I followed close behind Dad, keeping a firm grip on my vine as we descended into the ruins. The naturally growing vines were a help but we had to be careful in case they snapped of pulled away from their anchor points. Theses ruins were quite well preserved considering how old they were but that was probably because they were underground. I couldn’t tell yet if they had been built that way or if they had been build over time. Still, well preserved wasn't pristine so we had plenty of footholds to grip and rest on. No matter how many of these places we explored, each one was different. We never knew what we’d find. Sometimes, we found nothing, sometimes we found interesting hints of the past, but it was those special times when we found something useful that kept us coming back despite the danger.

As well as using the living vines, Dad had made old fashioned woven vines from some of the younger, thinner vegetation that we’d secured above as a precaution, just in case we slipped. Another of Dad’s lessons, always climb with a safety line. It was a risk, but using the woven vines rather than more modern technology made it less obvious that someone had descended through the opening, should a patrol pass by. Now our weight was only on the vines, we made one final check or the area and tested the safety vine. We didn’t expect to have any company this deep in the wilderness, but that didn’t mean we could relax. Constant vigilance made for a longer life.

As usual when we traveled, we kept as quiet as possible to reduce the risk of discovery, communicating using only body language, hand signs and, in the worst emergencies, telepathy. We didn’t even use standard comms which, though unlikely, could be intercepted. Dad and I often travelled between the different Myath groups, offering aid and guidance where needed and checking up on them but we never stayed long. We’d just left Levi’s group a few rotations ago and, though I loved him and his group, I loved getting away and exploring the vast unknown with dad even more. We were both Myath but we weren’t really part of any of the communities that grew around the various leaders. It was just him and me, the specialists! Honing our skills in the wilds and discovering things that had be lost for millennia. History fascinates me and it was useful too, adding to the Myath archives and helping us when all other sources of support failed. Dad had built a large network of allies but things go wrong, that’s just how it is. That’s why we always have backups and contingency plans, though sometimes that just means thinking fast.

Descending into the ruins, making sure to stay close to the walls and only using the vines when necessary, we finally reached the bottom and activated some glows that were designed to be safe for any delicate materials down here. Dad and I had gotten them from a Fae ally but we’d tweaked them a bit, so they worked even better. I looked around and the glows illuminated a small areas in front of us, making sure to check our backs, just in case wildlife had settled down here. Another Dad lesson, always be aware of your surroundings. It looked like some sort of complex. We’d appeared in a central area and corridors branched off in front of us. It looked like there was an entrance behind us but it was collapsed or blocked.

I got Dad’s attention and asked through hand signs, “What is it dad? I’ve not seen anything like it before.”

Dad looked around, assessing the space. I knew not to rush him for an answer, he was always very careful when we entered a new ruin. Slowly, he crept toward an opening, pausing to listen and sniff the cool air. I followed his lead, staying alert and testing our surroundings while keeping an close watch behind us. Patience was second nature to me but it was difficult to maintain a when there was history to discover. Finally, Dad felt it was safe enough to to respond.

“I can’t be sure but I think it is some sort of learning institute or perhaps a research library. Look, it still has power.” He signed back, indicating the quiet hum of power in the closest wall. “They must have used some sort of renewable energy source. Come on Sierra, let’s find out what’s here.”

The glows followed us as we forged our way deeper into the complex, making sure to clearly mark our path so we didn't get lost. Experience helped us bypass the mundane yet interesting finds, avoid the dangers of decay and quickly search out the valuable data we hoped for. First things first though, we sniffed out the power room, somewhat following the hum of power in the walls, and found that the ancients of this facility had utilised both star energy via primitive solar panels, some of which still worked, and geothermal energy. They’d built the complex right over a geothermal spout and the technology was still working. It was one of the best preserved sites we’d found so Far.

“Amazing” we both signed at the same time and grinned at each other. The power areas also had a useful little diagram of the facility with lines which probably represented the power flow through the building. I looked closely at it and nudged my dad, pointing. It was the largest ruin I’d ever seen or ever even heard of.

“It’s gonna take forever to search it all dad.” I sent signed and he made a funny face at me which I tried hard not to laugh aloud at. Laughter is always a physical thing which is why, even when you communicated telepathically or digitally, no one will look at you strangely when you burst out in laughter.

Sadly, I was right. With only Dad and I to work on it in between all our travel and other responsibilities, it would be orbits before we could clear it out. Not that I minded, I loved the ruins and hadn’t had a chance to revisit many. The only problem was it’s location so far into the wilderness. That alone would add moons to the whole adventure in total. We needed equipment to preserve the DNA data so we couldn’t remove much as a time. Alternatively, we could digitise everything, but hat alone could take forever and we’d need loads more data storage to get it all…

We thoroughly checked the large area that we labelled engineering and made sure that the power supply was stable. Happy that it was as safe as we could make it, we used the little diagram and made a general sweep of the facility before we started a concentrated search for the data store. A complex this size was bound to have one. It took a while and we found some interesting stuff along the way that I was so tempted to record, but we stuck to our goal and finally, we found it. A gigantic room full of chillers, stuffed full of DNA stored data. I couldn’t believe it. There must have been eons worth of data there. It may even go back into pre-prehistory!! Even then…

“Dad, where do we start?” I asked via sign, slightly stunned.

I could see the data reader, ready to translate and transfer the information on the DNA for digital access. We didn’t bring nearly enough temporary storage to hold all this until we could transferred it to our multiple databanks in DNA, digital and physical copies. How did we choose what to take?

