Through Shadow and Tar

Kira winced as the sticky tar clung to her hands, its acrid heat seeping through her gloves. She pulled harder on the rope tied around Yaren’s waist, her arms trembling with effort.

“Stop squirming!” Jenric snapped, his teeth gritted as he braced against the pull. “You’re making it worse.”

“Maybe if I wasn’t sinking into this death pit, I wouldn’t be squirming!” Yaren shot back, his voice tight with panic. The tar had already reached his knees, and it wasn’t just pulling him down—it was burning him.

“Focus, all of you!” Nyssa growled, her sharp gaze darting between the group and their surroundings. “We don’t have time to argue.”

Malric adjusted his grip on the rope, muscles straining as he planted his feet firmly against the uneven ground. “On three. Everyone pull together. One... two... three!”

The group heaved as one, their combined strength finally breaking Yaren free of the tar’s grip. He tumbled forward, coughing and shaking, as Kira and Selina caught him by the arms.