Aries sat crouched, peering down at Numair through the green membrane of the shield, mouth stretched in a humorless smile.

"Now," he said quietly, "if I were you, I'd watch my step."

And then he whispered, slowly:

"Ma

ri"

Numair finally reacted, thrusting his arms out; a bolt of livid greenish light arced off the surface of the shield as he did, forking out at Aries, who leapt clear effortlessly. He landed hard on both feet, seeming generally unaffected by the impact. The black-furred creature, who had been struck dumb, finally seemed to find his voice, looking back and forth between Aries and Numair.

"What the--" and then, apparently realizing what Aries was about to do, hollered, "HEY! Aries, don't you--ARIES!!"

But it was too late. Without another word, Aries plucked the tag reading 'pull to release' hanging from his belt loop. The small ring holding it snapped, and there was a tiny, very bright flash at the spot where it did. A circle of red light appeared in the dirt beneath Aries' feet, a void opened around him, and then he was gone, and the void hummed away into nonexistence.