Scorch Worm

This is the logbook entry of D. Furthen, naturalist for the UES [Redacted] in conjunction with the UES Research and Documentation of Outer Life. I am joined by my good friend Tharson, who is keeping me safe through this journey. --------------------- We- well, Tharson, tracked the great Magma Worm deep into these cave systems. The tunnels are massive, double our height, nearly a perfect circle, and made of polished glass. Keeping our footing here makes every step feel like 10. The earth rumbles low and constant in the tunnels ahead. We follow the sizzle of glass and earth churning deeper, and we find it. The tunnels give way to a cavernous boiling chamber of magma. The nest for these magnificent creatures. We sweat despite our environment suits best efforts. The worms shy away from us, safely burrowed into their blistering pools. There are structures here, but who built them in these conditions? A distant grating noise continues to reach our camp in the night, unnerving me. I wake Tharson to investigate. We find it, at last! Nearly the size of OMEGA’s Progenitor Leech. Burning, of course. I watch in fascination as it crunches effortlessly into thin golden veins of material hidden in the rock. What sense is it using to find this food? Smell? Vibration? Glassy gauges littering the area tell me this is a reliable feeding ground. With rations nearly out, I hope for one more sighting of the worm as Tharson packs camp.