As the earth rumbled and broke apart, terror and dust filled the air, the massive claw resting quietly on the broken ground. Though unable to confirm its kill through touch, the being sensed Lucas's panic just moments prior, and had eased its guard once the attack crashed down. So by the time it noticed Lucas take his stance, and launch a powerful strike of his own, it was too late to recall the shadows. With less than a tenth of its usual strength, the water blasted the being back into the stream, peeling away the paper-thin layer of defense, and ramming its back into the floor.<br/><br/>In that instant, Shift flashed back into being, flooded with waves of pain and panic as he raced to make sense of his situation. Everything was cold, hazy, and overwhelming. It'd all feel too surreal if not for the agonizing pain shooting through his back, and the rapid escape of oxygen from his lungs - every ounce blasted out without any hope of replacement. These brief moments felt like an eternity, during which death seemed to finally offer appeal. But just as Shift was about to give up the ghost, the pressure suddenly stopped. The stream slowly, but surely, resuming its natural pace as Shift floated to the top.<br/><br/>Desperately gasping for air, Shift continued to feed it in and out of his lungs for a full minute. During which, the rest of his mind and body caught up, accounting for injuries and searching for answers. Unable to find much of the latter, he made his way to the water's edge and slowly struggled onto land before limping his way back to the cabin. But only moments into that endeavor, the crater before him scattered his thoughts, and displaced them with grave concern. Something big had happened here, and he wasn't far from it - whatever "it" was. Scanning around for more clues, he spots a trail of blood and begins to panic. Fighting through the pain, Shift drags himself along the trail, forcing himself to stay alert while on the verge of collapsing.