Blood flowed steadily from the joint, dripping onto the ground before evaporating.
By the time the last one fell, Mirek's body was at its limit.
He looked up.
The sky had darkened.
The sun had begun to recede casting long, bruised shadows across the rocky plateaus.
Mirek looked at his ruined arm and his trembling hands, a wry smile touching his lips.
He realized he was simply not strong enough yet.
If he had been, he would have finished this sooner.
He would have already left this place and found Lavayla and Vai.
He stood for a moment longer before his strength gave out and he dropped to one knee.
He caught himself with his right hand, his fingers pressing against the heated rock as he steadied his body.
As the sun vanished completely, the air cooled, and the biting radiation finally stopped. No more silhouettes appeared.
