The Rothians were slow and methodical when moving, but there was only so much they could do to spot danger when the ground itself was a threat. When Vreta made a step from the sidewalk into the street to cross, he at first thought that he had tripped over something, but it was a thorny vine that had gripped his ankle, pulling him to the ground. Still, even as he fell, he shouted out a warning to the others. “On me!”

The soldiers were fast to react. All their squad leader needed to do was to shout a name, and that soldier immediately knelt down to assist while the rest provided cover. The vines tried to entangle and constrict Vreta, but the soldier’s sharp, powerful claws ripped them up from the ground and allowed him to scramble to his feet. 

At the same time, the soldiers covering found themselves facing down unknown, and seemingly impossible  beings rising up from the ground itself. That indistinct organic matter they had been passing by pooled almost like a liquid until it formed into a mostly humanoid, but otherwise featureless shapes. The squad leader had no reason to hesitate. “Open fire!”

Their weapons might not have been as powerful as what they were accustomed to, but they were at least still effective against the adversaries in front of them. The shots melted through the organic bodies, blasting holes through them and even removing limbs. Each of the squad members covered a different angle to hold them back. They were ready to shift their focus if any of the soldiers called for aid, though given that they were surrounded, all of them had a job to do.

“What’s your status?” One of the Rothian soldiers asked as she helped Vreta to his feet, to which he answered quickly and clearly.

“Just lacerations. I can walk. Move quick and get out of…” Vreta began, but in a quick flash of light, everything changed. In an instant, there were no vines covering the ground, nor organic monstrosities. The lights were bright, and the city around them was just…a city. Vreta’s ankle still bled, but otherwise it was as if nothing had happened. “…here. We’re [i]still[/i] leaving.” He commented. 

Vreta answered Freyr right away when she contacted him, though with his words far more hurried. “Yes, and I am leaving the Cradle. I suggest you do the same. I am going to go to the port you mentioned. I will likely spend the rest of my time at the ship until we leave.”