Chapter 17, Alegria:
Normally, travel above the under-earth made Alegria happy. The blue sky over the black stone mountains of her world offered a wonderful respite from the darkness of the cave her home-hold was carved from. The snow and the cool, dry air smelled different than the tunnels of her home, fresh.
She did not feel the same love for this green hell they found themselves in. The insects and animals of this land showed no respect. She grew up knowing that any predator larger than herself might make a meal from her flesh if she screwed up. However, in this tangled forest of vines, everything they encountered tried to take a bite from her exposed body. Despite the heat, she didn’t dare take her furs off, for fear of the next swarm or bough of thorns. Even the foliage offered noth
