"Just two vines per person," Bran whispered. "That's enough."
They all nodded.
But just as he turned to hand Ruby one last vine, his body stiffened.
"Wife…?" Julian whispered softly, noticing Bran's sudden stillness. Ruby followed his gaze and her breath hitched.
Something was crawling near Bran's foot.
A long, slimy creature with thin yellow limbs and tiny thorns moving like fingers was slowly slithering out from under the rocks. Its body was slick, almost transparent, with dark veins running under its skin. Its head looked like a worm's but it had tiny holes that hissed steam as it crawled.
"Don't move," Bran whispered, sweat beading on his forehead. "That's a burrow bitter…"
Everyone froze.
