The four of them snapped into high alert in the same instant.
Those without weapons had it immediately appear in their hands.
Lukas's poleaxe came out of his spatial ring already gripped in both hands.
Melody brandished her mace and Akira's flail was ready for anything that came at them.
Karrakas had his bow up with an arrow nocked before he'd even finished realizing what he was hearing.
He held the bow loose, ready to shoot in an instant.
Nobody said anything, their eyes immediately on the darkness ahead of them.
The scratching grew louder and closer, with an uneven, dragging rhythm.
The atmosphere was tense. Here they were, waiting in the light, while whatever was coming was in the darkness.
This meant their opponent would see them before they saw the opponent.
Akira dimmed her sun ball with a thought, and Lukas and Melody followed her lead, the three lights fading to a low glow that lowered their visibility.
