"And the damage is irreversible," Sedriil concluded in a heavy, broken voice.
Garen let go of Noroa, who had not stopped sobbing since she heard the word, "crippler," and nearly retched. "Oh, god … Meri," He managed to cough out, through tears of his own.
"Meri … no …" Alaema croaked, leaning over her sister and then wailing piteously. Sedriil ultimately had to pull her away, but Alaema merely turned around and embraced her least-liked brother, crying along with him. Tescadji and Jenius could only look on, grieving silently for their loss, not knowing what else to do. This sudden change of events had curtailed even their well-ingrained survival training.
But Jenius was once more reminded that the mob of rioters had not yet given up, as over the dissonant wails of family and loved ones, he became aware of whispers from outside.
"Did you get 'em?"
"I think so."
"Prime the thing again!"
"I can't; the power cells are drained, you idiot!"
"Then let's just rush 'em! I don't hear anything; they have to be hiding!"
Jenius' teeth clenched in an all-consuming fury. Humans, as elves saw them, could be loud, unruly, uncouth, and dangerously passionate, but to have such callous disregard for life as to retain bloodlust while the victims were aggrieved was too much to bear.
He had been prepared to meet the remains of the mob imself, but the ensuing roar that shook the walls of the house, tore all fury from his mind.
Family and all were shaken from their grief as a second peal of the thundering roar, emitted by Krako -now enraged to animalistic insanity- created a miniature earthquake that knocked the pictures from the wall.
"No … Krako, no! Don't give in!" Aldrec pleaded with the dragon, quickly turning to grab him, but he stopped, realizing his efforts were in vain. Krako's eyes flashed a harsh, blazing red. He was already twice as large as he was before, no longer resembling a child, but some horrendous gargoyle, with scales that now covered his entire body. He bore his fangs in full glory, which stood out in the midst of a mouthful of teeth that had become just as sharp.
He bellowed another deafening roar, and quickly overpowered Aldrec. Despite his friend's pleas, Krako leaped forward, and bounded through the window, his forearms now connected to his torso by a membranous flap. He tore through the remnants of the drapes, sending them, railing and all, clattering loudly to the floor amidst the fragments of glass.