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"Alexei, no!"
≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾
As the Skiff drifted deeper in the fold, a tension-laden silence blanketed the group. Celestria glanced up nervously, upon hearing thunder rumbling about her. her eyes then scanning the faint silhouette of the sailor stationed above. The eerie quiet of the Fold was unnerving, broken only by the rumble of thunder echoing ominously in the distance, and the low growls of the creatures lurking inside. The sound sent a shiver through her, and she clutched her bow a bit tighter.
She snap her head towards the direction she hear's another growl in the distance. She then notices something and squints her eyes to get a better look. As we get nearer it was then Celestria realized that it was a skiff. A broken one, with claws scrapped on the wood.
"Marker one." She hears and turns her head towards the woman from earlier stepping out from the interior.
"How many more are there?"Alina questions the woman, with tense and anxious tone's, edged with a mix of fear and impatience. Trying to keep her nerves steady but is clearly unsettled by the looming danger within the Fold and eager to know how much farther they have to go.
Celestria feels a wave of unease creeping in as she watches the tension in Alina's expression. The darkness and oppressive atmosphere of the Fold heighten her own fear, yet her attention keeps drifting back to Zoya and the others around her.
"Thirty-seven."The woman replied. Sending chills down Celestria and Alina's spine, as she continues walking towards the front of the skiff, where the soldiers are at. Everyone else is scattered around the skiff looking around with tense and fear.
When Celestria locks eyes with Zoya, she feels her fear and worry reflected back at her, but Zoya's gaze is steady and strong. Zoya notices the anxiety flickering in Celestria's expression and, despite her own frustrations, gives her a look of quiet reassurance. It's a small gesture, but enough to anchor Celestria amidst the tension surrounding them. In that single exchange, Celestria feels both understood and emboldened, as if Zoya is silently telling her, You're safe with me. Stay strong.
A moment later a piercing screech echoes just above, so close it feels like the creature could tear through the skiff at any moment, a shiver runs down Celestria's spine. Her heart races, and her grip on her bow tightens instinctively. Around her, everyone's heads snap upward, eyes wide with dread, faces pale under the dim glow of lanterns. Celestria feels the weight of fear settle heavily in her chest, her breath catching as the reality of the Fold's danger sinks in deeper. The oppressive silence that follows is somehow worse, stretching every second as they wait, tense and vulnerable, for what might come next.
As thunder rumbles and a flash of faint light briefly illuminates the sky, Celestria catches sight of the creature's shadow—a massive, ominous shape gliding just above them. A chill runs through her veins, and her stomach clenches, fear gripping her tightly. The shadow looks impossibly large, powerful, and far too close, its outline flickering in the dim light for only a second yet burning itself into her mind.
