#isola event down you go

[wldrose]

@capnskullkid

Run and don't stop. Keep running.

You'll be my eyes and ears. Make it to the control room, but you won't be fighting that thing.

Go. I'm right behind you. I promise.

Hey...hey, Kugisaki....Kugisaki! KUGISAKI NOBARA, WAKE UP!

The loud siren noise fades. During the time at the spaceship, she hadn't realized how loud the sirens were. She supposed amidst all the chaos that ensued and the adrenaline that ran through her body to keep her moving, it was easy to miss it. She had heard it at the beginning. The first initial blare of it and then...

Kugisaki opens her eyes, greeted by the bright fluorescent lights and she groans. Panic DOES rise in her chest when she's only able to see from the one eye, but she remembers almost instantly as to what happened. The alien back then. Ah, she messed up. It's blades and its whatever else it protruded out of it really did mess the side of her face, didn't it? With a weak hand, she places it over on the right side of her face. Bandaged up pretty good.

Where's Vash? Where's Itadori and Fushiguro? Vash.....was he able to get help? Did he....did he make it?

And a sense of dread, because what if he didn't? What if she was the cause of his death? She could have left her partners. You know you couldn't. They would've been in the same situation as you were. Vash and you couldn't do anything to them. What makes you think Fushiguro and Itadori could?

They were strong, they had the tools, but so did Vash. So did she.

Lifting her weak body up to situate her back against the headboard of the hospital bed, she reaches for her phone and fingertips glides against it, pushing the phone closer to the edge and plop, it's fallen on the cushioned rug.

"Shit..."

[sxnburst]

@eusyram

"It's so pretty high up here." It's almost like Cotes Ward's forest. ENDLESS trees, except here in his eyes, it's so much more beautiful. It makes him want to stay up here for as long as he can, but he knows they have things that they have to get done. Looking over his shoulder to where Mary Sue is latched onto his back, he smiles, "Yolanda, which way should we go?"

Sun's climbing up higher until he's at the very top! Both his arms are latched onto the thick tree as he continues to look around. Though, from where he is, he spots a treasure box and so with a excited gasp, Sun points

"Look!" aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand there he goes. Without another warning, he's FREE falling down and grabbing onto a vine to launch himself to the next tree. Damn. All this for the treasure box because he's curious!

[daxned]

@cursedbylove

"...I've been here I believe twice already." She admits. Who would have thought that dam-bi could sound so irritated? "I've been trying to leave, return to Sukuna's side but every time I find an exit, I'm led to another section." Not to mention whoever was with her during her forced adventure were no longer with her. Sukuna was first and then Badou, Eiden, and the strange man....

She finds herself with Okkotsu Yuuta this time.

"In case you were not sure. You're not limited, but the stronger you are, the stronger your enemies."

[wldrose]

Seeing the second alien has Kugisaki's mind immediately wondering how? Why? None of it matters, but her brain can't help but come to all these conclusions. The goo that she dealt with? The attack she had caused using Resonance? Maybe the alien had gotten desperate enough to summon another of itself?

THIS. FUCKING. BLOWS.

Even with this feeling that envelops her, she feels so helpless. Nothing is working!

Not---

Vash?

Kugisaki reaches a hand out, but instead of grabbing it, he's SHOVING her through the door that was barely wide enough to fit someone of her size in, "Hmh!" she grunts when bottom makes contact with the hard cold ground. She looks up, quickly getting back on her feet to help Vash. Even though there is a sense of dread sprouting like the flowers back in December, she doesn't have time to just sit there and stare at Vash--watch him bleed these black substances from his ears, eyes, and nose. Any openings, where ever she looked on Vash, she can see them just oozing.

"Vash! Come on, just a little bit---" She reaches, grabbing hold of anything of him and she pulls. Even if they were to bring the alien with them through that portal AT LEAST there is a chance that it won't make it to the other side and if it did, then a chance and possibility that the Stars would be stronger---STRONGER enough to actually do some damage keeps Kugisaki hopeful!

★ --;; The gash in his calf burns each time his foot collides with the metal grates, but he does not stop. Just a bit more, almost there--

When he comes to the fork in the hall and rounds the corner, he finds himself caught between the two halves of the creature-- one rapidly approaching from the rear, the other blocking off his path to the door Kugisaki's still forcing open. His boots squeal against the floor, eyes wide and mind running a mile a minute. There's got to be some way through this thing, but that pipe trick definitely isn't going to work for a third time, and the half that's in front of him is still stalking towards Kugisaki.

