Round 174

Jeane’s crimson eyes flare wide as the portal behind Halie groans and begins contracting, pulling the other woman inexorably back into its depths. Not again! She snarls, her wings half-spreading in a futile instinctive gesture despite being pressed so close to Abby. Hold on to me—this is going to hurt. Her hands move to grip Halie’s shoulders through the blue energy, fingers digging in as she tries to anchor the other woman against the portal’s pull.

Abby gasps sharply as Jeane shifts, the sudden movement pressing her even more tightly against the sorceress’s powerful frame. "Halie!" She cries out, her wide brown eyes fixed on the scene before them. The chamber’s walls seem to vibrate with increased energy, and the air thickens with an almost palpable tension. Without thinking, she grabs onto Jeane with both hands, clutching at the woman’s waist as if that could somehow help. She can feel the tension coiling in every muscle of the sorceress’s body, the way her wings tremble with barely controlled panic.

The blue light surrounding Halie surges once more, and the portal groans again, its pull growing stronger. Jeane grits her teeth, her fingers tightening on Halie’s shoulders as she tries to resist the force. Damn it—someone help me hold her! She shouts, her voice strained with effort.

Abby nods frantically, her hands sliding up to grip Jeane’s waist more securely. She can feel the sorceress’s heart racing beneath her palms, matching her own. What do we do? She asks, her voice trembling slightly as she watches Halie being pulled deeper into the portal’s embrace.

Jeane’s wings spread wider, providing what little leverage they can in the cramped space. I don’t know! Just—just keep holding on to me! She grunts, her muscles bulging with the strain of trying to pull Halie back against the portal’s suction. The blue light around the other woman pulses erratically, and for a moment, it seems like they might succeed in resisting the pull.

But then the portal groans again, louder this time, and with a sudden violent yank, it tears Halie free from Jeane’s grip. The blue light swallows her whole, and she vanishes into the depths of the portal, leaving only an echoing scream behind.