Down came the guillotine, and they snapped their head to the side at just the right moment. A wheeze stole through their beak and they raked their claws through that mane of quills.

The monster above them let out a bassy sort of noise, grip loosening enough - and they fled as fast as their shaky limbs could take them which... arguably wasn't very.

Footsteps - thank the Caves - did not follow them out.

exit kesil

At the very last second - off it went, vanishing into the ferns.

Alpha stood frozen for a moment, jaws still parted in place like it intended to find something for them to sink into; bloodied claws hanging slightly in the air. Toxic-green eyes scanned the line of undergrowth in the clearing, scuffling footsteps fading until they were gone altogether. They were dripping blood in a line after themselves - they could be followed.

But, the orthoclase set its foot back down, muddled thoughts choosing to angle towards the sheer silence without Carollers to populate the air with their songs. What a weird thing to fixate on, but where else? The simmering hatred of weakness and ill-earned victories? Of piss-poor spats and - no.

Eridanus was quiet.

It.... wasn't nice.

The mood hung for a moment, a caret suspended before the rest of a thought came to completion; and it slunk forwards into the undergrowth, heading back to the warm, dry comfort of Tunnel P to put all that confused rush to bed.

exit alpha