With a heavy heart and a resolve fueled by the sacrifices of his comrades, Ijekiel turned his focus on retreating. He landed next to the bastion Isolde had created, his eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and determination.
Entering the maze of wood in the icy hell he didn't even take a breather before barking out orders "All who can move, come with me," Ijekiel called out, his voice carrying over the roar of the fire and the crumbling of the stone creatures. "We retreat into the earth. Stay close and stay silent."
He used up all of his remaining energy and like he had done in the past dug a tunnel in the earth, as deep as he could and then lead the remains of the caravan down into the dark tunnel. Behind him, keeping the rear guard, Isolde kept the barrier up, buying precious time for the colonists to retreat safely, and once the last one was gone, she followed them into the depths.
