Here and Now

Morag is within range of fire and Linu knows: this is the right time. Another step and: this is the right place.
Here and now she stops to shoot her light crossbow at the foe. Of course the bolt causes no harm. She didn't expect it anyway.
But for a moment it grabs Morag's attention. It's just that moment which Teloki needs to seek shelter. With a clumsy leap he jumps into the safeness behind the Old Ones throne. The safety is a short-lived and deceiving one. But here and now it will do to let him catch his breath and to come to his senses.

He's in bad case, Teloki realizes, hovering weightless above the pain that threatens to tear him apart.
In a pretty bad case ... He can see his left arm, but he can't feel it. No, it's much worse. His entire left side seems to be numb. Darn!
In an awful bad case ... Blood is seeping out of the jagged scratches in his armor. Warm, red and unstoppable - like the setting sun.
Shadowfur's eyes burn from smoke and acid damps. He squints. That’s weird! ... It's a miracle he's able to notice all that at all.
Then he discovers that it is not his own strength that prevents the remaining whit of life from trickling off. Sehanine!
And more he sees...

It takes Linu some time to recognize the noise sounding through the murmur of Morag's priests being Shadowfur's laughter. It’s a mix of rattling cough and dry sobbing, but here and now it’s the most beautiful sound she can imagine.
"'loki! Stop fooling around with that ol' lizard and do something substantial at last!"