Round 96

As Sister Hale's eyes snapped open, she sat up with a groggy wince, her gaze unfocused for a moment before taking stock of the rocky ground beneath her. Jeane turned back to her, concern and annoyance mingling on her face as she replied, "You're fine, just take a minute to collect yourself." Sister Hale slowly rose to her feet, rubbing her head with a grimace, her silver holy symbol glinting in the dim light. She crouched low, scanning the underside of the bridge where the scuttling sound had originated, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her mace as she peered into the shadows. "Jeane," she called upstream, voice steady despite the racing heart that threatened to betray her fear. The ash-choked air made it hard to see more than a few feet ahead, but the deliberate sound was unmistakable – something was crawling down there, and it was heading straight for them.