Round 423

Merrin’s eyes widened as she watched Varikka collapse, the ground giving way beneath her friend’s weight. The sound of stone grinding against stone filled the air as another section of the pit wall crumbled away, sending a shower of debris cascading down around them. Merrin quickly crouched low, shielding her face with her arms as pebbles and dust rained down, coating everything in a thick layer of grey grit.

"Varikka!" she cried out, her voice echoing off the stone walls. In an instant, she was at her friend’s side, dropping to her knees beside her. The halfling woman’s dark eyes scanned Varikka’s form, searching for any new injuries beyond the already damaged ankle. "Are you okay? Did anything else get hurt?"

Merrin’s hands moved instinctively, checking Varikka’s limbs and torso for further damage. Her fingers brushed against the other woman’s skin, feeling for any signs of broken bones or additional trauma beneath the thick leather armor. The sound of rushing water seemed to grow louder in the background, a menacing reminder of their precarious situation.

"What happened?" Merrin asked, her voice tight with concern. "Did your ankle give out again? We need to get you somewhere safe before this whole place comes down on top of us." She glanced around at the crumbling walls and ceiling, noting the increasing cracks and fissures that snaked across the stone like a spiderweb.

Varikka’s face was contorted with pain, her teeth gritted as she tried to manage the agony in her ankle. Merrin bit her lip, torn between wanting to help her friend and the growing sense of urgency to escape this collapsing chamber before it was too late. The sound of water grew even louder, a menacing hiss that seemed to be drawing closer with each passing moment.

"We need to move," Merrin said firmly, her rogue’s instincts screaming at her to find higher ground. "Can you put any weight on it at all? We have to get out of this pit and find solid ground before the whole place collapses." She looked up at the descending corridor that had brought them here, wondering if it was even still passable.

Varikka nodded slowly, her face pale with pain but determined. "Help me up," she grunted, reaching out a hand to Merrin. The halfling woman grasped it firmly, using her own strength and balance to help Varikka sit up. As they moved, another section of the wall crumbled away above them, sending more debris cascading down into the pit.

"Shit," Merrin hissed under her breath as she helped Varikka to her feet. The other woman’s ankle was clearly in bad shape, but there was no time to tend to it properly here. They needed to find solid ground and assess the situation before they could even think about healing.

"Lean on me," Merrin said, sliding an arm around Varikka’s waist to support her weight. "We’re getting out of this damn pit, and then we’re finding a way to deal with that bastard Guardian." She glared up at the descending corridor, wondering if their luck had finally run out.

Together, they began to hobble towards the edge of the pit, each step careful and measured as Merrin supported Varikka’s weight. The sound of rushing water seemed to follow them, a constant reminder of the danger lurking just beyond sight. As they reached the lip of the pit, Merrin paused, her eyes scanning the area above for any signs of stability.

"Stay close," she murmured to Varikka, her gaze fixed on the crumbling walls and ceiling. "We’re not out of this yet."