Shyvana sneezed, shuddering and rubbing her nose, blinking a few times as she turned back towards the ragtag column of troops that trickled back towards Demacia Proper. She balanced the lance on her shoulder, glancing back over her shoulder to make sure she hadn't hit anyone in the process.
"Gesundheit." Alicia said as she approached from behind at a jog. Shyvana turned her torso slightly, the lance swinging out. Alicia ducked it with a bit of surprise on her face but she shook it off and slid into step with the dragoness. "Careful there, you could take someone's head off with that thing."
"Sorry." Shyvana muttered. "It's been a while since I handled a lance this large." She glanced at the ground and then back up at the gunnery sergeant. Alicia snickered, grinning as she looked over at Shyvana with a smile. She frowned slightly as she watched the dragoness for a few moments, noting how distracted she looked.
"You alright, Shyvana?" Alicia said stepping up next to the dragoness, watching warily as the lance swung back into position on her shoulder. "Perhaps something, or someone weighing on your mind?" Alicia added a knowing grin to emphasize her point, but Shyvana shook her head.
"No, I'm not worried about Jarvan right now, just..." Shyvana voice faded and she frowned slightly, sneezing again and then wiping her nose, frustration hurrying her actions. "I just suddenly had to sneeze and I surprised myself."
"Allergies perhaps?" Alicia suggested. For the past week I've been busy with preparations for the day's combat exercises. Alicia smiled sadly, sighing in resignation and shaking her head affectionately. With me so busy and Jarvan in the hospital, I bet she's just lonely. The dragoness shrugged as she shifted the heavy lance on her shoulder, trying to get it to sit a bit more solidly on the shoulder plate of her standard issue Demacian armor.
"I don't think so." Shyvana said, shaking her head, shriveling her nose up again as she frowned, sniffing a few times as if she expected another sneeze. "At least I don't think so, I've never had them before."
"Odd." Alicia mused, tapping her chin. She watched Shyvana for a few moments, her smile growing playful as she giggled and then turned back to the road. "How has Jarvan been doing?" Shyvana shot her a quizzical look to show that she didn't know what Alicia was speaking about, but the gunny's smile turned pixie-like as she watched Shyvana blush slightly. "Don't think that I didn't know that you were going and visiting him every afternoon."
Shyvana blushed slightly as she looked at her feet, clearly embarrassed. "That's not wrong, is it?" She turned and frowned at the gunny, a sad look on her face. "Jarvan didn't get any visitors while he was hospitalized. He mother came in the first day, but his father, his commander..." She shook her head, anger sliding into her expression, eclipsing the sadness. "I thought Jarvan was some sort of famous, popular prince. Is that not correct?"
Alicia sighed, her smile fading as she looked up to the sky. "Yes and no. He's definitely popular; he's known as the 'Exemplar of Demacia' for a reason, but, over the past few years that has degraded slightly." She paused, frowning as she took a deep breath. "Jarvan left abruptly two and a half years ago, right after the majority of his unit was killed off at the hands of Swain."
"He's told me about it a little." Shyvana murmured, her brow creasing in thought. "He really doesn't like to talk about it much."
"I'm not surprised." Alicia said, her face hardening as she looked off towards the horizon. "Jarvan came back a broken man, and everyone could see it. Garen Crownguard was celebrated as a hero, and the state tried to spin the story in a good light, but it's hard to try and hide the fact that one hundred and thirty men are never coming home in a supposed time of peace." Shyvana didn't have to look over to hear the sneer in Alicia's voice. "But they managed to hide it well enough. Garen was cheered on as a hero, and the remains of the 'Butcher of Noxus' were paraded about like they were made of solid gold. Even that trophy didn't stop the one-hundred and thirty families from asking what happened to their sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters that Demacia seemed to completely ignore. They blamed the prince for their losses, and he fell into a depression for a short while."
"And that was when he parted ways with Demacia, right?"
"Yep." Alicia said, nodding her head somberly. "That was the last that most people heard of him until recently when you and the other soldier under his command returned. Even now, Jarvan is under all kinds of pressure and he's struggling to deal right now."
"Do you think that there is anything I could do to help him?" Shyvana said nervously, looking up to the gunny. Alicia looked surprised, but a smile spread over her face and she giggled.
