Shadows lengthen as the suns make their retreat below the horizon. The rays of the lowering suns ricochet off the water and into the eyes of the watchful adults. Xochcatl, Ivy, and Katherine surround a large submerged skeleton, documenting the information they can about it, while Citria, Whisp, Bloe, and Ycthuthrheth watch the whelps from a distance. When Ycthuthrheth told the adults about the whelps' plans, they decided to secretly tail the whelps, making sure that they are safe. And so far, the whelps have not gotten into any danger.

Three small heads emerge from the water, and they gather, chattering about something. The specifics of their conversation is drowned out by the constant clamoring of local wildlife. Taking advantage of the soundscape, conversing as well.

"Think they might be getting ready to head back?" asks Bloe.

"Seems so…" responds Whisp.

"We should go now and make it back before them," suggests Citria. She takes a step back towards the base, but an unusually loud snap from a twig pierces through the sounds of local fauna and makes everyone freeze.

Everyone turns to look in the direction of the twig snap. Ycthuthrheth, Bloe, and Whisp look at Citria. Citria closes her eyes and sighs. The whelps look toward the giant mushroom Citria hides behind.
Not seeing the adults stalking them, Xochcatl, Ivy, and Katherine look at each other and whisper.

Quivering, Ivy asks, "What was that?"

Katherine tilts her head and asks, "Do you think a predator is after us? The skeleton's brother?"

Wanting to get away, but not wanting to sound scared, Xochcatl chimes in, "Let's go now. We need to get back before they notice we are gone."

The adults stay still, holding their breath, hoping that the whelps didn't catch them. Before they manage to relax, Ycthuthrheth notices the whelps running. "Hey uh. They are running back already."

Citria, Bloe, and Whisp look at each other, knowing if the whelps make it back before they can, the whelps might put two and two together and realize they not truly alone. They need to make it back to the base without getting caught by the whelps the run beside. The four nod in wordless agreement and run, taking advantage of the distance between them and the whelps to prevent identification.

The swampland proves a difficult place to run, but the obstacles made it easier for the adults. Focused solely on running away from a predator they thought was there, Xochcatl, Ivy, and Katherine abandoned all notions of stealth. When on land, they stomped hard on the moss, their small steps still resounding through the already cacophonous soundscape. When going through the algae covered water, their hurried splashing made their location clear.

The adults took full advantage of the obstacles that obstructed the whelps' sight. Tall mushroom canopies block large swathes of the sky. Fallen and hollowed out mushrooms provide a sight barrier. As beings capable of flight, Bloe and Ycthuthrheth took to the skies. Whisp and Citria had to stay to the ground. All had to juggle the tasks of getting to the base before the whelps, not getting caught, and carefully listening to make sure the whelps don't get hurt. Tasks which all had contradictory requirements. To beat the whelps home, they need to get in front of the whelps. But the whelps are all focused forward, trying to outrun the predator of their imaginations. So for the sake of not being caught, it was best to stay a bit behind the whelps. Getting caught is less likely as more distance is put between the whelps, but they also want to keep them in earshot.

Through most of the race that Xochcatl, Ivy, and Katherine aren't aware they are participating in, Citria, Bloe, Whisp, and Ycthuthrheth slow themselves down enough to stay an observable distance from the whelps but keep up with them, occasionally ducking for additional cover when they sense one of the whelps about to look behind them.

Once Citria estimates that they are about 10 minutes away from the base, she looks at Whisp, nods, and increases her speed to overtake the whelps.

Understanding the plan, Whisp follows suit.

From the skies, Bloe notices Citria and Whisp speeding up. Not wanting to lose the race, she picks up her pace, careful to stay as out of the whelps' view as she can.

Whisp, being the tiny and speedy thing she is, managed to be the first person to take a step on the base, followed by Citria, then Bloe. They make their way to the dining hall to catch their breath and pretend they've been there all along.

A few minutes later, Xochcatl, Ivy, and Katherine make their way in.

Citria smiled at them, just happy to see them safe.

Failing horribly at hiding the mischievous tone in her voice, Bloe asks, "Ah there you are! Where have you been?"

Whisp covered her mouth, trying to suppress her chuckling.

The whelps froze. Ivy and Katherine looked toward Xochcatl.

"We were—Well we didn't – Actually…," Xochcatl hangs her head after stuttering horribly trying to lie, "We snuck out to look at something."

Ivy and Katherine's faces went pale and they looked to the ground. They believed they were in trouble now.

Xochcatl then steps forward, "Don't put them in trouble for it. It was my idea."

Citria chuckles lightly, "Don't worry, neither of you are in trouble. But please let us know next time you want to do something like that."