Crane admired the bravery of Celris, for he knew that others would've ran while they had the chance.  As for Osbourne, well... He wasn't sure if Osbourne was afraid of anything.  The Highbreed seemed to cope extremely well under the given circumstances, and for that, Crane was also grateful.  Another thought that struck him was how if he wanted, Osbourne could simply fly away, and be done with them both.  Whether the thought hadn't struck him, or he stayed for another reason, Crane did not know, or care.  He was just glad he was there.<br/><br/>The serpent eyed them all, sizing it's meal up.  It would lightly sway from back to front, baring it's teeth to let out yet another obnoxious wave of sickening gases.  It's eyes were the color of blood itself, and it's ridiculously large scales could easily prove to be a sizable shield, if one could only obtain one.<br/>Crane's mind worked on overload, thoughts pressing him like an annoying fly.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Why hasn't it attacked?<br/><br/>What <span style="font-weight: bold">is </span>this gas anyway?<br/><br/>Is it harmful?<br/><br/>Is it going to attack at all?</span><br/><br/><br/>Crane thought ass hard as he could, but it was in vain, for he couldn't remember anything about the creature.  Perhaps it wasn't created by his father at all, maybe it was one of<span style="font-style: italic">Her</span>creations.  If only he could find a single sliver, a single memory....<br/><br/>It was faint, but it was there.  Long ago, when the thoughts of time and space formed inside of him, accumulating into the knowledge of all living things, he was witness to a single image.  A crude carving on sandstone of the snake.  Few Alune had taken shelter in the Dry-lands, but those who had left a warning to all who entered.  Several years after the Shattering, at the start of the Feral's appearance, a stone mural was found alone in a canyon, with a picture of a snake eating three men at once.  No one had thought much of it then, believing it to be a heathen's creation, in an attempt to worship some other god.  Apparently, it wasn't some sort of religious propaganda, but the warnings of those who had encountered the snake before.  It was then he learned something else, not of the serpent, but of it's gas.<br/><br/>Crane's eyes widened with fear, as knowledge of the creatures sick plan came to his head.  He had been moments from destruction, and although he would live on, the others would not.<br/><br/>"Guys," spoke Crane.  "We need to either attack it now, or run.  If we sit around waiting for it to come to us, we will all die.  It's planning to cook us alive, by setting it's gas aflame.  Don't ask how it does it, just know it does."  Crane turned to each of them.  "Make the call, do we run?  Or, do we fight?"