| Chapter 10:

| Waking with a screech, the Hethren called Drass rose to its feet and fixed its red eyes on a group of brethren. The OblaKan had spoken to him and shown him a great foe. A Zagoran had come to their home in the dream realm, and with him, brought the creature they called the Realm Walker. Those the OblaKan spoke to knew the Realm Walker as the closest thing to death that could have life and form, though Drass could not see why since the creature was even frailer than a Zagoran!

| Drass approached the other Hethren that had accompanied him to hunt earlier that day. They were gathered around what seemed to be a fresh kill - one made while Drass had walked the realm. The Hethren tore at it, ripping away parts of the beast and devouring it ravenously. As Drass came upon them, he swatted one aside and tore out a large slab of meat for himself. The Hethren who had fallen screeched madly and clawed his way back to the kill to get what he could of it. After Drass finished the meat, he spoke to the others. “AAaaahhhbllaaaaakannn hasssssss sssshaawwnn Drrrrassssssss new eeeeeennemmee. AAaaahhhbllaaaaakannn waaaaaaaant us to keeeeeeeellllllllll new eeeeeeeeeennemeeee - tooooo keeeeelllllll eeeeeeeennemeeeee’s Seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeker frieeeeeeeeend!” Every word seemed to screech itself free of the Hethren’s lips, ending in a growl. “Commmmmmmme… weeeeeeeeeeee musssssssssssssssst finnnnnnnnnd themmmm - musssssssssst keeeeeeeeeeellllllll themmmm all!”

| The Hethren pack became a screeching fury of claws and teeth, cheering the thought of death upon their enemies. One by one, they left the carcass of their kill behind - already picked clean by their ravenous greed - to follow Drass to the promise of blood.

***

| A gentle nudge was all it took for Eric to rouse Rothar from his slumber. The Seeker’s piercing cyan eyes opened and sent their usual chill down Eric’s back. Eric smiled down at Rothar “Sorry to wake you so soon, but when I was coming back from Geff’s, Massic stopped me and wanted me to tell you we would leave when the cover matches its shadow.” Eric rose from his crouch by the Seeker’s bedside and went to the stove to heat some water. “I’ll make some more Jie - Coffee always helped me get my head on straight when I got up.”

| Rothar sat up and stretched his powerful limbs. “Thank you Eric, but, how could jie straighten your head? And how must you have slept to need it straightened when you woke?”

| Eric let out a laugh. He scooped some grinds of the jie beans into the silver heating cup. “No no… I meant that it helped me focus better mentally - you know, sharpen my wit.” He poured some water into the silver jie pot and placed it on the stove. It reminded him a little of way Turkish coffee was made since the water and grinds all met in the same place. He looked back at Rothar, who was returning one of his inquisitive gazes.

| “I’ve noticed that you often use a loosely related metaphor to represent a state of being or mentality, rather than just say what you mean - do all humans do that?” The pale gaze held Eric questioningly while the human took two of the silver mugs that had been cleaned earlier for the jie.

| Though he didn’t mean to directly, Rothar’s lack of exposure to Eric’s culture made Eric often think about little facets of it, just like this one. “Hmm… Well, a lot of people do it, that’s for sure. I guess it just makes it a more creative way of saying it. I’m not really sure how we started. I said one to Geff and Waverek earlier today too - left them a bit confused, I think. I should try not to do that with you guys.”

| The Seeker chuckled and nodded. “As you wish, though I find them interesting. How is Geff this daybreak?”

| “He’s still hurting pretty bad. I took off the old bandages, cleaned the wound, and redid the salve and dressings. Waverek had to hold him down though… it… it was hard to do Rothar… like, I mean he was really hurting and I didn’t like making it worse for him, but I knew I had to.” Eric cringed a little, still hearing Geff’s screams in his head.

| The pale gaze became more sympathetic, but held Eric still. “Such are the things you will begin to feel as you learn the Seeker ways, Eric. We give aid when and where we can, and never is it easy to be burdened with the suffering of others.”

| Sighing, Eric nodded “Yeah… sure… I suppose it gets easier with time too.”

