Quilten Pass was cool and dark. All around, Feather could see holes. From the corner of her eye, she saw movement. Tentacles were slowly moving out of the holes. "Are those...?" she said.

"Chompers? Yeah."

"They're so slow." Lowell commented.

"They must be just waking up." Reynard said. He looked around. "With luck, we might be able to speed through and not fight them-"

Feather screeched. They turned, seeing a tentacle heading straight for them. "Take the wheel!" the fox robot yelled. She grabbed it as he grabbed the stun gun. Aiming, Reynard shot. The tentacle fell back.

He turned.

The walls were coming alive. Tentacles of all sizes were wriggling out, determined to grab the speeder. "I don't think it has enough juice for this!" Reynard screamed.

"Take the wheel." Feather said. She stood up as the fox took his place. The amulet lit up in blue, her brown eyes taking a shade of blue as well. It crackled with power, energy roaring to life. Holding out her fist, she spread her fingers.

That energy roared around them.

The tentacles fell back. She sat back, panting as the talisman dulled back to its dormant state. The speeder zoomed out. Lowell cocked his head out, searching. "There!" Beneath them, the arachaens crawled. "I see Mom!"

Feather looked out. One of the creatures had an arm sticking out through one of the holes, waving.

"Okay, Fae, I need you to take the wheel again." Reynard said. He got out of the driver's seat. He opened the box of sedatives and loaded a vial into the dart gun. Aiming carefully, he shot.

The vial hit true.

But the arachaen didn't slow.

"Something's wrong." He said. "It should've been affected immediately." The fox turned. Feather heard him shuffle some things, then a squeak.

"Everything okay?"

"Oh yeah!" His voice was high pitched. "Everything's fine!"

"Should we launch the harpoon?" Lowell asked.

"No!" The siblings glanced back at him. Reynard calmed. "Feather, give me the wheel." The human clambered out of her seat, allowing the robot to take her place. They followed the arachaen for a few minutes before he nodded. "Launch."

Lowell aimed, then pressed the button. The harpoon launched, landing deep into the creature's side. It let out a screech, running faster. Reynard growled as he strained, trying to keep the speeder steady.

"What's wrong?!" Far screamed.

"I grabbed the wrong darts!"

She glanced at the seat next to her. The box was open, it's lid thrown aside. She picked up the lid. In black, CAFFEINE DARTS were printed. Feather felt herself pale. She glanced at the side, judging the distance.

The two in front glanced back as she stood up. "Fae?" Lowell asked. She ignored him, standing on the edge. A scream met her ears as she jumped off.

Feather landed on the back of an arachaen. She looked around, brown eyes landing on the harpooned. The talisman burst to life at her will, wrapping a coil of energy around its tentacles. It let out a screech, moving forward. Soon, the two arachaens were side by side.

"FAE!"

"Grab my hand!"

Edith reached out. Mother and daughter gripped each other's hands. Grunting, Feather held onto a hole and tugged. The two strained, slowly managing to pull the blonde's other arm out. The mother let out a grunt of pain. Then a scream broke the the air. The redhead girl glanced at the speeder.

Two other aracheans had wrapped tentacles around the wings of the vehicle. Lowell screamed, Reynard trying to keep the speeder in the air. "Let go."

She glanced back at her mother. "No!"

"Your brother needs you."

Feather choked back a sob. She released Edith's hand. "I'll come back for you!" She scrambled to the top. Energy crackled around her as she jumped. She landed in the speeder, grabbing her brother.

She didn't see the talisman's power slice apart the tentacles.

"We need to cut the rope!" Reynard screamed. Feather sat back in the driver's seat as the box revealed a knife. He started to cut, the arachean still determinedly going. "Got it!" He said.

They entered a forest.

"Pull up!"

The two tried, but they were already entering the trees. The wings were ripped apart, Reynard knocked to the backseat. Finally, they crashed into a trunk.

Feather glanced up. The arachean carrying her mother was going deeper into the forest.

"Stay here."

Lowell let out a "Fae!" As she ran after it.