Unfortunately, the volcanic tark'ee were not as happy to have visitors as the aerobics had been.

Glow and Depths peered down at the massive, spined tark'ee that rumbled up at them threateningly from the tunnel floor.

"This is a pickle," Depths observed, balancing precariously on a narrow ledge that only just supported his weight, but it was out of reach of the volcanic so he wasn't complaining.

Glow crouched on another outcrop up the tunnel wall, eyeing the volcanic warily. "That's one way to put it."

The volcanic rumbled, claws scraping the wall of the tunnel, and they both paused to make sure it wasn't about to try to jump, or something. They'd just barely managed to clamber up to these ledges before it had caught up to them. The volcanic tunnels had been strange to walk into - constant rumbling and ever-present heat, with eerie red glows peeking out here and there. It was hot and oppressive, the stink of sulphur staining their fur. And then around the corner, something had roared and they'd packed up their mapping equipment and ran for it.

Depths was sure he was going to need to take multiple baths to get it out of his fur and nostrils, but that… would have to wait, it seemed.

"How do you suppose we get out of this?"

Glow considered, eyeing the volcanic as it hissed and clawed at the wall, not giving up. She wasn't sure how much it understood…

"Let me try something," she said, then pulled out her handheld to message Depths.

I have a drone. It may work as a distraction… be prepared to run.

He caught her eye and nodded slowly, deliberately, then went back to staring at the volcanic while Glow began to interface with the drone. It had been sent away to map some other tunnels, and while Glow recalled it, she considered. What would a piddly little mapping drone do to a creature this size? It didn't have any weapons or anything… well, she'd figure something out.

The volcanic barely turned its horned head at the approaching whine of the drone, only fixed it's malevolent gaze on Depths and rumbled again, reaching with overlong claws while he hissed back at it reflexively. Glow noticed this apathy and frowned, backed the drone up, then sped it at the volcanic's head, barely missing it.

That got its attention. The volcanic's head whipped, and it roared a challenge that made dust fall from the ceiling. Glow motioned for Depths to wait, then pulled the drone back for another pass…

Now!

As the volcanic snapped at the drone, she and Depths leapt to the ground and ran. It was hard to pilot the drone and run at the same time, and eventually she gave up as the volcanic lost interest in the drone and turned to chase them. She backed it up again, and this time, didn't miss.

A pained roar echoed down the tunnel, and she exchanged a worried yet triumphant look with Depths as they ran. Hopefully the injury would keep them busy for a while…