The grotesque lizard’s jaws closed around me and I jumped up onto the wall to escape, when it’s snout swung up and slammed into me. I wheezed as I felt the wind get knocked out of me. I faintly registered the scuffling footsteps of the dwarves before the snout let up in exchange for a roar of brain-piercing volume. A large rough hand wrapped around my hand and I blearily followed Xalman, feet landing and pushing be off the ground for me as survival instincts kicked in. My vision cleared itself after a second, and I saw a bend in the tunnel coming up, with the dwarves in the lead, the injured Yvonne being carried draped over the shoulder of Anna, who was surprisingly lagging only a little despite the extra burden. Not far behind them was Xalman with myself in tow, and behind us, the lizard. Not hearing the lizard over my own labored breathing, I chanced a quick look behind me. The lizard was left well behind us, in favor of snarling at phantoms and running itself into walls, seemingly confused about where- or what- it’s enemy was. It was a bit of a sad sight, but it was better than killing it or getting killed by it. Seemed like a pretty handy trick, I should ask him what he did. Speaking of which… I ran up alongside the dragonkin “How long does that- ” I tipped my head towards the lizard, “- last?”

"Quiet!" Xalmann hissed in a loud whisper as he kept running. They needed to keep moving now that the monster was distracted, and then they needed to stop talking so it wouldn't be able to track them by sound. Even if he had the speaking ability to explain that to Shun, they didn't have time. The effect of the dagger wouldn't last that long and the monster would regain its senses soon.

With a quick turn, Xalmann conjured another ball of fire in his hand and chucked it toward the giant lizard behind them. Like before, the fiery explosion filled the tunnel with intense heat that washed over the group as it spread in a wave. When the monster regained its senses, it shouldn't be able to see them through the wall of heat that would camouflage their body heat.

The lizard roared in pain, more burns covering its body from the fiery blast. It backed up back down the tunnel, shaking its head as much as it could in the cramped confines.

Xalmann and Shun quickly came up behind the fleeing Dwarves who couldn't move very quickly. Xalmann just hoped these damn Dwarves' slowness wouldn't cost him his life here. He couldn't even tell them to move faster because he could already tell they were moving their short legs as fast as they could, the injured riding piggyback.

    Judging by the way he shut me up, whatever he did doesn’t last long. I’ve been trying to avoid using this power, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I cloaked myself in the void between celestial energies, horns growing out, feathers turning into paper thin obsidian scales and my natural coloration turning more intense. With it, came an extra boost in strength, and I scooped up Yvonne from the back, freeing Anna from the burden and we caught up. The beast shook off whatever effects Xalmann had put on it and continued it’s charge towards us through the flames and heated stone. The time it spent stunned put space between us, and pain slowed it, but it was still better to get out of here fast as possible. The tunnel took a slight turn and we saw the exit- a vaguely oval opening camouflaged by plants and icicles. We crashed through the ice and frosted plants before spilling out of the underground, I was careful not to fall to where the mountain sloped dangerously steep, and caught Percy before he tumbles. I let go of the dwarves but not my transformation- ready to face the beast again.