Porcupine Ridge they call holidays an option for a reason,

It's a lot to take in. The situation goes from tense to Alarian realizing he might be about to witness murder in about three seconds, and it takes another five or so for him to fully comprehend it. The introduction had been slightly amusing, given he isn't even on a first-name basis with the woman who'd offered it, but there is little time to dwell on it. He can only blink when the man — Vercingetorix, he reminds himself — turns to snarl at him, frozen until the other turns away. After a moment, he takes a step back, glancing to the woman again.
Well — He starts, but something cuts him off. His hackles rise, spine prickling, and dread fills him in the half-beat of silence before the ground starts to shake. The rumble fills his ears, and his heart leaps into his throat as he takes another shaky step back, strangers forgotten as the earth trembles fiercely under their feet. He recognizes the sound, but the shaking is new — and absolutely terrifying. His legs almost collapse beneath him, but he fights stubbornly to keep his balance, hearing little now but the rush of blood in his ears and the rumbling around them. He tries not to look at the mountains, afraid of making himself nauseous with fear. It seems to last forever, and through it all, he can only form one coherent thought: what the fuck?