[center][b]Zayn - Lakeside[/b][/center]

---

Zayn grimaced as Dirge provided Dread Fang with a mercy killing. The telepath had hoped the scarab’s injuries would not be fatal; alas, recovery was not in Dread Fang’s future as its alien mind flickered into nothingness. Zayn had begun forming a rapport with the ex-scarab, and he had hoped that Dread Fang’s unique inborn telepathy would have given him some new insight into his own gifts. Zayn quietly mourned the loss of a potential friend and a brave comrade.

Zayn saw the thin finger of smoke reaching from the sky down towards the lake, and hoped they hadn’t taken too long to take care of the bomb at the eastern tower. Quen Kouri was a powerful pyromancer, and the smoke could have come from her. It could be something else, another threat, or another illusion. Regardless, the finger of smoke was another sign of danger present or yet to come. Zayn broke off into a run towards the lakeshore, eyes alert to his surroundings. He only hoped some idiot wouldn’t show up first and charge in with weapons drawn.