Girl Genius - Nuée Ardente - 2/9

The sky was beginning to light up with predawn when they stopped running.

Sorin had never been out of Vulkanburg's walls at night, never off the paved, patrolled roads even during the day. The pine woods were dark and full of hooting calls, whispery noises, the grating pings and thuds of a wild automated clank falling to rust and still roaming.

But it was fine, wasn't it, because he traveled with the biggest monster of all.

It was fine, wasn't it...

"Hoy."

Oh. Huh. Sorin was on the ground. Sorin was on his knees. It was all over pine needles under him. Almost soft. He looked up and the Jägermonster was staring down at him, head tilted a little like it was weird that after a night like this someone would need to... wouldn't...

"I'm stopping here," he informed him.

"Hokay! Hy carry hyu."

"Um, no thank you?" His voice broke. The Jäger paused briefly in the middle of leaning in. "I think, uh. If your shoulder and my tools interact anymore with my ribs, they'll break." Nope, still leaning in. "And -- and you're not --"

"Right den." Sorin was whisked up. "De princess carry for hyu."

Oh good lords of the abyss.

So many teeth. So close.

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