Atlas threw his hands down, dragging a ridge of earth upward to slow the ihe. The ground rumbled and split, stone and hardened sand rising in a jagged wall between them and the creature. It was a desperate move, buying them seconds at most, but seconds were all they had.
The ihe cleared the obstacle effortlessly, skidding across the surface with terrifying speed. Its claws dug into the stone as it vaulted over the barrier, tail whipping behind it for balance. The creature's movements were fluid, almost graceful, as if the laws of physics bent slightly in its favor. It landed on the other side without breaking stride, eyes still locked on its prey.
