Kai’s breath caught in his throat.

  From the shadows, the creature emerged — long, spindly legs clicking against stone, its massive body glistening with dark, wet armor. Eight pale eyes locked onto Kai, reflecting what little light there was like glass marbles.

  Kai stumbled back, his legs shaking so hard he nearly slipped into the water. His back hit the ravine wall — cold, unyielding. Behind the spider, the narrow path he’d come from was blocked. There was no way out.

  His fingers fumbled at his belt — no weapons. His clan training was still basic, his water control barely awakened. His heart raced, hands trembling at his sides.

  The spider hissed, its mandibles clicking.

  Meanwhile, Aiko moved swiftly along the ravine’s edge, now finding a narrow slope that led down. She slid along the loose dirt, careful but urgent, her heart pounding. Something didn’t feel right. The air was too still. The mist too thick.

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  she whispered, picking up speed as she descended.

  Back below, Kai forced himself to breathe.

  He held out his hands, palms facing the river. The water rippled at his call, faint and uncertain — but enough. With a shaky push, he hurled a splash toward the spider’s face.

  The beast recoiled slightly — but only for a second.

  It lunged.

  Kai dove aside, rolling through the shallow water. His elbow scraped against rock, pain shooting up his arm. The spider’s legs slammed down where he’d just been, cracking stone, sending pebbles flying.

  Panic surged — but underneath it, something stirred. The carvings on the wall pulsed again, faint green light flickering over the water’s surface. Kai felt it, a pull inside his chest, like the river itself was whispering to him.

  He raised his arms again — this time, the river surged higher, a wall of water crashing into the spider’s side. The creature screeched, legs flailing, skidding across the slick rocks.

  Above, Aiko heard the sound. Her heart lurched. She sprinted faster, leaping down the last slope, landing hard on her feet as the faint glow below flickered into view.

  In the ravine, Kai panted, chest heaving. The spider shrieked, turning its pale eyes back on him. It wasn’t over — not yet. But for the first time, as water curled at his feet, Kai’s fear cracked just slightly… and something braver slipped through.

  Author’s Note (After the Chapter)

  even crazier from here…

  — Author ??