"Look Cyrus, a cave!" Kane pointed toward the cliff face, his nine tails perking up behind him.
"We should check it out. There could be tide pools inside, or maybe some kind of sea grotto with those glowing plankton—"
"It's an old lava vent," Cyrus cut in smoothly, already steering the kayak away from the opening.
"The air inside is toxic. Volcanic gases."
Kane's ears drooped.
"Seriously? It looks so cool though." He craned his neck, trying to get a better view before the kayak drifted further down the coastline. "Maybe we could just peek inside real quick—"
"No."
The word came out sharp enough that Kane's attention snapped back to Cyrus.
Those crimson eyes held something Kane couldn't quite name—warning, maybe. Or recognition.
It was as if Cyrus knew exactly what that cave contained.
Before Kane could press further, the sky shifted.
