15
OTHER
When he blinked the pain was gone completely. Instead of the dark cavern, he stood looking out from a low hill over a burned-out plain, white with ash. The sky, also ash white, filled with grayish mist and billowing white smoke. Only the husks of a few burned trees broke up the mundane landscape. His ears caught up with him after a bit and he heard low moaning and a far-off wail of pain. No wind helped him judge the direction from which the cries came. Over all the strange setting, the stench of demon drifted on the stale air, making him want to gag. The whole atmosphere, oppressive and clingy, made him think of being swallowed by some tremendously huge monster. He could almost imagine he heard the gurgling of its stomach slowly digesting him.
Lar shuddered and looked down. The
