The entire cavern shook violently, a deafening rumble swallowing their frantic breaths. Stalactites snapped from above, crashing into the ground with bone-shaking force. Dust and debris swirled in the thick, magic-tainted air.
Rian led the way, cradling the egg to his chest as if it were his own beating heart. His boots skidded over loose rock, but he didn't slow—he couldn't. Behind him, Yara and Val slashed through falling debris, Yara's magic slicing boulders in half while Val's raw strength tore through whatever stood in their way.
Then the ground lurched.
A deep, jagged chasm split open in their path, the darkness beneath it yawning like a hungry beast. Rian's breath caught. There was no way around it.
"Jump!" he shouted, his voice barely carrying over the chaos.
"Are you insane?" Yara snapped, her golden eyes darting to Val. "We won't make that distance!"
