Meiling rushed to the top of the outpost, her heart pounding like a war drum. The ocean surrounded them on all sides, its dark waters churning under the night sky.
Several of her loyal Lan followers joined her up there, their faces pale in the flashing lights. The sirens wailed without end, mixing with the crazy sounds echoing from everywhere. Crashes like thunder, roars that shook the soul, and screams of wind that sounded almost human.
"Look at that!" one follower shouted, a young woman named Maila with wide eyes. She pointed south, where the horizon glowed with unnatural fire. "Buildings... they're just crumbling!"
Meiling squinted into the distance. Far away, on the southern side, tall structures that once dotted the coastline were being tossed aside like children's toys. One by one, they shattered, sending plumes of dust and debris into the air. Her stomach twisted. What force could do that? She turned to the others, seeing their fear etched deep.