"You're really in love with him, aren't you?" Alicia said, watching as Shyvana blushed nervously again, though there was a timid smile on her face. She nodded her head and Alicia giggled again as Shyvana seemed to glow happily, steam rising off the top of her head in the cool afternoon air. "Well, I'm sure if you just keep doing what you're doing, everything will be fine. You did just fine during today's defense drills, so I don't think you'll be stuck here with us too much longer. As soon as you're judged ready, I expect you'll be headed to Jarvan's side as his bodyguard." Alicia smiled happily as she glanced at Shyvana who was now beaming, giggling happily to herself. Alicia found it hard not to grin, the dragoness's glee and smile was infectious. Usually it's the other way around. "I've got some great news, though."
The smile started to broaden over Shyvana's face as she looked to the gunny expectantly. "What is it?"
"I heard Jarvan was finally released from the hospital this morning." Alicia said, grinning as the smile blossoming on Shyvana's face nearly exploded.
"Yay!" Shyvana shouted, bouncing about, spinning in a circle happily, the lance whipping about, bouncing on her shoulder like it was nothing. Shyvana's face was blushed a happy pink, and she was humming to herself as she danced about.
"Easy, Shy!" Alicia said, giggling at the dragoness' excited outburst of glee. She ducked down as the lance whirled overhead. "You're going to kill someone with that lance of yours..."
"Sorry..." Shyvana said, now strutting happily, wearing a broad smile. "I'm just excited."
"I can see that." Alicia mused, chuckling. "We'll go visit him as soon as we're released from duty tonight, alright?" Shyvana barely heard her, nodding excitedly, her mind already off thinking about her prince. Alicia grinned and rolled her eyes. Ahh, young love.
As they approached the outermost wall that surrounded Demacia Proper, the other guardsmen trainees, soldiers and officers were congregating on the road, milling about with a mix of confusion and the buzz of excitement filling the air. Alicia gestured for Shyvana to follow her as the gunny pushed through the other guardsmen, heading for the front of the column where most of the lieutenants and the other officers had been riding on horses. As the two women emerged, the massive golden monument of the Eastern Victory Gates towered above them. Despite being so far away, the massive crossed swords that formed the Victory Gates gleamed even in the overcast day's fading light. A klaxon moaned in the distance, coming from the direction of the gates. A thin plume of smoke crept up towards the heavens, disappearing into the overcast gray sky not far above the crest at the top of the gates. A horse trotted towards them, Vorscham steering the animal about, frustration gritting his teeth as he struggled to control the beast of burden. The dark haired creature finally slowed to a fussy halt, snorting and shaking its head as Alicia and Shyvana approached.
"Lieutenant, what's going on?" Alicia asked as she stepped up next to Vorscham's horse. She stroked the beast's mane gently, the horse snorting and continuing to shake its head as it stamped at the ground impatiently.
"Something has the horses spooked." Shyvana noted, easing the lance off of her shoulder and looking over the other officer's mounts where they had gathered. All of the horses were tossing their heads to and fro, tugging at their rider's reigns as they stamped at the ground, moving about nervously. "LT?" He shrugged as he turned his horse around.
"The gate security detachment is moving people off the road right now." Vorscham muttered with a frown. "Whoa boy, whoa." He cooed, trying to calm his horse down as it threatened to buck and bounce. The horse settled slightly, but its ears still twitched nervously. "I've only overheard a little bit of what the Major has been bitching about ever since the column stopped." Vorscham cast a forlorn glance over his shoulder and then frowned, looking back down to Alicia and Shyvana. "I'm not quite sure about what's going on, but it doesn't look good."
"Vorscham, you're up!" Vorscham rolled his eyes as the major summoned him, waving his farewell as he turned his horse about, snapping the reins and trotting towards where the other cluster of horses was centered.
Shyvana was watching the road as Demacian troops were helping escort civilians back towards the gates of the city, a curious creature overseeing the entire operation. With massive wings of crystalline stone, and rippling muscles of a bluish rock, the creature was decorated with golden patterns and sheets of metal. His horn-crowned head came up, looking in Shyvana's direction with a piercing orange stare, his eyes glowing brightly. Though he was impossibly far off, Shyvana felt a shiver run down her spine as the golem watched her for a moment before it turned back to the mother and child it was escorting away from the road, a pair of Demacian soldiers following in his wake.
"Hey Shy, you feeling okay?" Alicia quipped, rapping her knuckle on the dragoness's armored shoulder pauldron.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Shyvana muttered as she shook her head and levered the lance up, resting it on her shoulder, sinking just a bit under the weight.
