Perhaps Ragnarok felt a shadow of the same sentiment, in its extremely limited range of emotion and thought. It suddenly tensed, coiling tighter, and the crystalline portions of its flesh almost seemed to glow from within.

It leapt explosively to the side just in time to avoid taking anything more than a single lash of the Scourge--but there was a slight unsteadiness to the dodge, the creature skittering slightly across the forest floor in contrast to is previously precise motions. Claws dug into the ground to correct course, and Ragnarok charged headlong at Pen with a scream and a swing.

It's a desperate blow, full of channeled rage and pain, but a square one--and despite being all the Cie'th had to give, was a shadow of the strength that threw Cu Chuliann and clove cleanly through trees. The glow in Ragnarok dulled, the crystal reverting to its original black, rock-like texture, and the beast did not stop; it shot past Penelope, fleeing from the floodlight into the depths of the night.

But it wasn't long before another sharp crack! of wood sounded--a small one, more akin to a thick branch than an entire tree. Another, in the distance, and a frustrated growl. And another, and another, growing more distant but more frequent as the fleeing Cie'th kept colliding with (or through) the unpainted landscape at the heart of Recolle's forest.

Then, silence.