They set off from the cavern, the pond's scattered light fading behind them as the tunnel swallowed the group again.
The sun balls drifted into their spread formation overhead, and Percival fell into step near the middle of the group, entirely at ease.
He lasted about ten seconds before he started talking.
"So, how are you finding the caves? First visit?"
"Yes," Lukas said.
"I could tell. Not in a bad way! You just have that look. Everything's still new, and everyone's still checking the ceiling." He gestured upwards cheerfully.
"Good instinct, by the way. Keep doing that. Most people stop checking the ceiling after the first week, and the ceiling is exactly where the real dangers are."
Nobody responded.
"The trick with the bats," he continued, undeterred, "is the sound. Everyone thinks they're silent, but they're not. There's a little click before they drop. It's very faint, like two coins tapped together, once. If you hear that, you move."
"Hm," Karrakas grunted lightly.
