Another sudden, shrill scream erupted from Citrine. Na’thresh sprung to his hands and knees to turn towards the noise. Neither of the sisters were where he thought they would be, having been driven back by the blast. He quickly spotted them laying on the ground a few dozen feet away. The sisters were separated, Cassandra crawling to her feet a good distance away from Citrine. The blast had apparently thrown her from her sister’s side, planting her in the firmer dirt near the outskirts of the courtyard. The younger girl was holding her head with both hands and tucking her limbs in close, continuing to wail. A second noise rose up to clash with hers.
Shambling monstrosities, once partially concealed by the haze of the floodlights, were now also revealed in their entirety. Varied few encircled the court, but they were not the sources of the droning clamor. Moaning, hollow groans echoed from further away. Na’thresh looked around past Citrine to take in the ruins of Roma Way once again. He could see ruined structures on tiered terraces, set in to the mountain. The roads and lawns in front of cabin-styled buildings were covered in twitching, shuffling shapes. All of them moved in staggered pace toward the courtyard in front of the ranger’s station. Before he knew what was happening, Na’thresh was frantically scrambling to his feet. Saikah leapt up to aid Citrine while Aru’ine rushed over to help set Na’thresh straight. The two men gathered themselves and ran after Saikah.
Cassandra reached Citrine first, scooping her up and hurriedly throwing her on Na’thresh as he approached. He stumbled back awkwardly gripping at the small ward thrust upon him, trying not to let her slide through his grasp. He managed to hold her fast, despite her dress being drenched in slippery muck.
“Run, dammit! We have to get out of here!” Cassandra glared through him.
“Hold on, what just happened?” Na’thresh pleaded. “What are these things?”
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Totak H. Clymes 