I needed to write something. Wasn’t sure what because my inspiration is dry at the moment so a little Whispers squad piece is what came to mind first.
Spoilers for the new Living World chapter.
Soft clicking of pacing heels had his nerves on edge. It wasn’t that anything was happening, quite the opposite, but Varyllis and her ‘gut feelings’ when it came to recent unexpected events was getting weird. He supposed it was just the Elder Dragon exposure. Still...
“Slayer.”
Her eyes turn downwards sharply to her Sylvari partner settled with his legs dangling over the edge of the stone archway his hand patting lightly at the ground next to him, offering a seat. Even as she lowered herself he felt her eyes run warily over the rifle on his back, probably sliding the tiny fact into her ‘what if’ plans.
“Sorry. Something feels off,” she almost whispers and despite all the seating space on their perch she still finds herself leaning into his side.
He’d always been a reassuring type of person, chuckling under his breath and clutching an arm around her shoulders with a playful squeeze, “It’s a political event. Nothing natural about them. Most likely we’ll be sat here overlooking the guests arriving for hours and bored to death before we know it.”
Jahai was preferable to most other parts of the desert at least for the Whispers squad lead by Varyllis. Were it not for the scar of Branded corruption that carved through it it’d definitely be a favourite. Sadly the whole place was a hotbed of Kralkatorrik’s idea of decorating.
“...And that’s the Commander with her advisors. Looks like we’re in for a quiet day.”
Aelestri’s assurances go unheard as Varyllis stood hurriedly to her feet, rifle in her hands before he could figure out what was happening. In the same instant a glimmering portal, a Mesmer made means of transportation pings open behind them, a human and Asura stepping out, weapons in hand looking a dishevelled.
“You’re not gunna believe this, Boss,” begins the human, tucking her swords away with a flourish, simultaneously closing the exit behind her, “We saw the Dragon.”
A silence passes over the four, Aelestri climbing to his feet when the Asura began loading her pistols.
“The little one?”
She shakes her head, goggles flopping under her frazzled hair, large ears pinging directly upwards, “The Shatterer, man. It’s fuckin’ out there. Dunno how, dunno where the bastard came from but it looks like shit.”
On cue there’s a scream, too loud and totally inhuman. The sky busted open in an array of mesmerising purples, blues and blacks, sparkles and flecks of starlight mingling into the void that had appeared. And in the same instant it had gone, imploded into itself to reveal the sickly, eerily glowing Elder Dragon champion careening into the side of the main hall.
The panicked shouting had overtaken all other sounds, piercing shrieks and crystal shattering punctuating the terror. Other Whispers agents, Shadows agents, Vigil and Pact soliders sprung into action as Branded minions flooded the courtyard.
It’s only in the moment he’s grappling down into the chaos that Aelestri wonders what exactly is going on with Tyria right now.