She had lost herself for a moment there.

In memories that she had not thought she could have been lost in. She had no memories of such vast greenery; the Soviet Union was of tundra and ice, short brush over barren land. And she had been in this forest her entire 'orc' life as well. But what change it made, to get just a little bit of elevation! How vast the verdancy, when seen from above! It reminded her of childhood fantasies, of the grace of birds, of climbing up the steps of the chapel's tower. The claim of becoming the rear guard was just a claim.

Esfir didn't know that she needed a moment, not until now. But the explosion that burst out from the open cave broke that moment. She looked at that opening. Stared at it. It rang in her ears, even when she was so far away. Echoing away.

[i]Always so far away, but she still felt it in her stomach.[/i]

...

[b]"That wasn't a scream."[/b]

The scorch marks were evident, but neither Vola nor Lazash looked like their insides had liquidfied, and their limbs were certainly in place, so the explosion must have been more a firework than a proper bomb. Esfir hid what flicker of relief she felt though, and instead focused on the presence.

[b]"Explain what happened. Was that your magic, or a creature?"[/b]

And if it was a creature, could that be used?

[@Unkown58][@Crusader Lord]