That old fear, that helplessness is whispering in his ear that no matter what he does he will be useless, but he's got to try, got to get over there and get Kugisaki back through the portal to the city even if it means putting himself in the way, he's got to he's got to--

Without his bidding (when was the last time it hadn't been of his own volition?) his feathers sprout forth in a violent ribbons and walls, battering against the alien's form and pushing and pushing and slicing--

His vision is already going black with the force of it, the exertion, and as the dark liquid of his own corrosion beading in the corners of his eyes begins to spill over he thinks at least I'll go protecting someone else. His whole body begins to ache, to burn with its decomposition.

Still, he stumbles forward, eyes wide and yet unseeing, and shoves Kugisaki through the door.

"Go," he manages, voice distorted. It's dripping from his ears now, black blood sliding down the curve of his jaw. The portal is right there, would yank them back into the bottom of that gaping maw in the middle of the city-- but the alien is pushing back, forcing its way through the gaps in his feathers no matter how many more sprout forth from his failing body, and his heart feels like it's about to implode in his chest.

"I'm right behind y-ou. I pro-mise."

[wldrose]

@kleinstar

"That'll teach 'em." She says with a huff and a quick flip of her short hair. She watches as one of the goblin she attacked falls straight to the ground with nails impaled through it.

"Itadori san, you alright? Can you stand?"

She hadn't recognized him earlier, until she had gotten much closer. She had thought that he was someone else in danger. She's happy to see a familiar face---even if he looks rather different.

[sxnburst]

@fellstcr

With his returned senses to its 100%, he was able to read Byleth a little better. Not as great still, she was so good at keeping her walls up whenever she needed to, but it was this particular moment RIGHT here that he saw a crack. She was scared. She was scared because she knew they'd both have to make such a huge LEAP.

"JUMP!" Sun says as he holds tight onto Byleth's hand and they leap RIGHT off the cliff to dodge the ginormous boulder that would not break no matter how many times the two strike at it.

Sun and Byleth were so high up that the trees below seemed so tiny for just only a second. They were crashing down and they were crashing down FAST.

Sun pulls Byleth in close to him and reaches out the moment they get through the branches, twigs, and leaves from the trees. "ho-Hold on tight" he says through a grunt and with his free hand he's putting his nails into the trunk of the tree and then his other hand as well in hopes that him clinging onto the tree no matter the fact they are now sliding, will slow down their descent. Feet digs into the trunk and barks digs into nails but eventually they finally stop descending and he's latched himself onto the tree. All the while his tail had played as extra security for Byleth to keep her upright. "A-Are you okay?"

[isolaradiale]

"If you do not descend into the depths you will never find the truth. Nor will you find the treasures within..." (Some explorer maybe idk Ofiuco made it up)

"Rise and shine. A new day of adventure awaits." Every piece of technology in the city that could broadcast sound and / or images whirred to life at exactly midnight, surely awakening any "early to bed, early to risers" long before they wanted to wake up. The voice was familiar in its monotone, but it didn't carry the robotic hollowness that it once had. That was because it was the voice of Ofiuco, who had recently undergone some changes to become one of the Stars herself.

She waited a minute before proceeding, giving the watchers and listeners ample time to wake up first. "I apologize for waking you, but as it seems to be the standard of the Stars to make these announcements at this unpleasant hour, I am expected to do the same. I take no joy from having to do so..."

For those watching on a screen, the android holding her hand out to the side with her palm flat could be seen, upon which a screenshot seemed to rest. A screenshot that was undeniably of the hole in the city's centre, but something was different. It was lit up! "As you can see, an anomaly has opened in the city's centre. I have deployed my remote version to investigate, but to no avail. A lift has been set up to take you down to the bottom."

The images that floated above her hand changes as she described different things. It lingered on an image of the older version of Ofiuco hastily putting a lift together though, before the image changed to one of a large, glowing gate at the bottom of a huge pit. The bottom of the hole that no one was allowed to see.

"I am unable to send my remote body through that gate. And as my scans have confirmed, the world on the other side of that gate is unstable. Uncharted. Every time someone enters it, its design and layout are different. We need you to do the charting for us. I understand that we're... I'm asking a lot, but you will be rewarded for your efforts. Please." The broadcast ended, but something didn't feel quite right.

Why did Ofiuco seem so concerned?