| “No.” Rothar stood and walked over to his human companion, placing a hand on his shoulder a moment before seating himself at the table. “It never gets easier to see your family suffer. Time only affords you a mind that is more accustomed to realizing that you must continue on, doing the good that you can, and accepting that which you cannot change.”

| There was a long moment of silence as Eric thought about his strange turn of fate. Rothar watched the human gaze distantly at the floor before him. The look in his eyes showed sadness and confusion, but under the circumstances, Rothar sympathized with why. “Eric… this is not an easy life, but you will not have to make this journey alone. I will do everything I can to help you.”

| The warming words from Rothar did little to brighten the dark and confusing path that stretched out before Eric, who tried not to think about it anymore right now. “Thanks.” The water in the jie pot had come to a slight boil, so Eric lifted it away from the stovetop and placed it on the table. “How long ‘till we have to go?”

| Rothar stood and walked over to one of the small windows, and peered outside. The shadows were still longer than the covers were high, but not by very much. He returned to the table, speaking to Eric as he went. “Not long. About the same amount of time you spent in Waverek’s cover. We will have out jie, then we must ready provisions and go.”

| Again, Rothar bore that quizzical look about him. The pale eyes regarded Eric face, and a slight smile appeared on Rothar’s. “Please forgive the strangeness of the question, but I cannot help asking - why is your face getting furry?”

| Eric reached up and felt his cheeks. He had forgotten all about shaving in his last few day’s adventures and there was now quite a lot of stubble on him. Ah crap… I must look terrible. Wonder if they have anything like razors. “Oh… heh heh… I need to shave. Male humans have facial hair, but most of us shave it off each daybreak. Unfortunately, I don’t have the special blade I need to do it here.”

| “Ah.” Rothar walked back over to Eric to get a closer look. “Human’s don’t like hair then?”

| The two silver cups were placed on the table at each of their places, and Eric poured the jie into each. “I wouldn’t say all humans don’t, and there’s more hair on us than just our faces, as you likely noticed. I personally don’t like it, and wish I could get rid of it, but I can only shave it off. Maybe Graven could make a blade that. . .” When Eric looked up, Rothar’s clawed hand was almost touching his cheek.

| “I may be able to give you that wish, if you still trust my effort to try.” Rothar held his hand out, as Eric nodded subtly, seeming surprised as the sudden gesture. With the nod, Rothar gently placed the big clawed hand on Eric’s cheek, and closed his pale eyes. The faint red glow of the Seeker’s jantra surrounded his hand, and he slowly began moving it along Eric’s face - over all the places where the strange facial hair grew.

| Eric closed his eyes. He could sense the jantra there… or at least he was sure he could. Rothar’s touch was incredibly gentle and soothing. The Zagoran’s hand slid slowly from his jaw line to his cheek, then over his lips and chin. Rothar’s hands were warm and the fine scaly skin felt wonderful as it slid along. The big hand crossed over to his other cheek, slid down to his jaw line, and lifted away. Eric’s eyes opened and he took what he figured was the first breath since Rothar started.

| The Seeker opened his pale eyes as well, and took his seat at the table. Jantra’s blessing was growing within him again - the rest had definitely helped. “Use your hand to brush away the hairs - they should come loose at your touch.”

| Sure enough, as Eric ran his hand over his face, the hairs that had been on him fell easily away. “Wow… that puts my razor to shame! Will that have to be done every morning?”

| “No Eric. The hairs should not grow back again unless you use Jantra to reverse what I have done.” Rothar lifted his jie cup and took a sip.

| Damn, I kinda enjoyed the way it felt. Eric smiled “Amazing - thank you.” He chuckled “Jeez, I should get you to get rid of the rest of it too.”

| “I doubt my strength would hold in doing that much, but if you wish, I could do it when we return.” Rothar took another sip with a very matter-of-fact look on his face. Strangely enough, he was excited at the notion of being able to run his hands along Eric’s body - it was somehow fulfilling, though he felt it best not said lest Eric feel uncomfortable.

