You're snatched up by the scruff of your cape like a baby meowbeast, and for a moment, you're too startled to move, and then too scared, because Riccin's hauled you all the way up into the air. Falling from up here would be awful, and Riccin's exactly that sort of a jerk.

You jerk on the leash again instead, soft one time and then a split second later, you yank it harder. Where is Castor? You didn't bring Runnin, or Goutof, or Namese for a reason, and that's because out of all of them, Castor's the only one who really gets that it's his job to protect you.

But he's not here, and you can't use your telekinesis without him.

Fear has you pulling as hard as you can manage. When it comes down to it, the leash is a chain, and you wrap it tight, turning your cry from a request to a demand until finally, there's an answering vibration.

Castor emerges over the horizon a few seconds later, approaching at a run.

Castor can't look pale. There's no blood in his veins, no flesh to drain, but maybe he's feeling especially corporeal today, because when he gets close enough to see, his face is drawn, his body is tense, and he's as pale as.. well, a ghost.

"Drones," he says, his voice like he wants to tear something to shreds. He always gets angry when he's scared, angry and a little wondering, like the emotion's new. "We need to go."