OVERVIEW

Welcome to our newest event, DOWN YOU GO! Inspired by dungeon crawler and roguelike games, it will have your character (either by themselves or with a party) exploring a variety of environment in pursuit of answers and treasures. But mostly treasures. Here are all of the features of this event:

four unique biomes to explore

each biome has its own mechanics and circumstances

a random buff / debuff system

a grand prize to be received at random once you've reached a certain word count with your event threads

abilities unlocked while within a biome, though difficulty scales accordingly

BIOMES

Each biome is unique and features different gimmicks, enemies, and a different challenge to overcome. Outside of the descriptions provided below, you have complete control over how the biome's size and how it looks, as well what is inside of it (such as things like poisonous swamps or lava pools). The challenged you encounter and how you overcome them are also up to you!

FANTASY A biome inspired by fantasy. A series of caverns and open forest clearings that are rife for exploring. You are liable to find standard fantasy fare here in terms of monsters, so everything from goblins to dragons is on the table. This is also the biome most populated with monsters in general, and will be the most combat focused. The stronger the characters that enter this biome are, the more dangerous and ravenous the monsters will be, and they will not be so easily killed even by overpowered abilities.

SPACE A biome inspired by space horror. The setting is an abandoned space station deep in the depths of the void. You must navigate the halls of the space station while being pursued by a murderous alien creature that will not stop until your whole party is dead, while navigating the risks of using abilities in a place where destroying one window could kill everyone. Feel free to customize the alien however you'd like provided it isn't just a licensed alien from an existing property! Just make sure it's a suitable challenge, because the alien cannot be killed. It will pursue you until you reach the control room where the treasure can be found.

SEA A biome inspired by pirates and ocean-related myths. Completely submerged within the depths of the ocean, this biome's gimmick is that your character has been adapted into a new form to thrive. They have become a merfolk, obtaining fish traits to help them move about the dark, underwater caves. They are rife with undersea monsters that can take advantage of their speed and experience vs your character who is still adjusting to their new underwater abilities. You're free to customize your character however so that they can function underwater!

JUNGLE A biome inspired by old adventure movies. While monsters are scarce, the caves and open jungle are plagued with numerous traps that seek to immobilize your character, if not kill them outright. It's also extremely hot and humid. For the sake of fairness, any mobility related abilities will be disabled in this biome, as well as any that provide invulnerability. Be as inventive as you want with the traps! Now is your chance to be chased by a giant boulder!

COMBAT SPECIFICS

Every character will be returned their abilities and weapons for the event while within a biome, but remember difficulty should be scaled according to how powerful the characters exploring are so that characters cannot steamroll it. While most of them are caves and tunnels, they're still extremely spacious for fights, barring the space station considering its unique threat. The corridors there are much tighter.

For characters that have no powers, the Fantasia system will be active and they can access their Fantasia forms while within the biomes. For those of you who weren't around during the Fantasia War event, you can still make a form for your character! You just need to pick one of the races from this post, and your character can then use any of these spells!

BUFF / DEBUFF SYSTEM

Within each biome a series of chests can be found (aesthetically reflecting the biome's theme). When opened, this chest provides a buff or debuff to the entire party. We've put together a wheel here where you can roll for what that buff or debuff might affect them. Of course this isn't something we can control, so if you just want to pick one for narrative purposes that's also fine! We just wanted to include the option. The list of buffs / debuffs you can receive can be found below:

ATK + / ATK- An increase or decrease to the strength of all of the characters.

SPD+ / SPD- An increase or decrease to the speed of all of the characters.

INVINCIBILITY All characters are invincible to damage and knockback for five minutes.

HEAL ALL All characters in the party have their health restored to full.

POISONOUS FOG A poisonous fog amasses within the biome that slowly drains the health of all party members and obscures the surroundings. Can be cleansed with the right abilities.

GRAVITY+ / GRAVITY- Gravity increases or decreases slightly, altering the ease of movement. (If in the sea biome, reroll)

FORTITUDE Every party member is shrouded with a barrier that can negate all damage from the next attack received.

DIVINE INTERVENTION Revives a fallen party member with the group. (If no one is fallen, reroll)

WELL RESTED Everyone's energy levels are restored. It's easier to forge ahead!

OFIUCLONE SWARM Summons a swarm of ten Ofiuclones during your next enemy encounter to aid in battle.

TRANSMOGRIFICATION Everyone in the party is changed into a random animal for ten minutes.

