The sudden burst of noise from Quas shook Xolek to his senses, knocking him to high alert. In the same moment Xiuhcoatl let out her own call but one of fear as the juvenile salamander ran into the black, Xolek let out a sigh as the ringing in his ears persisted. Looking at Quas from down the tunnel way the Oracle gruffs as he stands to his feet, ears ringing he begins to head in the direction that the reptile had sprinted in.
Walking down the way they had come Xolek steps over dead skaven, some black and charred with smoke still billowing from bones or little bits of fur that were somehow untouched, others were cleaved and bloodied. The smell of death and battle still lingered in the air as the Oracle walked on he noticed something different, the tunnel itself was different; as if another vision the hallway became furnished with ghostly pillars and stone blocks with carvings on them telling stories of ancient battles, Quetzl and Tepok being mentioned numerous times, another was mentioned but the name had been scratched away it seemed. Looking closer at one of the stones he noticed a name he recognized, "Izqux". Taking a moment he thought on this, why was the Star Seer mentioned? Is he mentioned as a future telling or is he more ancient that he lets on? The thoughts raced through his mind.
Soon the Ethereal vision began to fade but not before seeing the small serpent one more time before it disappeared into the darkness, its wings glowing Xolek could feel energy running through him again, a warmth consumed him. Flexing his muscles a bit he continues on, soon coming to where he had set a trap for any reinforcing skaven he began to dodge the spear heads he had wedged between the stone flooring. Looking about he noticed no new blood which gave him hope that Xiuhcoatl had made it past this area with no error, however a skaven slave had not been so lucky. Xolek figured the slave must have ran and hid during the battle and ran away after the party had moved on, unaware of the trap that had been set. Labored breathing could be heard almost a gurgle with each inhale and exhale of air. Now towering over the slave Xolek looked over the skaven, cuts were everywhere but what was keeping the whimpering creature in place was its foot being impaled on a spear head. Xolek thought about his next course of action: Did he simply kill the rat spawn or leave it to its slow painful fate? In a moment he made his choice and simply began walking on, the slave wouldn't last long he knew and he did not want to waste his energy.
In a bid to either anger the skink into killing it or in a bid to find compassion the slave screamed out in an anguished voice, "We-we steal stone with writings, lizard-things plaques, Masters make us, yes-yes" a cough lets loose as the slaves lungs strain to produce oxygen to the slave. The slave continues, "Rituals, ancient texts, spells of frog things....long forgotten serpent-wing creature-beast, yes-yes!" Fury is all that Xolek feels in that moment, his eyes ablaze with whatever magical energy still coursed through him, he turns and glides towards the skaven in divine purpose. The slave looks on in terror, he can feel it he can feel the end coming, "let it be swift, let it be not like the masters wrath" the slave thought to itself, but wrath did not come. Instead a scaled hand reached down towards the gnarled foot of the rat spawn and in an instant was ripped free of the spear head, but not before Xoleks tail with carnosaur tooth was at the skavens throat.
"You are coming with me" Xolek yanks the slave to its feet, using its tail to help balance itself on its injured foot the two begin to navigate the tunnel. Keeping an eye out for Xiuhcoatl Xolek keeps the tooth poised towards the slave to strike if needed while his dual laced whip was in hand also ready to rip into the soft flesh with its obsidian barbs.
They continue down the tunnel towards the entrance when he hears another roar, a frustrated roar...not of a Kroxigor, but of a Saurus...but not a young Saurus, he knew the roar was of a more tested and older Saurus, likely an Oldblood.
