Panting, shuddering with some of the power Life had seemingly released, Malin crawled towards the fallen entity and brought her into something resembling a hug. Behind him, Shoe yelped and began whimpering, clawing uselessly at the vines binding her and her mother.
She’s covered in blood. Not for the first time, Malin grew to resent the power he had as an entity. What good was magic that could drive humans to murder to the one entity who actually wanted to protect Life?
He couldn’t lose this chance. With Ludovica and Shoe currently incapacitated, they had a tiny window of opportunity to escape before both of them succumbed to their wounds. Malin wouldn’t die, of course--as a death entity he’d merely regenerate in his realm--but by then it could be too late.
The village they were bound towards wasn’t far now. Steeling himself, Malin got to his knees, scooped Life into his arms bridal style, and stood. Through the searing pain from Shoe and Ludovica’s squirrels scratching up his back, he took off in a run.
We’re almost there. Hang on. I’m not losing you now.
Life.
“Let’s go,” Bennie ordered briskly, running off towards the direction the sudden burst of life seemed to have spread from. “That must be Life. We can find her and you can ask her yourself, I...she’ll be happy to see you, I promise. Once we’re all together, then we can talk more!”
Life had to be her number one priority. For whatever reason, Life’s power had bypassed Xenos’ seal and acted once again.
Now that it had, there would be a bigger target on the entity’s back than ever before. Bennie had to protect her before the souls all vanished for good.