Neverwylde (The Rim of the World Book 3) by Linda Mooney Page B

“Fullgrath will be here soon.”
                “How long ago did he leave?”
                “I don’t know. I wish there was a way to tell time.” She gave a little laugh. “I’ll put it on Dox’s to-do list.”
                “After he makes communication devices for us,” Kyber asserted.
                A tiny sound alerted them both. She felt Kyber tense up as she turned to look in the direction where it came from.
                Click!
                His reaction was immediate. “We have to go, Kelen.” He struggled to rise, but could make it no further than to his knees. “We have to leave.”
                Click!
                He jerked at the noise, raising her level of alarm.
                “What is it, Kyber?”
                Click, click!
                He snatched up her light and aimed it down the tunnel. She squinted, trying to spot what he was watching.
                The ground was moving. The ground and the walls. And the ceiling.
                A thousand little legs had erupted from everywhere. A hundred somethings were crawling toward them, moving so slowly the tunnel appeared to be undulating.
                “Kelen!” Kyber grabbed her and pulled heavily on her arm and leg, using her to get to his feet.
                Wrapping an arm around his waist, she struggled to support him, nearly bending under his weight. As the clicking sound grew louder, they started limping back toward the garden

Chapter 13
    Flight
     
     
                She couldn’t continue keeping him upright, but she had no choice. Her tube weapon wasn’t enough to fight off whatever was advancing on them. Their only chance of survival was to flee. Whether or not the creatures were harmful was a moot point. They couldn’t afford to find out. Not when every other encounter with the monsters on this planet had proven dangerous.
                The clicking sound grew in volume—faster and more intense. Kelen stopped glancing over her shoulder, afraid to discover how quickly those things were closing in.
                “What are they?”
                “Dangerous.” Kyber struggled to keep going, but she knew he wouldn’t make it. He had no strength left. Every step sapped the last of his strength. He was at the end of his endurance.
                They rounded another curve and Kelen noticed a pale brightening in the distance.
                “We’re near the opening! Come on! You can do it! We can make it! Just a little bit further!”
                He stumbled, nearly taking her down with him, but he managed to catch himself in time. He took four more steps and he reached his end. With a loud groan, Kyber collapsed, falling heavily on his knees before toppling over onto his face and stomach. At the last second, he released his hold on Kelen, preventing himself from dragging her down with him.
                Kelen grabbed him and tried to pull him toward the light. “Come on! We’re almost there! Look, Kyber! We’re so close, I can see the outline of the opening!” She tugged unsuccessfully on his arm. “Please, Kyber! Try! Try! Just a few more steps!”
                He grabbed her hand and pried it from him. “Go, Kelen. Give me your weapon. I will try to hold them off while you get away.”
                “Bullshit if you think I’m going to leave you!”
                Parking herself next to him, she turned to face the oncoming horde. She played the light over the floor, the sides, and the ceiling of the tunnel as she held out her weapon. She knew she was defenseless against whatever was converging on them—flat little creatures on spider-like legs, their metallic bodies glittering in the beam. With every step, they made a sharp, unnerving click! With