GOOD VIBES During the next enemy encounter, everyone's overall stats are increased. You feel like you can take on anything!

GRAND PRIZE

You're only required to make a single event post or drabble to be eligible for event participation, but we are also offering a grand prize to everyone who reaches 1000 words* across all of their event threads. This prize is random, and for each person that reaches this point we will be spinning a prize wheel to determine what you receive! Every character can only receive this prize once, but if you do not like your initial prize you get one reroll. You can also exchange your prize in for a Star amount equivalent to its retail price and put the money towards an item or items you do want!

The included prizes are as follows, all taken from our Galaxy marketplace:

shielden ring

companion star

polymorph star

cosmogills

starcycle

mysterious blueprints

1000 stars

*You do not need 1000 words before the event ends. So long as the threads are started before the event period concludes, you can cash in for this prize whenever you hit that milestone. In the case that a thread partner drops in the meantime, you can continue the thread in a new thread or drabble with that person separated provided you link back to the original in the first post. We will not be awarding prizes until the event period has ended.

EVENT FAQ

WHAT HAPPENS IF A CHARACTER DIES WITHIN THE BIOME? Accidents happen! Your character will simply respawn at the beginning and will be able to catch up with the others by trekking through the explored areas already. This may be more difficult in some biomes than others.

HOW ARE ENEMIES BALANCED WHEN CHARACTERS OF VARYING POWERS ARE IN THE SAME PARTY? Every group of enemies will have at least one foe that is equivalent in strength to your strongest member and will aggro to them. Unless your weaker members aggro the monster themselves, in which case? Good luck! If your strongest character has abilities that are considered "gamebreaking" like the ability to alter reality and so forth, this enemy will be immune to those abilities.

WHAT ABOUT THE ALIEN MONSTER IN THE SPACE BIOME? It cannot be hurt or killed even by your strongest party member. Run!

CAN WE USE A FANTASIA FORM IF OUR CHARACTER HAS ABILITIES OF THEIR OWN? In the case that those abilities would not help them in a combat situation, then yes!

ARE OUR CHARACTERS ALLOWED TO CHANGE THEIR FANTASIA FORMS? Sure thing! That information is stored in the Intraverse, so they could go in and change in whenever they like so long as it remains within the limitations of the Fantasia System.

CAN WE USE ABILITIES THAT WOULD "CHEAT" THE SYSTEM? LIKE BEING ABLE TO JUST TELEPORT TO THE END? Abilities that would otherwise break the spirit of the event are disabled even if your character has everything unlocked otherwise for the sake of fairness.

DO WE NEED TO RANDOMIZE THE BUFFS / DEBUFFS FROM THE CHESTS? As mentioned, you don't need to, but we hope you will as a fun mechanic! It isn't like there's a way for us to check if you actually did it randomly, and your threads are your own.

DO WE NEED TO CLAIM THE PRIZE TO GET PARTICIPATION? Nope! That prize is just a little something extra if you choose to shoot for it. Participation requirements are normal. And remember, you don't need to claim the prize by the event's end. You can finish it whenever so long as the thread is started before the event concludes at the end of the day on February 10th.

[heclingmuzik]

"Wha..." He doesn't have to repeat himself. she understands clearly. Mad Hatter isn't like a ghost or anything, but somehow Ismael can find it somewhere to understand at least some part of what Break is saying. They're connected. "Like a soul." She says soft.

"Okay, alright." She says with a stronger resolve, "We'll stick with this plan. I'm sure we're going to find that perfect timing. Use Mad Hatter to keep it distracted." It's a good thing this space ship is large enough for Mad Hatter. They'd both plummet back down to Earth if that weren't the case. "Once in the control room, grab whatever you can and grab on tight and don't let go." Ismael sighs and rubs her hands together, "Are you ready?"

BREAK HAS TO THINK ABOUT THAT ONE FOR A MOMENT. neither he nor his chain really know where they are, despite ismael's best attempt at explaining it. a concept so foreign to his own world is hard to comprehend, especially in the middle of what is essentially a battlefield. either way, though, it shouldn't matter.

   ' mad hatter isn't technically ... present. it's incorporeal. you could only see it because i willed it to. ' an exchange, going hand in hand. where does he begin? where does mad hatter end?

