[viktor is very grateful when the thing lets go, releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding and smacking at it again for good measure as he is attention turned back to jason.

the shaking he notices, placing a hand at jason's elbow in what he hopes is comforting as he collects himself.] My crutch is at your service. [he tries for lightly, though the situation seems to be rapidly getting worse. it's so dark it's hard to see if that creature's slunk away, and the grinding, hissing sound has only gotten louder. familiar even, but he's not wasting time processing that just yet.]

Whatever is happening I think it seems to be trying to stop us from going forward. At least that means we're headed in the right direction.