Silver Moraine [BWP P2] tell me of progress to strengthen my blood

following her encounter with @Revui, the sylph continued northward. the maplewood had served as good shelter from last night's storm, yet the tremors underfoot only seemed to serve as reminder that wherever she went, nature could not be out-fled.

caiaphas was walking (almost leisurely, even, for the crone was conserving her sapping energy) when an ear-splitting crack sounded from the distant treeline. she paused with her head craned, her ears tilted -- and heard the resounding ricochet of trunk grinding and splintering. then followed another, and another -- until at last the ground and the skies were rent with the peals of destruction, followed by a dim and deathly silence.

cresting a ridge of pine, caiaphas looked out into the valley below. the moraine, the place she had intended to cross to finally get home -- was caved in. a choking cloud of dirt rose from the rubble and concealed almost all of her vision, rising even as high as the sky-line -- clouding all one could see in a dull and dismal grey.