   ' it's not influenced by its surroundings in this context. i don't think it should be able to get sucked out. ' lowering the hand at his chin, break steps a bit closer to ismael, lettings mad hatter's shadow wrap around his arm for a brief second, testing his reach. ' the only problem we might come across is that i can't be too far from it when it's visible to anybody else. we're connected. it would retreat back to me, once the distance is too large. '

   silent, for another moment, break mutters with a breath of firmness: ' it's a good plan. we just have to time it right. '

[purewhitedevil]

random starter - @caliburn​ 

Perhaps one of these hole-things did not end on where it should be than being outside of the fields, in a village but something worse. They were ended up inside a goblin-nested elven fortress, surrounded by several corpses which were all female. One who was like, shoved up entrails like a pig, other was burned alive and another were a pincushion which explains the arrow landings and the other one recently via suicide.

What an ironic setback. Either these must be the locals from a ward that got here or merely villagers, nobody knows.

“Talk about bad landing.” Albedo waggled her head off to see that it was only lit up because of the corpse-filled torch around their east. She wakes up the female white-gowned servant next to her.

“Wake up. We need to get out of this place before...” What do you know, goblins just got back and they seemed not to be friendly but vicious with those grins on their faces.

3F was drawn, she’s ready to behead goblins and out of this place.

[infiernogarde]

closed starter - @blackmagi​

Somewhere in an empty capital, at the center of it as there are no people around here. Just empty houses, buildings other than the city statue standing there and a fountain. Hikaru had ventured enough on her own as she needed a rest on one of those stone chairs that surrounds the fountain.

She only scratches her head behind as she drew off Escudo just to be cautious on hidden danger. Felt like there is someone else around but it was only Judar. That guy she had met long ago.

“It’s just you. You ventured yourself alone as well?” It was merely a greeting but Hikaru haven’t noticed that she was followed by a winged dragon up in the skies.

[wldrose]

@baddestdangerboy

"EUIHHHGH! Why is it so HOT and gross!? It's worse than the countryside!" Or even Tokyo! She's sweaty, she feels gross, and all around just MISERABLE.

"ALL that damn running didn't do us any good." WHAT on earth even was that?

"Oi, are you alright? You still alive over there?"

[bxsiliisk]

Once he's sure the other two are close to him, Romanus nods and adjusts himself to where both Byleth and Gyess are able to grab one of his handles. {"Hold on."} He speaks in draconic and descends deeper into the deep blue sea.

The shipwreck had fallen deep under and luckily Romanus' eyes adjusts real quickly under the darkness of the sea. "Rhea." Romanus speaks. There is no need to call out for his voice travels far on its own. "Are you hurt anywhere?" Tail slides against the Ocean's bottom, sand created slightly murkied water in turn.

"We should get out of here before more of those annoying pests decides to come." He isn't sure if they will. THAT was a lot of tiny skeleton people after all! Regardless the best course of action would be to get familiar with their surrounding and figure out where to explore next.

@rose-goldscales

⚔️ //  in  the  flurry  of  salt  and  sea  ,  dark  and  light  collided.  draconic  beasts  ,  their  forms  gargantuan  and  better  befitting  the  skies  ,  swirled  around  the  ocean  depths  like  creatures  of  the  night.  but  byleth  knew  them  well.  (  like  stepping  into  a  hazy  memory.  a  city  of  ghosts.  faces  she  couldn’t  place.  names  on  the  tip  of  her  tongue.  all  gathered  in  celebration  of  the  goddess  who  slumbered  somewhere  below...  ) 

          she’d  greeted  the  young  one  with  open  arms.  nodded  to  the  swirling  black  creature  who  swam  to  meet  them.  and  then  her  eyes  returned  to  the  immaculate  one.  as  the  sunken  ship  was  crushed  beneath  the  belly  of  the  beast  ,  byleth  could  not  help  but  raise  brow.  her  expression  contorted  slightly  ,  revealing  the  smallest  upturn  of  the  corner  of  her  lips.  it  was  an  UNCONVENTIONAL  SOLUTION  ,  but  an  effective  one.

            (  and  perhaps  ,  she  could  not  help  but  muse  ,  there  was  the  PROMISE  of  even  a  modicum  of  progress  to  be  made  yet.  )  she  took  the  clawed  hand  offered  to  her.

            “...be  swift  ,  romanus.”

@bxsiliisk​

[sxnburst]

@nicawlette

"Nicolette, does it hurt?" Sun blows on Nicolette's scraped knee from the earlier fall.

