The Senate Building was collapsing around them. The temporal ripple had weakened the Foundation Stone's anchor point, causing the structure to buckle.
"We have to secure the seeds and get out!" Samuel yelled, his amber eyes scanning the chaotic chamber.
Esther rushed to the pouch of Folium Aethel seeds, securing them inside the original iron chest. The remaining seeds in the chest were safe, but the handful Onyeka had intended to steal were still scattered across the floor.
"We can't leave any, Samuel! They are too dangerous!"
"There's no time, Esther!" Samuel shouted, grabbing the chest. He saw the two unconscious time travelers from the past. "We have to tether them back to their timeline! Tunde's command was to use the Golden Leaf Casket's full temporal pulse!"
They raced back to the staircase, dragging the chest and the unconscious Onyeka, while the floor behind them splintered.
When they reached the top of the stairs, the door burst open. Tunde, Obinna, and the entire Pack were waiting, their forms partially shifted, ready to move.
"Alpha! The building is falling!" Tunde cried.
"The Golden Leaf Casket!" Samuel commanded, pointing to the two unconscious figures. "Use the Casket's full temporal pulse! Anchor these travelers and send them back! Now!"
The Pack immediately rushed the Golden Leaf Casket, which had been brought from the vault as a contingency. They focused their combined energy into the Casket, following Tunde's instructions to trigger the temporal pulse.
A massive, brilliant wave of golden light pulsed from the Casket, enveloping the unconscious Aina and the ancient Alpha. The light enveloped them and, with a silent pop, they vanished, safely returned to their correct timeline, their destiny sealed by the Àṣẹ.
The golden light also stabilized the Foundation Stone's anchor point. The trembling in the Senate Building slowly subsided, replaced by a profound, settling stillness. The collapse was averted.