The moment Lucas collapsed, the winds that had been raging across the frozen slopes fell eerily still. The shrill howls of the beasts faded into a haunting silence, broken only by the faint crackle of melting frost where his spatial energy had torn through reality moments before. The snow, which had been whipped into a storm of white chaos, now drifted down lazily as if the entire mountain itself had drawn a long, cold breath.
One by one, the beasts that had encircled the group froze in place. The mountain lions lowered their heads, their silver-glowing eyes dimming to faint flickers of light. The white-furred wolves stopped snarling and backed away, tails lowering in a strange display of submission. Even the monstrous gorillas, with their massive frames and battle-ready stances, stood unmoving, the wild fury in their eyes replaced by something akin to reverence...or fear.
Lira clutched at Nyx's arm, whispering shakily, "They've stopped… they're not attacking anymore."
