The Bear Cat's massive head tilted.
Its eyes, each one larger than the Mantis's entire body, scanned the trunk. Looking for what had made that sound.
Time stretched, seconds becoming eternities.
And through the crystal fragment floating before Ren's eye, hundreds of kilometers away...
He watched.
Held his breath alongside his beast.
Shared the fear and tension. The desperate hope for survival.
The Bear Cat's nose moved closer… Sniffing.
Closer.
Closer.
So close the Mantis could see its individual whiskers. Could count the patterns in its fur. Could smell the mana-rich breath.
The Cat breathed strongly...
And then the Mantis made a mistake.
It jumped.
The terror impulse was too strong, panic overriding patience.
The mana interfered with its camouflage.
Its landing on the next branch produced no sound. But it didn't matter…
Now it was visible.
Revealed… Vulnerable.
The Bear Cat's massive head turned with impossible speed.
