Dateline: Gondwana, Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Follow the Leader

Charnaiz stared at the big, gaping black hole that swirled in midair. He knew what it was – a wormhole. Controlled rifts were used by his people’s mages as a form of transportation – but this one looked extremely unstable, and did not look like it was created by any Gondwanan magic. His wife walked up to him, panting from the exhaustion of the previous battle.
“My love, are we safe? Has the monster been rid of us by this wormhole?”
Charnaiz thought for a moment and walked in circles around the entity. “For now, dear, yes. But it appears that this wormhole leads to another dimension. If we can follow Aquilifon to that dimension and find him there, we can be assured of his destruction.”
Shruiken jumped down from a perch and sheathed his katana. “Charnaiz-san, I would very much like to join you on this hunt for the Destroyer, to avenge the death of my comrades.” He said, as he stared at the bodies of those who lay dead around him. He had witnessed the sucking in of Major Kazansky and Natasha into a wormhole, and they were the lucky ones. The others were killed, and among the corpses lay a mass of entangled purple fur.
“We lost all hope of defeating him once he crushed Mookie.” Charnaiz muttered. “Such a loss.” He picked up a handful of bloody purple fur and clenched it in his fist. “For vengeance.” He said.
Footsteps came from across the room. A hooded woman, heavily tanned from the heat of the Gondwanan desert sun, came into view out of the shadows. This was Valeri, a Gondwanan tribeswoman and local prophetess. “It would be wise for his Majesty to follow after the Destroyer, for the instruments of the prophecy in this world have clearly failed at their appointed task. Perhaps there is new hope to be found in another.”
Charnaiz nodded at the prophetess’ statement and said, “Come, Valeri, you must lead us in finding the Destroyer. None here who is alive knows as much about our adversary as you.”
“Very well, your Majesty. I will do as you wish.” The prophetess bowed and summoned them to her to jump into the worm hole.
“Shruiken, do you remember when you were brought to this world with the wormhole of the prophecy?”
“Hai, Charnaiz-san.”
“Then you will therefore remember how unsettling it feels.”
“It is like the four elements themselves are lashing against you and ripping you apart.”
“Exactly.”
Then, without further hesitation, the four of them jumped in. The rocky chamber around them was then as silent as death.