There's a familiarity to the flickering of the wings, and that call is still deep in Masque's stomach. 

Masque can't help the inhuman noise they give in response, although they bite it off quickly.

"We need to end this. Fast."

Not that they're sure they're going to be that much help, they feel rooted to the spot, the call fighting with what they actually want.

Ixion stamps, and threads of lightning surge into the sinspawn, paralysing them. 

Leaving them open for Zveran to go from spawn to spawn, cutting them into pyreflies. 

Some of the sinspawn turn to attack Zveran, Aten and Ixion, the others simply gather around Masque and flicker. 

None of them attack them. 

-Masque flickers. Something not quite human surging through their skin.

"...Masque?"

His distraction is the sinspawn's gain, and they launch spines at him.

Masque moves, disjointed, inhuman, throwing themself between Zveran and the spines.

The spines collect in Masque, and are absorbed entirely. It’s like they were never there. 

“Masque?!”

"Fight now," they snarl, whatever had held them still gone now as they surge forward.

“The spines! Are you hurt?!”

He does as she says, returning to fighting.

"I'm fine."

They don't want to get into this, hadn't wanted to. But they're going to have to. Later.

Zveran worries, but he doesn’t push. 

“They’re just going to keep coming! We need to go!”

They know their illusions won't be as effective, but it'll buy them time to retreat. They spin them out, a dozen different versions of them, stretched across the sand.

The spawn flutter, almost curiously, and gather around each illusion. 

Zveran wastes no time drawing Ixion back, gasping as exhaustion hits him, but pushes through it to grab his pack and start running. 

Masque is close on his heels.

Aten follows over their heads.

Zveran stumbles a few times, breathing hard, but doesn’t let up the pace until they’re back in the forest, putting enough distance between them and the beach. 

Not that anywhere is safe from Sin. 

Well. As safe as they can get. Masque is silent.

Zveran collapses against a tree, breathing hard. 

He doesn’t care, however, how much his stamina is drained, as he turns to look at Masque. “Are...you...okay?”

Masque is quiet for a moment. "I'm fine."

“Masque...talk to me...”