The burn, he suspects, is from another elemental.
They’re deep down within the earth. It would make sense, Morgan’s thoughts sputtered in quick bursts. The heat crippled what chance he had at breathing. What he could take in cut into him like sharp chemical knives, slashing him internally.
“Leave if you haven’t already,” he wheezed. “Get. Out.”
Morgan muffled his speech despite being sure this hell beast could sense him too. There wouldn’t be anything to hide; not that there ever was.
But Liia… his mind flashed back to her. He couldn’t leave her. He couldn’t give up. Morgan battled to take shorter breaths. He inhaled only slightly, held the wounding toxins in, and pushed on. There would be land soon, he told himself. He’d make it out.
He’d find her.
His exhale left his nose in a
