Luneshale Pass Doors opened

Rooke ceased his current act of terrorizing the local fauna. Dust kicking up beneath his feet as he skid to a halt. A tilt to his head. First to the left, then to the right. There was a sound just now, wasn't there? A voice?

No. He was mistaken. Surely—

Click. Click. Click.

His heart fell into his stomach.

The click of nail against rock. Pebbles scattering as shale was loosened underfoot. The hair on Rooke's neck rose as the drone of desert insects and squeaking bats fell silent. Only the sound of an approaching creature mattered.

Whirling around, Rooke's head swiveled erratically to pinpoint who or what was following him. Eyes widening as his gaze landed on a man—wolf. His head dropped immediately, eyes looking to the man's feet.

His tongue flashed between his lips as he dared to steal a glance up to the stranger's face. A lump catching in his throat to see the man had been turned ethereal. A trick of the reflected light perhaps, but Rooke found himself frozen. Locked onto the cut opals set in the man's face.