When I'd realized that Poison had been taken, I'd done what I could to make sure he'd gotten free. I couldn't let him know the truth, not until after I was sure everything was gone, everyone was safe.

By now, even the Yeerk Pool itself was gone. The ground beneath the city was just that. Ground. It was bizarre.

I needed to check in on them all now, though, so I made my way over. Finding Poison locked in his own room was . . . heartbreaking. I felt sick. He was going to hate me for this, I knew it.

I knocked, then took a breath and opened the door.

"Poison?" I called. My voice felt small to my own ears.