Take them away in bags

"You drove him back?"

The ground underfoot bulged into a mound. Soon, a hand reached out from inside it, forcing open a larger hole, and a dust-covered Andros climbed out, his face full of shock. He ran along the vines to Nelson's side and shouted, "You actually defeated him? You can actually defeat him?!"

"No." Nelson grabbed a thick vine and leaped down, his gaze fixed on a cocoon hanging at the base of the vines, one that resembled a pitcher plant's trap. It was woven from fine vines and surrounded by clusters of glowing ore. Through the gaps in the vines, white mist could be seen swirling inside. The instant he landed, his body shrank into a white cat, but the next second he turned back into a half-crouched human form. "Is Pythia in there?"

"Yes. She seems to be injured, and she's been leaking air." Andros followed close behind Nelson and jumped into the Underground City-State. He caught Nelson by the arm, making Nelson's steps toward Pythia falter. Nelson turned back and heard Andros repeat the question again. "You defeated him?!"

"I still can't beat him head-on right now," Nelson said seriously, shaking off Andros's hand. "I only used his wariness and the unknown to create the illusion that I could contend with him."

"You defeated him!"

Andros gripped Nelson's wrist again, his question becoming a statement. Nelson felt the pulse spreading from Andros's palm into his body, and saw the irrepressible heat burning in his dispirited eyes.

He understood. It wasn't just that he needed to fabricate a natural enemy for Tom to buy time. The people who had been shrouded in white darkness, hiding underground like rats for eight years, needed that beloved news even more.

Faint whispers came from the cavern. Andros raised his head.