Chapter 15: Battle in the Rift [1]
In the silence that followed, insidious creaking noises creeped into the air, fracturing the stillness.
They could all hear loud breathing, almost meant to be hidden, turning the cavernous space into a palpable countdown to terror. Instinctively, they began to shuffle backwards as whatever it was in front of them stepped closer.
Padva hauled her low-growling Panther back with a sharp tug, joining the uneasy retreat. From the rear, Jethro peered into the darkness, his own pounding heart nearly drowning out any subtle sounds of an impending strike.
"They’re coming..." Anson whispered.
Moffrey narrowed his frightened eyes. "What is going on, escort? Those really don’t sound like Gray Ranked Beasts."
The escort stood rigid, utterly speechless, his face drained of color as he too stared fixedly into the consuming darkness, awaiting what was coming.
Drrrrmmmmm!
The sound caught their attention instantly. The earth shuddered beneath their boots, but something even more horrifying was happening.
Ahead, the ground buckled and shattered into jagged stones snaking across the surface with terrifying speed— and heading straight for their clustered position!
"Get back!" Anson cried.
They scrambled, leaping frantically backwards just as the ground where they had stood exploded upwards in a geyser of rock and dirt.