[center][h3]Gaius Stronurr[/h3]
[sub]In a panic above the surface[/sub][/center]

	With little time to react, and no help to be found in their allies, Gaius and Lee continued to lose altitude despite their forward momentum, dropping lower and lower until they were dangerously close to the surface. Finally, the dark shapes and silhouettes below them were starting to become discernible. They'd apparently found themselves no more than 400 meters above a large stretch of forest, where they would soon be stranded if none came to assist them. "No, no! Lee, brace yourself!" Gaius shouted, grasping both of the poles that latched to his glider as they neared the treetops. His iron boots and greaves struck several branches on the way down, sending wood and leaves crashing to the ground. When his glider was finally level with the treetops, Gaius was hopeful that they would be able to slow their descent and climb down to safety. 

	But fate had less optimal plans in store for the sky people, planting a massive tree right in their path. Gaius veered left when their chances of landing unscathed narrowed to an infinitesimal degree, kicking off of the massive trunk with his right foot while his glider hung at a 45 degree angle, barely tearing a strip of bark from the tree with the tip of its right wing. [i]"Hup-"[/i] they were safe... At least for a moment, until their path was flooded with a flurry of foliage and branches. The Gaius Glider tore through the overgrowth, barely keeping its shape while their descent was slowed to a relative crawl. Gaius shielded Lee as best he could with his left arm until they were through the branches and leaves, and several meters below the treetops. Unfortunately, their luck had run out when the glider's left wing was torn clean in half upon striking a tree trunk roughly 15 meters above ground level. The sudden jolt unhinged the second shoulder bar and jerked Gaius into a forward roll, which promptly sent Lee off of his back, and pulled his glider to pieces. Gaius followed shortly after, losing his helmet in the fumble, and landing hard on his left shoulder against a small clearing of grass. Gaius tumbled and turned until his body ground to a halt at the base of a nearby tree, where he turned onto his back and spread his limbs apart, astonished that he was still breathing. Several moments passed as Gaius lay silent with his cheek resting against the cold forest ground. He finally managed to turn his head upwards, licking his fuzzy lips as he thanked the gods above for the mercy they'd bestowed upon him. "Heh heh hoh-oh..."