The stone beast shook its head slowly, and with stiffening limbs it took a step back, away from Aloe and Lila. Its lip twisted in a snarl, and it took another step back. Every movement was slower than the last -- until there was only a twitch of an ear and the shift of a claw, and then the beast was frozen once more.

Grom huffed and sighed heavily. The cameldragon had expended every ounce of energy and enthusiasm into that one act of heroism. He sat down sleepily and proceeded to chew, his eyes half-closed.

Kettle woke up sprawled against the pillar, blood trickling down her forehead. She shifted to her feet unsteadily, keeping her back against the rock to avoid being seen, and she peered around it. Aloe's back was to her, but it was clear he still held the gun. Lila was fine again, Nel had just woken up, and the stone beast had gone back to being harmless. Leon was nowhere to be seen, and Clavic was probably somewhere at the end of the trail of scattered bones.

No one had realized what happened -- no one knew except Leon and Clavic, and Kettle was fairly sure she could lie her way back into Clavic's trust, at least. She would take the chance.

"Is everyone all right?" she called, her voice reflecting the very real pain in her skull. Kettle stepped out from behind the pillar -- and then she noticed movement that hadn't been there before. Someone -- or something -- was crawling out of the ground very close to where Nel lay half-conscious.

"Nel!" Kettle called out in alarm, still holding the pillar for balance. "Watch out! Behind you!"