The darkness is comforting, masking the terrors lurking about. We still hear the screams in the village, and the sky still glows with the fire's reflection. The scent of smoke is heavy in the air, I wonder frantically if my lungs are burning too, trying to calm my hammering heart.
The attack was quick, unexpected. It's me and Loor here now, I don't know where Alder is, and though I know he's gonna be okay, no matter what I'll see him again, there's no way he could still be there and be alive. Men scream, much like the beasts that tore this place to shreds. I wish Press was here, I wish none of this was happening. I try to focus on our breathing, cuz there's nothing else I can do.
When I was scared as a kid, my mom would take my hand and walk me through the problem. 'One step at a time, Bobby. See? It's not so bad now is it?' I'd laugh with her, and she'd give me that smile which filled me with pride. Pride over my success as her son..
I wonder if the noise will ever stop, when the beasts will find us too. Something cracks from a few feet away, and all else ceases to exist. I scramble up and stumble to what I hoped to God is Alder, he'd know I was waiting here. Travelers are lucky like that.
I want to scream with rage, scream for someone, scream at this mess, but I stand frozen as I stare into the quigs' smoldering eyes, smelling the blood on its breath, coming over me in humid puffs. I have a clear picture of what comes next, I somehow get out of this, that or the monsters just aren't real at all..
I think I'm dead, I think this is it. I'm thinking of Press and my family, I'm thinking none of this is right. I'll stop it somehow, I'll be okay, and where the hell is Alder, cuz when he gets here I gotta yell at him for scaring me so bad..
Still, fear holds me frozen in place, and Loor's right beside me. I turn my face and my eyes meet hers, willing her to hear my apology, willing her to understand.
'I don't think I can do this, not this time'
She takes my hand and smiles.
'One step at a time..'