"Whatever you say." Alicia murmured as she glanced back towards where Vorscham was now talking with the officers, a cross expression on his face. A look of defeat washed over him, his shoulder sinking as he turned and met Alicia's gaze. He waved them over. The gunny turned and tapped Shyvana on the shoulder again. "Come on, the LT wants us."
Shyvana nodded absentmindedly, still looking down the road towards the golem. She followed Alicia towards the officers though, the group falling silent as the dragoness and the gunny approached.
Vorscham cleared his throat. "Gunnery Sergeant Juniper, Trainee Shyvana, you're to advance along the road and try and assist the guardsmen dealing with the issue at hand." There was a mix of frustration and anger in his voice as he looked down at the two women standing before him. "The Major has stated that this will be an exercise in your ability to gather information and adapt to a situation based upon allied garrison forces who are trying to deal with what appears with an emergency situation. If you are unable to render assistance, you will gather information and report back. Understood?"
There was a moment of silence as Alicia gave Vorscham a molten stare, the lieutenant withering slightly, looking apologetic as Alicia sighed. She saluted and held it until Shyvana matched her, dropping it together. "Understood sir." She barked her reply, trying to keep the frustration from her voice. There was a murmur of appreciation and a wave of hushed chuckles as the officers watched Alicia and Shyvana begin to move up the road. Alicia cast a furious glare at the other officers who had moved off the road.
"What was that about?" Shyvana said, glancing over her shoulder back towards the officers as they finally moved out of earshot. "Is something wrong, June?"
"Seymour is being his usual, weaselly self." Alicia spat angrily, her boots starting to stomp as she tried not to display too much anger in her voice alone. "That rat bastard is just along for the ride. If he hadn't been ordered to accompany the unit on our training exercise, he would be shut up in his comfy little office, trying fruitlessly to bed that stupid bitch of a secretary." She snickered coldly, sighing in disgust as she shook her head. "He's shirking his duty onto Vorscham, and forcing him to put us, more specifically, you, directly into the line of fire."
"So?" Shyvana shrugged, trying not to sound angry or offended. "It's not like I mind the extra work."
"You should." Alicia said, sighing as she watched the dragoness, her shoulders drooping as the Shyvana shifted the massive lance effortlessly to her other shoulder. "Major Seymour is gunning for you. He wants you to fail. Hell, he wants Vorscham to fail as well, and he's trying to get you both screwed over."
"What does he want with me?" Shyvana said, blinking, surprise clear on her face. "What did I do?"
"You're Vorscham's prodigy right now." Alicia said, snorting with disgust. "Seymour has been trying to get Vorscham jailed, demoted, discharged... anything he can to discredit the lieutenant. The major hates Vorscham with a passion." Alicia sighed, a tired look sliding onto her face. "Vorscham is a good officer, despite his gruff outer appearance and surly attitude. He excels when working in small unit tactics, and at this point, if it hadn't been for Seymour, Vorscham would probably be a major or a captain leading his own company." Alicia sighed and ran a hand over her face tiredly when she saw the shock on Shyvana face. "Seymour has made a habit out of using his subordinates to carry his career. He's made an art out of finding budding young officers as they come up and then having them indirectly guide him in his decisions and orders in the field. Anyone under his command could see what he is doing, but from above, he looked like any other decent minded officer. Competent enough, yes, and the one thing he was good at come from the fact that he has the gift of a silver tongue." She glanced cautiously over her shoulder, but they were a long way clear of the officers. They also seemed absorbed amid their own conversations. "I will give Seymour that, he knows how to schmooze an officer."
"Schmooze?" Shyvana repeated, a curious look on her face. "What's a 'schmooze'?"
"Basically, think what you say to get into Jarvan's pants." Alicia giggled when Shyvana's face turned bright red, steam pouring off of her head. She slowed to a stop, shaking slightly as her face turned an even darker shade of red. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, Shyvana, breathe girl." Alicia patted Shyvana gently on the back as the dragoness slowly faded back to her normal, pale color, shaking her head, though there was a certain amount of coloration still in her cheeks. "There ya go, take a few breaths and calm yourself."
"Sorry..." Shyvana murmured after a few moments, running a hand through her messy red hair. "I just... got a little bit warm there for a few moments."
"I could tell." Alicia chuckled, eying Shyvana for a moment before setting back off. She shrugged. "But anyways, he's always been a major ass." Alicia snorted at her own joke. "Vorscham was the best of the many young officers that he tried to control, but when Vorscham..." Her voice trailed off for a moment as she frowned.
