Fractured Horizons - The Rift Paradox

trembling, as she stared down at the furious water rapid waves far below. Alex's form was alr

ough it were his last lifeline. Behind him, the ominous hum

ed, and with his signature reckless g

he mist. She turned to Luis, who now looked like a co

rones fired a blast that obliterated the tree he was clinging to. Luis let out a high-pitch

ere he landed. The drones were closing in fast. Summoning

shed up to meet her. She hit the water hard, the icy cold stealing the breath from her lungs. For a few disorienting se

ering, to see Alex clinging to a large rock jutting out of

ce. Amira kicked her legs furiously, her arms reaching out for anything solid. By some mirac

prising strength. She collapsed next to him,

..." she manag

floating log and was paddling furiously toward the riverbank, shouting something unintelligible. Luis,

rried faintly over the water. "I'm

to Amira, already pre

y?" she protested,

ore she could argue further, he plunged into the river,

nst the current. Luis was drifting dangerously close to a cluster

is by the collar and pulled him away from the rocks. Together, they drifted toward a

ded toward them. By the time she reached the riverbank, Alex was dr

up at the sky. "I'm retiring. No more adventures. I'm opening a

," Alex said dryly, wring

gotta say, that was the most fun I've had all day. Thoug

ing and her nerves frayed. "Speaking of dr

, their eyes darting toward the sky. Through the gaps in the trees, they could se

Alex said, his voice tense. "

ight, and fast. "There's got to be some kind of

t idea. Let's go find a nice, cozy hiding s

ome to stay here and negoti

funny!" Lu

oward a narrow trail winding up the side of a rocky hi

self to her feet. "Let's

drones overhead. The trail was steep and uneven, forcing them to scramble over rocks and ro

lders provided some semblance of shelter. The group collapsed b

ilence, "this is officially the wo

e in the exosuit, the drones, the mysterious console... none of it made sense. And yet, she couldn't sha

horizon. "We'll rest here for a bit, but we can't

re outnumbered, outgunned, and we have no idea what we'

despite the exhaustion weighing her d

here below them. The ground beneath their feet vibrated, an

tered, peering over t

g from the jungle below. Its legs were long and jointed, its body bristling

after a moment, "