After the explosion—
He didn't hesitate.
He dropped.
Straight down the tunnel—
fast—
controlled—
as if he knew exactly where he was going.
Bringing his hand to his chest, palm up—
he opened his fingers slightly.
The silver mass shifted.
One pair of blue eyes rolled into view—
locking onto his.
A small glare.
Tiny.
Fierce.
…Adorable.
A faint pulse of bloodlust—
more instinct than threat.
Then—
it closed its eyes—
and became still again.
Satisfied—
he closed his hand.
And exhaled.
Emotion hit him all at once.
Joy.
Regret.
Anger.
Love.
…Pain.
He pushed it all aside.
Focused.
The fall continued.
He shifted his body—
slightly—
again—
again—
avoiding things that weren't visible—
but were there.
His eyes tracked what shouldn't exist.
The deeper he fell—
the darker it became.
Then—
lines appeared.
Threads.
Each one glowing faintly—
each one carrying a different presence.
More.
And more.
Until the tunnel lit up—
alive with unseen pathways.
He spun.
Corkscrewing downward—
aligning himself—
centering—
Then accelerated.
The tunnel narrowed.
[SCANNING]
A pale blue interface flickered into existence in the corner of his vision.
[BIO SIGNATURE DETECTED]
[WELCOME HOME, CREATOR]
A young voice.
Calm.
Recognizing.
A soft pop echoed—
And everything changed.
—Sanctuary—
Sky.
Balanced colors.
Soft clouds drifting.
His descent slowed—
as if the world itself caught him.
Behind him—
the barrier sealed.
He opened his hand.
The silver mass floated free.
All eyes snapped open.
They scattered—
slightly—
still connected—
like ants unsure of new ground.
At the center—
blue eyes.
And within their grasp—
her.
Hair flickering like flame.
White.
Blue.
Gold.
Red.
Alive.
Below—
a vast circular field rose to meet them.
Green.
Endless.
A forest surrounded it—
thick—
ancient—
watching.
Mountains stretched in one direction—
jagged and high.
In another—
a roaring blue current—
like a river and sea combined—
flowed endlessly.
Beyond that—
dark stone—
glowing faint red—
breathing heat.
A world.
Built.
Waiting.
He adjusted his hand—
blocking the airflow—
shielding them.
The creatures reacted immediately—
retreating—
reforming—
protecting her.
Even now.
Even like this.
…Good.
Relief flooded him.
Carefully—
he closed his hand again—
keeping them steady.
Then—
he angled downward.
Faster.
His shadow stretched across the field—
And something responded.
A structure revealed itself—
crystalline—
towering—
a pyramid of living material.
Its apex split open—
seam by seam—
making space.
Welcoming him.
He flipped mid-air—
wings of energy bursting from his back—
catching the descent—
slowing—
controlling—
Landing.
Soft.
Precise.
He knelt.
Lowered his hand.
Tilted it gently.
The mass rolled free.
He stopped it—
carefully.
Set it before him.
Eyes opened.
Again.
They separated.
Fully this time.
And he saw them.
All of them.
Different.
Wrong.
Six arms—
on every one—
but shaped differently.
Legs—
some too many—
some too few—
some bent in ways that shouldn't exist.
Bodies—
stretched—
compressed—
misaligned.
They couldn't move properly.
Not yet.
Not like this.
Then—
he looked at him.
The one holding her.
Larger.
Stronger.
Closer to stable—
but still broken.
Four strong arms.
Two smaller ones.
Legs solid.
But hands—
feet—
Melted.
Distorted.
He looked at the face—
and winced.
A warped structure—
trying—
failing—
to hold its original shape.
…Too close to the source.
{Sigh}
He shrank.
Returning to a more controlled form.
Hand covering his face.
Behind him—
his mark glowed.
And something emerged.
A figure.
Tall.
Refined.
A tigroid being—
dressed in a suit—
perfect posture—
perfect control.
He bowed.
The others reacted instantly—
fear—
defense—
confusion.
The tigroid stepped forward.
Graceful.
"What should be done?" he asked calmly.
Without turning—
his Master answered.
"…We fix them."
A pause.
"…For her sake."
A flick of his hand—
The ground shifted.
Softened.
A bed of living greenery formed beside him.
He gestured.
The larger one hesitated—
then moved.
Slow.
Careful.
Every movement distorting his form further—
trying not to hurt what he held.
He laid her down.
Gently.
Then collapsed—
protectively—
over her.
Spent.
Watching closely—
he understood.
They were stabilizing her.
Even now.
Even broken.
"Move him."
The large one flinched—
instinct reacting before thought.
But the tigroid was already there.
A hand on his back.
Gentle.
"You've done well."
He lifted him easily—
like a child—
and carried him aside.
"Now…"
He set him down with the others.
"…let's get you all fixed."
The tigroid stepped back.
The Master stepped forward.
Both arms extended.
Energy gathered—
stretching across all ten of them.
His voice dropped—
low—
steady—
absolute.
"Stay still."
A pause.
"…this will hurt less than what you've already endured."