| Eric sat down at the table and began to drink his jie. Jeez… he’d actually do it! Weird… wonder if he thought it was nice too? In between sips, he answered “I was just joking - I wouldn’t ask that of you now, and I’m surprised you did what you did as it is. Doesn’t that weaken you a lot?”

| With the bottom of the mug pointed upwards, Rothar took down the last of the jie, and set his mug on the table. “The way of Jantra can be complicated Eric. Creation, destruction, living and nonliving things all draw on it in different magnitudes. The size of the task at hand also draws on it differently. What I did with you was alter the way you body behaves by telling your face not to grow hair anymore; destruction of something living. It takes more effort than working with non-living things, but on an area as small as your face, it was not that draining an effort.”

| Sipping his jie with a furrowed brow, Eric tried to figure how it was that jantra was so precise in its demands. He wondered how he was ever to figure any of it out, but at least he had a good teacher. “How can you vary what you need though? More than that, it would have had to tell the hair producing cells in my face to shutdown somehow - how do you tell it what to do?”

| Rothar chuckled. “Good - an eager learner. With the candle, you could sense what needed to be done, could you not?” Eric nodded. “It is the same with other things - feeling and focus guild jantra. Eager as you may be, this is a vast topic, and one better discussed after our journey.”

| The rest of the morning moved quickly. After finishing their jie, the two friends began packing food and water to bring along on the journey. Rothar explained that the offering was made through a gate to the Thira realm, which is where Dar Souljeth supposedly was. The gates could only be opened at a natural focal point of energy, which randomly blinked in and out of existence as the energies of Sioleth shifted. Rothar claimed that he could sense the presence of them, as all Seekers could, and they were lucky that the nearest gate-ready location had, so far, stayed relatively close. They strapped on their sword belts and weapons, shouldered the provisions, and were off.

| The pair met Massic along with two other Zagoran’s - Fessar and Zio. They were all armed with their swords and Fessar and Zio carried long spears as well. Massic and Rothar clasped each other’s forearm in greeting. Massic was first to speak. “Has the human made sure you are rested my Seeker? And is the gate still close for the offering?”

| “Yes. Eric has been more than kind in helping me to gain back my strength. I believe I can make the journey without help.” Rothar smiled down to Eric then looked back to Massic. “The gate has not moved yet - though a shift could be close at hand.”

| “Fine.” Massic turned and motioned for the others to follow. “Let us not waste any time then.”

| The party set off through the opening in the thorn bushes, supply packs shouldered, and Massic carrying the large sack of Hethren ashes. Eric carried the supply sack for Rothar to help make the going easier. He just hoped that the gate wouldn’t shift to a further location.

***

| By late afternoon Eric already felt his legs burning and shoulder aching from the distance. The pace Massic set was gruelling, though the Zagoran’s didn’t seem affected yet. Eric figured that a journey like this was a lot more common for them than it was for him. After all, Calgary had city transit.

| Rothar was fairing better than Eric expected, though a look of strain was starting to show on his wise face. Still, the pale eyes stared distantly ahead, filled with purpose and lost thought. Nothing had been said since they left the village. The trek seemed to be filled with a grim sense of purpose, or perhaps a sacred one. The only communication was the odd glance back from Massic to Rothar, who would nod, and continue on. The terrain was mostly the same as the village - mostly white sand with small patches of bush dotting the landscape. It began to change a little around the third hour into the walk with the sand becoming a little more soil like.

| The one joy that was at least able to help Eric forget about how much his legs hurt was the rhythmic rising and falling of Massic’s feet in front of him. They were large and powerful looking - Eric knew that better than anyone. He wondered if, in time, he’d ever get the opportunity to massage them as well. Best not to ever ask though, he thought.

| The sun continued to sink lower in the sky until Eric figured dusk was only about an hour away. It was then that Rothar spoke with a weary voice. “I can feel the gate fading - I don’t think we can make it before it shifts.”

| The party came to a halt and all turned to the Seeker. Massic set down the ashes and folded his arms across his powerful chest. “You had best find out for sure - there is little sense on continuing this trek if it has shifted beyond the days walking distance.”

