Unable to muster the energy to display emotion, Quas began to drag his exhausted body towards his kitchen. After looking back at Hakal one last time he glanced around, his gaze met with only destruction and ash as cinders danced around the ruins in victory.
his scales caked in soot leaving only his bright yellow eyes that scanned the incoming gloom in anticipation and hope that his kitchen would not have suffered a similar fate to all those other buildings.
Almost unable to breathe the kroxigor finally arrived, immediately his eyes flicked around identifying his huge stone stove which had luckily remained mostly unscathed, only suffering from a thick coating of ash and a trickle of minor cracks in some of the more vulnerable and exposed bricks.
Cherishing the few seconds of relief he then turns back to his other equipment and tools, those of iron and steel untouched but others not so lucky…
The slight smile on Quas’s face, however, was immediately dropped when he finally noticed his wooden shelving. Its once majestic and proud racks collapsed on top of each other in a saddening column of broken ceramics whilst the broad frame had buckled under the heat causing it to disintegrate into yet another pile of sad remnants, but this covered in clouds of rare and exotic herbs which mixed in the air. Causing Quas’s nose and eyes to sting and water as he knelt down, the handfuls of scented ash slowly sliding between his fingers into the smokey breeze…
-----
Awed by the magic unleashed, Tik walked solemnly over to the aged Starseer and bowed before him. "Once again, wise one, your skill and wisdom saves us all, if perhaps not the camp. We are all in your debt." Hesitantly at first, but with more confidence, he wearily returned to his tasks, guiding those still able to aid in setting up temporary shelters in the tunnels. "We will assess the damages to the camp in the morning. For now, we all need to rest..."
Now leading both skinks further forward Xlauax’s keen eyes quickly noticed the star seers figure sitting atop the cliff…
Fleeting storm clouds gathered above making the cliff face shine with a watery sheen whilst its the many sprawling vines and angled tree’s clinging onto it cowered beneath each other trying to hide from the angered torrents of water that gushed down the littered rockface. Unaffected by the now stinging rain Izqux still silently sat amongst the showers, his sorrowful head gently angled over to the frozen hand which once housed the magical orb before turning directly forward and looking out across the horizon with a deep sigh…
Suddenly the chameleon's gaze was suddenly interrupted as Qelionxi, Izxus's renowned warden approached the group as if on cue...
A normal glare was already intense, but that of a wardens was even more so, especially Qelionix’s. Shrinking back almost into the shadows Xlauax almost felt a need to grip his weapon as the muscular saurian loomed over the group, his very presence provoking a feeling of control and fear.
After signalling the others to move ahead he walked closer to Tik, causing the priest's defiant stare to finally break as the saurian spoke out, his voice faster in pace and harsher in tone. “Izqux has S-sent me to inform those of an urgent council. We meet at first light, until then direct skinks, ensure the wounded are seen and the camp well-rested. ”
The simple words and instructions echoed out into the empty plaza’s and of the charred buildings breaking the eerie sorrowful silence that had settled upon them, startling both Xolek and Xlauax who inquisitively turned around and tried to listen in, only to be gestured away by both a rigid gaze and an aggressive hand motion.
Within seconds after conveying his message Qelionxi turned around in another direction ignoring any attempt at a response. “There is much to discuss.” he reiterates one last time as he walks away, his many gold trinkets and tassels gently swaying in the breeze.
