[So there were two Lions now.]
Mortarion blinked. The group stopped here; they had originally been walking through the forest. After ruling out Slaanesh's influence, it had felt like some grand adventure described in a children's book, with them periodically fighting Monstrous Creatures that sprang from the dense woods.
It was obvious that those beasts were panicking now—so much so that they only wanted to flee for their lives, without even realizing they had encountered a temporary squad composed of four Primarchs.
And now, the forest had vanished into thin air. An abrupt fissure had split open across the earth, bottomless, its edges smooth without the slightest unevenness.
A blue glow that Mortarion despised flickered at the very bottom of the abyss. The Primarch was certain—it was Guilliman's Psychic Power, perhaps mixed with Tzeentch's.
Lion El'Jonson said nothing. The Lion who had led them here turned and looked at Lorgar.
[It's here. The other me is below.]
The Exiled One paused. As for why it was that Lion—because this one did not want to face Guilliman, while on the other hand, the fate line he occupied would likely contaminate him. Thus, the two old Lions had decided to exchange their respective tasks.
[And he is summoning the Lord of Change—Guilliman is cooperating with him, though something seems to have gone wrong.]
The Exiled One turned back, once more staring gravely at the abyss leaking blue light.
[The Emperor...]
he said slowly.
[He seems to have followed us here as well, but I can't be certain. The other me said he felt the Emperor's power—but not all of it.]
Mortarion's eyelid twitched sharply. Now he knew where his vague sense of foreboding had come from.
Beside him, Lorgar innocently tilted her head.
What about the others?
[Konrad Curze is holding off