The chamber remained quiet.
Pip was happily nibbling on the acorn.
The Glasswings buzzed around him with endless curiosity, occasionally landing on his crystal goggles before darting away.
The Shellback Burrow Squirrel sat nearby with its paws folded.
Watching.
Judging.
"...I think he doesn't like me."
Pip whispered.
The squirrel sniffed.
Turned around dramatically.
And showed Pip its back.
"..."
"...Definitely doesn't like me."
Ethan laughed.
"You'll get used to him."
"I don't even know if it's a him."
"...Good point."
The worker ant nudged Pip gently with an antenna.
He flinched.
Then smiled awkwardly.
"...Your friend is nice."
Ethan looked at her.
"Yeah."
"She is."
The worker ant tilted her head.
As if wondering why Ethan suddenly looked proud.
After everyone had eaten, Ethan walked over to the strange carving again.
The crowned ant.
The elegant lines.
The roots wrapped around it as if trying to hide it.
"Pip."
The little mole looked up.
"Hm?"
"You called this a King's Mark."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"My grandpa told me stories."
"What kind of stories?"
Pip scratched behind one ear.
"Well..."
"He always said..."
"'If you find a King's Mark, don't dig deeper.'"
"Why?"
"He never told me."
"He'd just get really quiet."
"..."
"...That's comforting."
Pip adjusted his cracked crystal goggles.
"They're really old."
"Older than the tunnels."
"Some moles say they're lucky."
"Others say they're cursed."
"And Grandpa said..."
He lowered his voice.
"...they're watching."
A cold shiver ran through Ethan.
"Watching?"
Pip nodded.
"I never believed him."
"...Until I found one."
He glanced nervously toward the carving.
"I left immediately."
"Iris."
"..."
"What do you think?"
A pause.
Longer than normal.
Finally—
"...I recommend following the advice of Pip's grandfather."
"...You're serious?"
"...Yes."
"..."
"...Okay."
That settled it.
Whatever the King's Marks were...
He wasn't touching one.
Not unless he had absolutely no other choice.
The conversation drifted to lighter topics.
"So..."
Ethan looked at Pip.
"What exactly do Crystal Burrow Moles do?"
Pip's eyes lit up.
"Oh!"
"We dig!"
"I... figured."
"We also find crystals!"
"Makes sense."
"And mushrooms!"
"Still makes sense."
"And sometimes ancient things!"
Ethan leaned forward.
"Ancient things?"
Pip nodded excitedly.
"Buttons!"
"...Buttons?"
"And broken pots."
"Pieces of shiny metal."
"Funny rocks."
"Old bones."
"Sometimes giant doors that don't open."
Ethan froze.
"..."
"...Giant doors?"
"Oh."
"There are lots of them."
"...Lots?"
"Mhm."
"They're everywhere underground."
"No one knows who made them."
"They don't have handles."
"They don't have hinges."
"They're just..."
"...there."
Ethan and Iris fell silent.
Ancient doors.
Deep underground.
Scattered everywhere.
Another mystery.
Another piece of a puzzle far larger than him.
And somehow...
He had a feeling he would open one someday.
Just...
Not today.
As Pip talked excitedly about all the strange things he'd found while digging...
Stone Sense pulsed.
Very faintly.
Not footsteps.
Not digging.
A slow...
Rhythmic vibration.
Thump...
Thump...
Thump...
It came from deep below.
Much deeper than any tunnel Ethan had explored.
He looked down instinctively.
"...Iris."
"Yes?"
"...There's something under us."
A pause.
"...I know."
"You know?"
"...Yes."
"...Should I dig?"
"...No."
Her answer came instantly.
Too instantly.
"...Not yet."
Ethan frowned.
He looked at the floor beneath his feet.
For just a split second...
He could have sworn...
The vibration answered him.
Thump.
.