Thread: An Eclipse of Corruption (Vuxayl x Cricket)

The crew was starting to show a hint of panic, looking at Karilel in the hopes that she knew what to do next, being their commander. But Xayun noted how her speech wasn't as assertive as it had been when he had been caught. There were a couple of ifs, of coulds and trys and her outward appearance and voice, calm and collected, contrasted with these signals to the point Xayun wondered just how much pressure and responsibility she was feeling right now. He glanced down at the dead creature, noting the accents of cold metal inside her flesh and the hot, humid mist that rose up from her crimson body. Some sort of hellish demon, just like the ones that he'd dreamt of during all these years. It was real. Still, there was definitely some sort of rational explanation for the situation. One that Xayun would be more than willing to explore once they'd got the hell out of the hole they fell into, as he was ready to believe that there would be more of these creatures in here. After all the noise that they made when the first creature attacked, it wasn't unreasonable to think that some other creature, or a group of them, already knew they were here inside. So there was really no time to lose getting out, and Karilel's suggestion of trying to climb back from where they came seemed good enough to Xayun. He just tossed the rifle he was holding back to its previous owner, crouched and started dragging some boulders back under the hole in the ceiling. He mimicked some sort of fake enthusiasm, aimed at snapping the crew members out of the terror they had been witnessed and back into gear. We need to work as fast as we can, we don't know what else is out there. I sure as hell don't want to find out. Once he dragged that rock back to the entrance, he lifted himself up and went back to the crew, panting heavily. I'm going to need two more guys helping me out here. The rest can keep watch around us. They can come from anywhere in the darkness, so keep your weapons pointed at the slightest sounds. With the help of two others he managed to drag most of the heavier rocks over each other, making a small pile of boulders that they could climb on. It was tall enough for him to touch the rim of the ceiling hole, but nowhere tall or stable enough for anyone to actually be able to climb it upwards to safety. Xayun looked upwards at the tunnel from where they'd came from, and saw only darkness. We're going to need something more if we want any chance of getting out of here he said, looking around himself for more things they could put in the pile, or otherwise use as a tool to grab the ledge of the previous tunnel. Hey! Can I get a flashlight pointed there, please? The pitch blackness that Xayun was pointing at got illuminated by a soft yellow beam, and just as he had seen before the attack, there was a wall there. Filled with all sorts of metal panels and pieces of machines, bolted and welded down together in one solid, uneven surface. Xayun slid a couple of fingers under a protruding panel and pulled it against him, trying to tear it off the wall. Once it was sticking out at an odd angle he used both of his hands and all of his strength to pry it off, and with a loud snap the makeshift welds gave in, leaving him with the panel in his hands. They could either pile these panels together with the rest of the stuff, or perhaps even better, bury them in the dirt wall that the rockslide had uncovered and use them as improvised steps. So Xayun gestured at the crew once more, speaking with added haste. ... gonna need two more helping out. If we manage to make use of all these wall panels, we'll be out of here in no time. He started pulling at the metal panels, throwing them at the pile of rubble every time the crew successfully tore one out. The crew members worked silently, and only their heavy breathing and the creaking, snapping sounds of metal could be heard. Soon there was a sizeable amount of panelling over the boulders they'd dragged, and Xayun grabbed one of them, trying to eye a spot where it would fit as a climbing support. Something made him stop in his tracks though, and he spent what felt like an eternity looking upwards at the hole in the ceiling. He kept his gaze pointing upwards as he called Karilel to where he was. Commander? You need to see this. He was still holding the metal panel like some sort of canvas, and a few drops of blood seemed to materialize on the surface from time to time. Which, upon closer inspection, were actually falling from the tunnel where they'd been. Xayun grabbed Karilel's arm when she was in his reach and urged her to look upwards as well, his grip on her almost as strong as when she'd grabbed him. ... you see up there? he whispered, looking at the vague silhouette of an uncovered head peeking down the hole, moisture reflecting light around its eyes. ... I think it's Syra. No sooner had he spoken when a low rumble travelled all around the room, followed by an abrupt and eerie silence. With his more sensitive hearing, Xayun could pick up the faint rattle of what seemed like dry leaves brushing against each other under a light breeze. He looked at Karilel, wondering if she could hear them as well. When the very faint noises started to appear all around them, he finally put two and two together. Syra was already crawling down the hole in the ceiling on all fours, and the metal panel he was still holding in his hands was already drenched in various shades of shiny red and black. His voice started in a whisper and rapidly developed into a yell, throwing the metal panel to one side. ... ambush. Ambush! RUN!