( The creature is not felled quickly, cleanly or well. It does not fall to its knees, or to ruin. It skids down, the slow erosion of its balance a nearly unseen, timid and fractional thing until the very last moment, when it crumbles abruptly, debris scattering on ground — ash and crystal-hard rock and bones and... scorpions, downpouring.
The stench mesmerizes.
Lan Wangji pulls back — drags Vanessa with him by the arm, to avoid collision. It is a near thing, not for the speed of the development but the sheer, colossal size of the creature and the unpredictability of where its parts will disassemble upon demise. )
...call them back.
( The scorpions, who seem to scatter in waves in their waiting positions. Surely, Lan Wangji and Vanessa cannot seize the beacon with them in the way. )
no subject
( The creature is not felled quickly, cleanly or well. It does not fall to its knees, or to ruin. It skids down, the slow erosion of its balance a nearly unseen, timid and fractional thing until the very last moment, when it crumbles abruptly, debris scattering on ground — ash and crystal-hard rock and bones and... scorpions, downpouring.
The stench mesmerizes.
Lan Wangji pulls back — drags Vanessa with him by the arm, to avoid collision. It is a near thing, not for the speed of the development but the sheer, colossal size of the creature and the unpredictability of where its parts will disassemble upon demise. )
...call them back.
( The scorpions, who seem to scatter in waves in their waiting positions. Surely, Lan Wangji and Vanessa cannot seize the beacon with them in the way. )