"It looks like it does. Here, I know how to make it better." It wasn't much, but it was something that he's learned from watching one of those movies back at his new home. The thing that he learned from watching them movies? He presses his lips softly onto her knee and allows it to linger there before pulling away, "there you go! I heard that the pain goes away when people do that. How does it feel now, Nicolette? If you're still hurting I don't mind carrying you."

[amoirsetpacis]

@light-imperfected

★ --;; Vash is keenly aware of the weight of the extra bullets he has on him as well as the weight of the colt in his hand and how many rounds are still inside as he ducks for cover beneath an outcropping of rock. He knows for a fact that he doesn't have a lot of time to stay hiding here, knows for a fact that the fucking dragon that had spotted him and had refused to let up on his trail had definitely seen him scramble inside from above.

Memories of the last time he had been in such a situation flare up brightly in the back of his mind but are gone just as quickly as they appear-- it had been different, then, having chosen to help those in need and having made a plan of action, and he had had help. Now, this thing seems to be hunting him as if he's a toy to play with, and it makes the situation that much worse.

A line of fire scorches the grass just outside his hideaway and the seconds feel as though they're only capable of ticking by faster and faster as Vash desperately tries to think of a plan. There are no buildings to hide behind out here, no alleys to slink through. He's completely out of his element.

He can hear the great beating wings of the beast circling above him, of it slowly lowering itself to the ground, and knows that if he doesn't get out of here quick he'll be turned into some rather tough barbeque.

[aurelsabre]

random starter - @pashieon

Homesickness is not a thing for Narberal as it doesn't exactly looked like her world where the Tomb of Nazarick should be existing. They were lucky that they're on the plains but one thing that felt like they're in full power is because temporary for this event caused by the 'stars'.

Luckily, there is Anakin so things won't be complicated.

"We meet again. So, do you wish to explore and find something worthwhile in this place?" It may look peaceful but there is a looming threat awaits them.

[daxned]

"..." She lets her head linger there for a moment, almost a tad bit hesitant to raise her head. However, if he saw that she really took his words to heart and knew something like that wouldn't happen again, she'll take it. She'll raise her head, nod, and then proceed to follow him.

When she's by his side, it's almost on instinct, a past child Dam-bi who'd reach out to hold her father's hand as they walked down the village. Her small tiny hands in her father's large protective ones.

...

Dam-bi doesn't. Instead, she places that one hand through her hair and she holds for a second.

The mounds of flesh, bones, and blood does not deter her from advancing forward with sukuna. Sights like these are not new. Hell, she'd be the cause of half the destruction in her world. Whether because she had lost control or people got what they deserved for coming for her.

This nervous feeling though. It travels through her small body. She has to admit she is nervous. Not as much frightened. Not anymore with Sukuna here, but...She's nervous because no form of attacks were good enough to deal damage.

The Sapling, despite hearing the alien breaking free, continues to point with its long splindly leg of the control room. They are close as they continue to advance down the hallways and the Sapling wiggles out of Dam-bi's grasp and quickly runs its way in that direction.

"We're close." Dam-bi alerts, her pace quickening just slightly.

ㅤEven as Dam-bi's footsteps faltered, Sukuna did not stop walking forward, but the clacking of his soles slowed to a halt upon hearing the child apologize, and he peered back to observe the top of her bowed head. Silence stretched between them for a heartbeat, the cursed spirit's eyes half-lidded as he studied the girl to appraise the honesty of her repentance -- and, following a tense moment, he decided that he approved of what he saw. His humorless, lazy smile returned to his lips.

"If you understand, then there's no problem. Now raise your head." Once she obliged, he turned to resume his path, raising a finger to beckon her to follow him again.

As they progressed deeper into the ship, the density of the stale carnage clotting the walkway with cold meat and coagulated blood increased until he was stepping over limbs and gory puddles to progress -- yet in spite of the mounds of tangled carrion strewn before him, he remained as relaxed as he would be in a patch of sun, indifferent to death-scenes in the way humans were bred to perceive them. It was by virtue of being alive that he could bear witness to those who had fallen--acknowledging death affirmed the certainty of his life.

The Sapling continued pointing them toward the heart of the vessel where the pollution lay thickest. He inhaled the decay in the air, filtering any lingering death-curses into his marrow-- then paused. Distantly, he felt a reverberation in the atmosphere, then heard the vessel groan deep within its walls--a sign of thermal inconsistencies. Despite the implication of what he detected, he merely rumbled a laugh to himself. "Took it long enough."

Only a few corridors away, the beast was pulling free, drawing the vacuous cold of space into the ship.