Whoever erected that barrier fit to stop half a dozen manticores failed to secure the lower part. It floated about a quarter of a meter off the floor – at least, a damaged part of it was. It curved upward with just enough height to let a couple of stray cats through. And whatever small critters had found this failsafe improved upon it: They dug a shallow trench in the hardened soil to give even more room to crawl underneath.