"When Vorscham what?" Shyvana muttered, looking at Alicia expectantly.
Alicia's brow furrowed as she glanced to the ground and then she glanced at Shyvana hesitantly. "Well, I don't know if I should..."
"Run!"
"Wha..." Alicia stammered as the world seemed to erupt around them. A man, screaming bloody murder, practically bowled her over. "Hey, asshole!" Alicia snarled as the man bounced off her and hit the ground. "What the hell?"
"Run!" The man pointed a shaky hand back down the road. "It's about to explode!" Alicia and Shyvana followed the man's finger, looking along road. In front of them, the thin plume of smoke had turned into a massive bluish cloud that was now arcing towards the sky as it rose from what appeared to be some kind of horseless carriage. Shyvana watched as it trundled off the edge of the road. Colored a mix of grays, reds and blacks, the cart was riding low, it massive payload sending the sleek nose pointing upwards at what appeared to be a dangerous angle. Smoke and sparks billowed from the clanking metal beast, an odd looking little Yordle riding the techmaturgical machine as it started to belch smoke from all sides.
"Something's wrong." Alicia murmured. "I wonder—hey wait! Shyvana, what are you doing!?"
"Just hold this!" Shyvana barked, dropping the lance to the ground with a cloud of dust billowing as it struck dirt, the dragoness handing it off to Alicia. "I'm going to help!"
"Hey, wai—WHOA!" Alicia sunk back, her knees nearly buckling as she tried to keep the lance from hitting the ground. "Shyvana!" She grunted under the weight of the lance, watching as the dragoness sprinted off. "Hold on!"
Shyvana was already weaving through the civilians who were now retreating along the road, away from the smoking metal monstrosity that was now violently spraying sparks and a thick cloud of black smoke. Flames began to lick the side of the machine. The Yordle that was riding it was beginning to panic, his arms flailing over the glowing control surfaces as he struggled to control the machine. It trundled off the edge of the road and came to a stop in the high grasses. A high pitched whistling sound echoed across the area, the noise slowly winding up to a piercing, jarring screech. Some of the retreating people dropped to the ground, their hands clamped over their ears, pain playing across their faces as they crashed to their knees. People screamed in pain, but Shyvana pushed past them, running as fast as she could without using her flames. She shut the noise out, doing her best to ignore the whistle.
"Clear the road! Get to safety!" The deep bass roar came from the winged stone golem. He turned towards Shyvana, growling as she sprinted forward. "Trainee! Get out of here!"
"You've still got people on the road!" Shyvana shouted as she sprinted past him. Behind him, a number of people were scattered along the road, collapsed against the shriek. The golem looked surprised, but soon the surprise turned to outrage, the golem's massive stone fists quivering angrily.
"What?" The golem roared in his gravely bass tone, glancing back towards the road. "How did—dammit!"
"Get them clear!" Shyvana shouted. "I'll help the Yordle!"
"But what are you..." The golem started to stammer as Shyvana raced past, flames coating her legs, pushing her faster on a plume of hot air. She pushed herself faster as she sprinted forth, the distance starting to rapidly close between her and the machine. As she got closer and closer to the machine, the acrid stink of sulfur and burning grass filled her nostrils.
It's just like before. Shyvana shook her head and tried to forget the images that flashed through her mind. It's just like that time... the forest with Kampf. Shyvana snarled as she pushed through the wave of nausea that washed over her. No, no one deserves to die like this. She watched as the diminutive little creature flapped his arms in panic, pushing on the glass and metal canopy that entrapped him on the machine. Waves of rolling black smoke obscured him, covering the machine in its entirety.
Almost there...
Shyvana dove and slid, dust erupting below her feet for a few meters before she hit the grass, using her arms to cover her head as she slid through the expanding veil of burning grass. She slid to a stop next to the machine, blue and black smoke now belching from behind its large, spoked wheels, a rattling machine humming and whistling atop the horseless carriage's cargo area. The front was cylindrical shaped metal, stained black with smoke as electricity arced up and down the metal in places, sparks pouring into the burnt-away remnants of the grass.
"Come on... nngh...?! WAAAA-" Silence followed the diminutive scream.
"Hey!" Shyvana coughed as she caught some of the dark smoke, gasping for air. "If you can hear me, let me know!"
