Round 715 Transcript

Merrin's grip on the edge of the pit falters, and she loses her balance. She feels herself falling, but manages to grab hold of a nearby rock outcropping before crashing down to the slick stone floor below. Her ankle throbs in agony as she struggles to put weight on it. Varikka's weak cry for help still echoes in her mind, and Merrin knows she must act quickly to find her injured comrade. The Guardian's roar grows louder, and Merrin realizes she's running out of time.

"Varikka! I'm coming!" I shout, wincing as I put weight on my throbbing ankle. The slick stone offers no purchase, but I scramble at the walls, seeking any handhold or ledge. My fingers find a crack, and I haul myself up, gritting my teeth against the pain. "Hold on, Varikka! I'm almost there!"

I can barely see in the dimness, but I hear her weak cry for help. Throwing caution aside, I swing myself over the edge of the pit, dropping down with a heavy thud onto the wet floor below. My ankle screams as it takes my full weight, and I stagger, reaching out to steady myself against the wall. "Varikka! Call out again so I can find you!"

The Guardian's roar grows louder, echoing off the stone walls. We have seconds before it reaches the pit. I start to limp forward, my eyes straining in the darkness, searching for any sign of my fallen comrade. "Varikka! Say something! Please!"

I know time is running out. The structural collapse seems to be picking up speed. If Varikka is unconscious or unable to move, I'll have to drag her out of here. And if the Guardian reaches the pit before we escape... I can't let myself think about that. I have to find Varikka. Now. My crossbow lies just a few feet away where it slipped from my grasp. I lunge for it, scooping it up and checking the mechanism. Loaded and ready. "Varikka! Make some noise! I need to know where you are!"