It's not the first time Emet-Selch has been blinded by a sudden flare of light. Nor is he unaware of the fact that Elidibus is fully capable of harnessing light as well as darkness. But even so there's a muffled swear as Emet-Selch brings up an arm as if to shield from the blast. (He knows it's too late, even as the light overtakes his vision. But the urge is still there, the desire to shield himself from the blast of light, even knowing it's a distraction and not an attack.)

It helps less than Elidibus might hope. Emet-Selch still has his soulsight, and Elidibus' soul is so, so easy to spot, even amongst the sea of other offworlders.

Emet-Selch waits only long enough for his vision to unblur enough that he won't trip over unfamiliar ground and then he follows, gaze focused unwaveringly on Elidibus' soul. If it is a hunt Elidibus wants (that the predator in him wants) than a hunt it will be, and he is not the one whose feet might well be changing into something else. And with Elidibus returned to his original form, even the advantage of height is yet Emet-Selch's. Height, and the greater stride that comes hand-in-hand with it, driven inexorably on by both the urge afflicting them and the fact that the fear Elidibus is offering is no more than airy nothings. A fleeting taste, there and gone again.

But he can be patient. Will be patient, and Elidibus will find himself hard-pressed to throw Emet-Selch off the scent.