TwoKinds: Dimensional Catastrophe

Part 24: Journey, pt. 2

... Do I sense- Yes, but no. A being equal to my strengths, and more! What mortal could yield so much, and wield it? Is it after me? I mustn't let it stop me. It mustn't kill me... I need reinforcements, fast... The source must perish...

At the camp...

Trace *gasp!*
Keith *yawn* *whispering* What's wrong?
Trace *whispering* I-I has a weird dream, as if...I was...was...
Kyle <The other you?>
Trace *whispering* Y-yeah...
Keith *whispering* Did he say anything?
Trace *whispering* I-it was blurry. The vision was fuzzy, his voice muffled. He sensed me, I think. He wants me...dead...
Kyle <Figures...>
Keith *whispering* Should we leave?
Kyle <Undoubtedly.>

After everyone's awake and as the tent's stored away...

Raine You connected to the other you?
Natani 2 It makes sense, kinda, seeing that you're him, and the other way around.
Flora If he touches you, he'll get scratched!
Sythe "Reinforcements?" He's sending people to kill you!?
Natani 2 Nothing but men-of-wars and sentinels, easy fighters.
Trace But what about the protectors?
Natani 2 They're only slightly tougher, but still easy to beat.
Sythe You fought them before?
Natani 2 Uh-huh.
Flora Alone?
Natani 2 Never. The, uh, organization, or "club," had nearly a hundred members.
Sythe What happened? To the others?
Natani 2 We tried attacking thrice, but lost and lost more members. Before the third, the original crewmembers boasted that the others left behind were either slayed or working with him. At those times, we wouldn't dare say his name. Anyhoo, either they became corpses, serfs, worshippers or a part of his army. And oh yeah, there is an army.
Raine Army?
Natani 2 A full horde of "the five clans of Keidran." I mean all of them! Dogs, Cats, Wolves, Foxes, even Tigers! A massive army to wipe out humans- Wait...

Natani unsheathed her weapons.

Trace What is it?
Natani 2 A threat's coming. Spy or assassin.
Keith Where?
Natani 2 Incoming.

Everyone had their weapons out; fading in were footsteps.

Trace Is that...
Natani 2 Galloping, yes. A man-of-war approaches.

Everyone waited, armed. Suddenly-

Neigh!

A wild horse circled our friends, the man-of-war jumping off and lunged at Trace. Natani threw one of her weapons at the wrist, and it fell to the ground, flat.

Natani 2 Where's Trace's base?

The man-of-war slowly pushed itself up and showed its face.

Natani 2 A woman-of-war, eh? How creative of him-
Keith Wait!
Natani 2 What?
Keith Don't kill her!
Natani 2 Why!?
Sythe Wait, she kinda looks-
Raine Wait, she looks-
Trace Woah, she feels-
Sythe/Raine/Trace familiar.
Flora Haven't we...met her before?
Kyle Wait, is that-
Keith Flora?

The expression on the vixen's face changed from aggression to confusion, with a gasp.

Laura 2 H-how'd you know my name!?
Keith *sigh* In my world, you were my lover.
Laura 2 "Lover!?" I serve nobody but Trace!
Trace Then answer to me.
Laura 2 W-w-what...?
Trace Where is the fortress?
Laura 2 H-h-how!?
Trace Please, tell me.
Laura 2 Have you lost your mind, Lord?
Trace "Lord?" No, I haven't; I am, uh, Trace, but another. You don't have to be his slave-
Laura 2 I love him!
Trace No, you don't!
Kyle He's right, Laura. You're just a pawn in his game.
Laura 2 W-what?
Trace Please, Laura. Tell me where the fortress is.
Laura 2 Is this a delusion? Illusion? A test? Yes, yes, a test! I'll die before I tell you!

Keith ran up to her past everyone and bluntly kissed her. A tear drizzled down Laura's cheek.

Keith Please...
Laura 2 ...
Keith Tell us, where is the fort?
Laura 2 ...
Keith *sigh* Can you show us the way?
Laura 2 *nod*
Keith Please, lead on...
Kyle Impressive.
Trace/Flora/Raine/Sythe/Natani 2 WTF!?!

But with little choice, they followed Laura to the fortress.