The Earth Tigers — Frances Pauli

The burrows of the Great Ones are stirring. Horatch, a T'rant scout, is sent into the jungles to find a promising candidate among the scattered tribes of humans. He must risk his life to find one special child who is brave, talented, and able to survive the tests ahead. When he meets Milyi, his hopes soar. But just returning her to the Temple proves difficult for the spider scout. An ancient enemy has also awoken, and if the Wisps have their way, the Great Ones will remain a part of history, the T'rants will fall, and the humans will live as servants to the Wisp cults taking root in secret all across their world.