sand monster? The tunnel biter? Eva thought to him.

Not hurt. Me. Ride.

“He wants us to get on,” Eva said to Rovender. She grabbed on to one of Otto’s massive armored scutes and pulled herself up. Looking down at Rovender, she continued, “He says the sand monsters won’t bother him.”

“Does he?” Rovender examined the giant water bear, still rubbing his beard.

“Yes, he does.” Eva enjoyed knowing something Rovender didn’t.

At last he nodded and climbed up. “Very well. I will trust what he tells you. Ask him to follow the forest edge, so that we may still hide if necessary.”

Otto began shuffling along the edge of the open plain. Rovender pulled out another handful of seeds and dropped them into his mouth. “This may be a good idea, Eva. I am tired, and my foot could use the rest. However, we must still keep a wary eye out for Besteel.”

“Besteel? Will he find us?” Eva scanned the darkness, wondering what else was lurking around out there. Hunting.

“Perhaps.” Rovender spit seed husks out to the ground below. “The Dorceans are very skilled hunters and trackers. Is your home well protected?”

Eva looked down at her hands in the pale moonlight. Her nail polish was mostly chipped off—replaced by dirt and grime. “Our home? No. He broke in and destroyed it last night.”

Rovender studied Eva, chewing. “‘Our’? Are there others who live with you?”

“No. Just Muthr—my caretaker. But she’s just a robot. She’s not real.”

“Like the light images that come from your device?” Rovender pointed to the Omnipod.

“No, not a hologram. I mean, she’s a robot . . . you know, not alive . . . like you and me.” Eva felt a little flustered.

“I see,” Rovender said, still watching her.

Eva stared ahead, in the direction of her Sanctuary buried in the dark woods.

I wonder if the Sanctuary is even there anymore, she thought.

I wonder how Muthr is doing. Is she looking for me?