Pampaa's heart pounded and fluttered at the same time, unable to keep its pace without stuttering. He felt light-headed. A fizzy pain shot up his neck and into his jaw.
He forced himself to stop running.
Leaning heavily against the wall, Pampaa caught his breath in great shuddering gasps.
"Too old," he muttered, gripped by helpless despair. "I went and got too old for this."
Somewhere up ahead, the monster roared in pain.
Pampaa shuffled forward. Knees popping with every step, he put most of his weight on the wall. He could no longer trust his legs. But his daughter was in trouble. He had to reach her.
Stepping through a heavy bulkhead, Pampaa found the mob of Beards dogpiled on the floor, grappling with something big.
Paras turned to Pampaa. For the first time since he'd met her, she looked frightened. "They're tearing her apart!"