Wait until an opportunity presents itself

I could barely contain my excitement. Fortunately, my bioferric body was apparently immune to jitters. I was able to sit perfectly still in the fading light and observe silently, unblinking, as the group prepared a small meal over a fire, ate it, chatted about something that was probably a lesson on survival, and ultimately separated into their tents.

Stern was last to retire, taking care to bank the fire and walking the perimeter of their camp a few times. My God's Eye revealed to me that he was laying down wards to prevent anything from sneaking up on them in the night. Clever. Good practice.

As the wards gradually formed into a dome over the camp site, I carefully made my way down the trunk of my tree, not making any sound as I carefully remained inside the wards so as not to have to worry about bypassing them later. It was easy to find a space near the base of one tree that fit neatly within the warded area where I wouldn't be seen. One of the benefits of being so small.

Wards finished, Stern returned to his tent. But as he lifted the flap, he paused, suddenly still. Had he sensed me? I wasn't sure, but I **** my body to remain absolutely still while he turned a slow circle, eyes searching. How could the old man have sensed me?

After a full two minutes, he seemed satisfied and retired to his tent, leaving me very glad I was a bioferric creature because the adrenaline might have killed me otherwise. I was fairly certain that Stern could have lanced me on the spot if he'd noticed me, with or without my Timefruit Juice.

So I waited even longer, unsure how long it would take to feel safe. Waiting was what I was good at, and it seemed the best thing to do to ensure I didn't die before ever managing to pass on my brand new genetics. An hour passed without any suspicious activity from the tents. Then another. That was probably good.