“We’ll ask the system to make a random selection of the most useful and diverse data. Come on, we don’t have long to work now if we’re going to find a new camp site before dark. Get the data storage packs ready and I’ll work the reader.” Dad signed, his organisational skills welcome in the face of such a large task.

We got to work, moving as fast as we could and as fast as the reader would let us. For such old technology, it worked almost as well as our modern stuff. It didn’t take too long and I managed to resist the temptation to read through the selections right away! We were just finishing the transfers and making sure everything was stored properly so we could return later, when dads proximity alert sounded in our heads. We both froze.

The images from the sensors that Dad always layer down around the entrance to any ruin we entered, showed a party of hunters. They were Red Claws and they’d somehow stumbled into our path, though by their relaxed manner, they hadn’t detected our presence yet. Dad and I exchanged a glance before we quickly, and quietly began to move. Escaping the viscous Red Claws would not be easy but we’d done it before. The best way was to sneak past them. If you’re spotted and had to run, survival dropped. Significantly.

We moved fast, returning to our entry point to retrieve the hidden vine rope and the proximity drones. The ones above would either return to us in stealth mode within the next thirty heart beats, or self destruct once we were out of range. The self destruct would be harmless to the environment and just as stealthy as the retreat. They’d disintegrate into atoms silent and invisible unless you happened to be looking right at it when it disappeared. There should be no trace and it would be safer for Dad and I not to go out the same way we came in, just in case.

During our exploration of the complex, we’d found and marked another entrance point, probably from a cave in or a tree that was uprooted. Now we used it. We had to climb unaided, so I we fell, we’d be hurt and this opening wasn’t as stable as the one we entered by. It was times like this I was so glad I had some control over my claws. I may not be able to shift much, but I could get that little bit of extra grip by having slightly sharper nail. Thankfully, the climb was uneventful, and quiet. We emerged into the dim light of approaching evening, luckily for us, as the dark would help to mask our presence. We made sure to mask our scent before moving soundlessly through the open landscape.

Unfortunately,, our luck changed when it turned out we had emerged into one of the few small areas that wasn’t covered by some kind of forest. Thanks to the highly managed global ecosystem, stubborn areas like this were few and far between. Instead of the multiple levels of the forest that we could loose pursuers in, we’d have to try and detection in the flat, open area. Dad indicated we should stay low and led the way as we slid though vast plans of tall grass and wild flowers which were a bit difficult to move through undetected. I reassured myself that we had done it before and we could do it again now.

We stopped periodically, listening and checking for the hunters before moving again, slowly edging toward the better cover of the far off forests. Dad and I had practised this so often, anticipating each other’s thoughts and actions and that had saved us so many times. Hopefully it would save us again.

We almost made it.

One of the hunters appeared out of the grass, having just relieved himself and deciding to indulge in a roll. He was an Igidoe in his Primal Form, but he was quickly joined by a female Icanthie in Warrior Form. The Red Claws must have broken their party up into pairs to scout which meant they knew something was here but they couldn’t find it. We couldn’t afford to stop, so Dad and I continued to move, as silently as we could, eyes glued to the lethal pair.

It was the Icanthie that heard us. I don’t know what it was, the unnatural switch of the grass as we glided through it perhaps or the wind blew the wrong way at just the wrong time, carrying our scent. Whatever the reason, the hunters went on alert, sinking down low to be obscured by the grass and intent of finding their prey. Not good. Now they’d be more difficult to evade.

But Dad and I aren’t prey. Using hand signals, we split up, circling around to muddle any tracks whilst still edging closer to the forests. We couldn’t risk using the network in case they caught our stray signals and telepathy might distract us, so we had to rely on our practice. Still, although Dad was only a few steps away, I felt alone and scared that he’d be caught. Moving carefully and quietly, I listened hard…

There! The slight crush of a blade of grass bending beyond its endurance. One of them was close on my back left. Any moment now…

Before the hunter found me or I could move out of their way, a scuffle, quiet yet somehow deafening at the same time, erupted to my left. The Hunter popped up, looking in the same direction, sniffing and baring his teeth. I took my chance. I couldn’t worry about Dad just now, I needed to make sure first, that I survived, and then help if he needed it. Besides, Dad would scold me if I broke from procedure. The Igidoe moved towards the scuffle, which was almost silent now. He had no idea I was there or that he had passed me to get to the disturbance. I palmed the blades that had been stored on my forearms and lunged at the large figure, aiming for the eyes and neck. They were the easiest target when he was in his Canine form.

I don’t know what went wrong but the first blow didn’t finish him. Perhaps it was because I’d never killed a sapient before but it didn’t matter now, I was in trouble. Badly wounded, he turned on me and I barley managed to jump back in time, avoiding his deadly claws. He was fast and I had no time to go on the offensive, preoccupied with staying out of his reach. Suddenly Dad appeared and sank his blade into the Igidoe’s neck, twisting before ripping it out, taking a chunk of his throat with it. I was breathing hard but did my best to calm it and stay quiet. We didn’t have long, the blood on the air would alert the rest of the hunting party, despite the swift and silent nature of the fight.

“I’ve dealt with the other one.” Dad spoke telepathically for the first time, his mental voice laced with urgency and strength. “Go Sierra! Run!”

I didn’t argue or wait, we both took of, still trying to stay quiet yet going as fast as we could to make it to the trees. I’d killed for food but I’d never taken a sapient life before and I’d been spared again. For now. In this life, eventually it would happen because I’d either have to kill or give up and die. We were never safe and, just like now, we’d have to defend ourselves and keep running. Dreaming of any other way was too dangerous. It didn’t stop the tiny spark of hope and longing in my heart though.