It ended quickly!
Even as they fought the ground quivered beneath their feet! Then, with a low rumbling, the ledge on which they fought began to slide. White-faced they dropped their weapons, scrambled to reach a firm foothold.
It was to no avail!
Their frightened screams mingled with the growing roar of the falling boulders, lasted only seconds. Demo lay still, unable to rise. The screams had ceased. Now nothing else was heard save the rattle of falling stones. Dust rose from the cliffs edge, quickly blew away by a vagrant breeze.
Demo lay still. It had happened so quickly!
They had stood on the trail, talking, friends it seemed. And in moments they had turned on one another, fought! And now - they were gone.
Dead!
He shuddered.
"Ah, how my heart is beating!" He stood up. "Dead, and in but a few heartbeats of time!" He leaned on his staff, took a deep breath. "And that's what they would have done to me!"
He moved gingerly from his retreat.