"Over here!" A small voice shouted from the other side of the machine. Shyvana coughed, gasping for air as she dropped towards the ground, looking along the surface for any sign of the voice. Some of the smoke had settled around the machine though, and she could barely see or breathe. Even along the ground there was a thin veil of smoke rising from the charred grass, but Shyvana tried her best to breath shallowly. "Please, I can't get out!" There was a series of clanking sounds, the machine shuddered violently and then the whistle fell silent, though it continued to vibrate and hum softly. Shyvana remained still for several long seconds, waiting apprehensively for it to return, but the machine simply remained smoking and shaking. More clanking came from where she suspected the Yordle would be, followed by the voice again. "The techmaturgical sensors must have set of the Drain Out of Mana machine... If only it were working as intended! Blast!"
"Hold on, I'm coming to get you, just keep talking!" Shyvana covered her mouth as she coughed, tears forming in her eyes against the smoke. Her eyes burned as she felt her way along the ground. She could feel heat even through her armor, as if she were getting a sunburn on her face as she moved forward. The panel of metal she was following around the vehicle gave way, receding upwards in a smooth curve. Shyvana continued to follow the metal around, taking deep breaths and she rounded the front. "My name is Shyvana!" She shouted, trying to keep the voice talking. "What's a Yordle like you doing in Demacia?"
"Shyvana?" The yordle said curiously, surprise evident in his voice. "I've heard of you, you're the creature that came back with the Demacian prince, yes?"
"Yep, that's me!" Shyvana shouted as she continued to feel her way around the nose cone of the machine. "How about you? What's your name!"
"My name is Cecil!" The voice shouted. "I'm an professor from Piltover. Save me and I'll make you the best armor you can imagine! I'll put the scheme in schematic!"
"Thanks, but Jarvan's already got me a set being made!" Shyvana shouted back.
"Who said you needed only one?!" The voice shouted back and cackled excitedly. "I theorize that more than one wou—AHH!" A small explosion sounded and another wave of heat washed over Shyvana's face. She ducked her head until the wave of heat had passed.
"Cecil!" Shyvana shouted, glancing upwards, ducking her head as something hot and metal dropped down next to her, slicing her cheek open. She hissed in pain, holding a hand over the wound, but she closed her eyes for a brief moment and put the pain aside. "Hey, Cecil, talk to me!"
"It singed my mustache!" He shouted, anger now filling his voice. "This is utterly preposterous! It singed my beautiful mustache! This is outrageous, how did this happen?! I tested it so much... I needed more time..." The sound of banging carried through the air as he struggled with the door.
"It's just hair!" Shyvana shouted back, trying not to grin in the grim situation. "I'll save your skin, and then you can worry about your damn mustache!"
"But, but... this shouldn't have happened!" Cecil's voice shouted, wavering as fear coursed through him. "My inventions are perfect! I've never had this problem before, it's not as I hypothesized! Bah this is so bothersome!"
"Hey, performance issues effect everyone sometimes!" Shyvana shouted with a grin, taking a deep breath and pushing herself up. She hoped to get a chuckle from the voice but silence followed from within the machine. She ran her hands up along the metal, a cage blocking her off from the sound of his voice. She tugged on it and felt it shudder, but it didn't give way. "I can't get to you, there's something in the way!"
"It's the safety cage!" The voice replied urgently. The sound of small hands slapping buttons and flipping switches carried over the growing hiss of the smoke pouring out and the crackle of verdant flames and electricity. "Stand back, I'll open it!"
"Do it!" Shyvana said, sinking back and dropping towards the ground to take a deep breath, gasping and coughing for air. She hung onto the metal cage to guide herself back up as it opened. "Open it!" The sound of groaning, ripping metal resounded as the cage shuddered in her hand, but it did not move. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know! Let me fix that!" A new level of urgency coursed through his voice as the strikes upon buttons and metal panels quickened. "This might be—AHH!"
"Damnit!" Shyvana snarled as the cage jolted with electricity, snapping at her hand as she jerked it away. The electricity had run through her metal gauntlet, heating it up to a painful temperature, burning the leather glove that Shyvana wore underneath. Shyvana ripped off the metal of her gauntlet, smoke rising from the leather glove, stinking like burnt strider steak. Shyvana hissed in pain but she shook her head. "Cecil? Cecil talk to me!"
Silence.
"Damnit!" Shyvana shouted, slamming her fist down onto the ground in anger. She looked around for something she could use to pry the cage away, but there was nothing but blurred smoke, her eyes tearing against the smoke. She blinked her eyes and then clamped them shut, the burning was too painful.
"Can you hear me!" The deep bass rumble echoed from outside the cloud of smoke. "Hey, trainee, if you're still alive, say something!"
"Who's there?" Shyvana shouted, inhaling some smoke and falling into a fit of coughs.
"It's Galio!" The deep bass rumbled again. "You need to get out of there!"
"But Cecil is still trapped inside!" Shyvana screamed back.
"WHAT?!" The voice barked, alarmed. "I told him... never mind, it's too late, you need to get out of there!" The voice had turned dark and angry, rumbling like distant thunder. It was direct and gravelly, confident despite the situation at hand.
"I won't leave him!" Shyvana shouted angrily. "If only I could see what the hell I was doing!" Shyvana snarled, slamming her hand down onto the ground angrily again. "Damnit!"
"Hold on!" The voice rumbled. "Close your eyes and cover your mouth!"
Shyvana ducked her head down but looked towards the voice. "What are you-..."
"DO IT NOW!"
Shyvana took a deep breath and then clamped her eyes shut and the covered her nose and mouth with her hands. The smell of charred meat filled her nostrils, but suddenly a gust of wind passed over her head. She felt her hair getting tugged into the air and whipped about, an immense force practically ripping her from the ground and tossing her up and into the air. Shyvana dug one hand into the ground, snarling as it nearly tossed her away.
Suddenly, the gust disappeared, leaving Shyvana hanging in the air. She hit the ground, hard, coughing and gasping for air. Her body burned as she sucked in the first few breath of clean air she had tasted in several long minutes. She tried to shake off the pain and surprise as she pushed herself up and tried to overcome the confusion and surprise she felt. As she blinked away the tears in her eyes, she noticed swirling amber and red colors dancing around her like snowflakes. Brilliant autumn leaves fluttered around her, twisting and dropping in the sudden absence of the wind.
"Get him free while the smoke is clear!" The deep bass rumble barked from behind her. She looked over, surprise clear on her face as the massive gargoyle glared at her with its glowing orange eyes. Blue and gold stone skin covered his body, a grinding sound resounding as he moved about, his wings flapping rapidly as he kept himself floating above the ground. "Go, trainee! Do it!"
Shyvana pushed herself up and got to her knees, getting a good look at the machine for the first time. Built atop a long cylindrical shape that reminded her of a wine bottle, there were two smaller ones that ran along both sides, red and black stripes running at angles down the cylinders until they disappeared under the large, boxy cargo area. A mostly glass enclosure surrounded the the top of the machine, and along the bottom there was a metal cage that protected the glass where it was closest to the red and black tanks. Shyvana saw red text on a white background that read 'fuel tanks' and then she shuddered. Fuel like for a Dragon's breath... Shyvana shivered and shook her head. If they go before we get out of here...
"Cecil!" She turned and banged on the metal cage, trying to see if the Yordle was okay, but the glass had blackened over from the flame and sparks. "Cecil stay back if you can hear me!" Shyvana ripped the metal from her other gauntlet free and then shook her head, gritting her teeth. "This is gonna hurt..." She muttered nervously, flexing her hands tentatively. "Here goes nothing."
Shyvana grabbed hold of the metal cage with both hands and snarled as heat intermediately cut through the palms of her gloves, electricity crackling and snapping along the cage as she jerked it free, the metal moaning and howling as she ripped it clear of the machine. It snapped and shrieked as she tore it clean off. She tossed it aside as electricity started to jump to her armor, coursing along her body, just above her skin. The heat was oppressive, her entire body aching as if it was covered in sunburns. She snarled in anger as the heat became unbearable, though Shyvana pushed onwards. She reared a fist back and then punched the glass dome, shattering it. Pain flooded her right hand as her vision was obscured by thick black smoke, something warm and wet now flowing along her fist.
"You're out of time!" The gargoyle shouted over the piercing whine. "Get clear!"
Shyvana grabbed the small Yordle, her eyes burning, her entire body now aching as it felt like she was being baked alive. She dove away, rolled up to her feet, and then started sprinting away as fast as she could, towards the sound of the gargoyle's voice. "Go!" The whistle was now a piercing shriek, and smoke was billowing violently from the machine. Suddenly the shriek ended.
There was a moment of perfect silence as Shyvana looked over her shoulder.
The main body of the machine crumpled inwards and then ballooned outwards.
Shyvana felt her skin begin to harden into a leathery hide, scales cutting through painfully, her horns breaking through her skull as she wrapped her arms around the Yordle.
"Oh shi-..."
The machine exploded.