| Seating himself in his usual zen-like way, Rothar closed his pale eyes and placed his hands atop each of his knees. He was trying to feel for the exact answer, Eric knew, though it was pretty obvious in this case. All waited in silence whilst the Seeker reached out over the land. It lasted only a minute before the pale cyan eyes came open again. “It has shifted, of that there is no doubt. It lays almost another day’s travel from here, just to the right of the Guidestar.”

| “Then we shall find a suitable place to camp out for the night.” Massic picked up the ash sack again, and turned to head for a small area of bush and small trees to their left. “Come, we need find ourselves provisions for the extra stay.”

| Eric extended his hand and helped Rothar to his feet. “I take it that means we need to catch our food for the extra day…seeing as we only have a night’s provisions?”

| Rothar nodded “Yes - we will hunt enough to provide a meal tonight, and use the supplies for the journey back.” Rothar looked at the whitening skin on Eric’s face. “That bothers you somehow?”

| “Um… well yeah, a little. In my world, you just go to a store and buy stuff, you don’t have to hunt and kill it yourself. Most of us have never hunted a day in our lives… or not in Canada anyway.” Eric shifted the pack of supplies to his other shoulder, not that it much mattered at this point since both were aching terribly. The two continued on with the others towards the potential night camp.

| A confused look crossed Rothar’s face. “How then do these stores have meat - do some humans farm animals in enough numbers to provide for the others?

| Eric smiled “Yep - we have lots of farms were animals and crops are grown on a massive scale to feed the humans that don’t grow or hunt their own food.”

| “All in exchange for what you call money, I imagine.” Rothar had slowed slightly, purposely distancing himself from the others for the sake of a more private conversation.

| “Um… well yeah, money buys the food, which pays the farmers for their efforts, then they can buy things they need too.” Eric noticed Rothar’s look change to a saddened one.

| The Seeker’s eyes shifted from the others to Eric. “Eric… what happens when one has no money for the farmers.”

| The frailties of human society became suddenly apparent again. Eric frowned “They… can’t buy it, and need to try and get help so they don’t starve… like get help from the government, if they qualify for it.” My god… Zagorans wouldn’t do that to each other, would they? “Um… I guess it’s not very admirable, is it?”

| Rothar sighed “No… but then you have a populous ten thousand times our own. Perhaps our ways wouldn’t work in the human world.”

| For a moment, Eric was silent, thinking. More like most of us are too fucking greedy to give anything away out of compassion unless it’s a tax write-off. He had never liked a lot of things about society - too much greed, too much corruption, and being in his land, despite its desperate troubles, seemed to only make the problems of home all the worse. The more he was here, the less he wanted to be home. “Rothar, your ways are to be truly admired because it’s something human’s have never really achieved as a race. Too many of us are caught up in getting as much for ourselves as possible without a care in the world for the others.”

| The Seeker actually bore a look of shock. “You don’t seem that way, Eric. And such a race of beings with such a fantastic rate of progression couldn’t be so horrible.”

| “I’m not that way, but that’s rare. Maybe it’s why I’m here, who knows. As for the race, most of that fantastic progression was in the pursuit of war, money or unfriendly competition. That’s it.” Eric shook his head and was feeling a welling sense of embarrassment and anger toward the follies of his Society. Every misdeed he could think of was flooding into his head - the World Wars, political scandals, arms races - the list seemed endless.

| Rothar’s inquisitive look had returned. “Wars? Unfriendly competition? What events transpired to bring about such unrest amongst your people?”

| Eric gritted his teeth and returned a stern look to Rothar. “Never mind! I don’t want to talk about it.”

| For the first time Rothar remembered, his human friend had been angered to the point of not wanting to talk. Something about the human race was profoundly bad enough to for him keep silent about. The Zagoran felt bad, having pushed the subject matter onward. He didn’t want Eric to have to dwell on any more stressful thoughts than what had had already been placed upon his shoulders.

| The walk to the small bush continued in silence. Upon reaching it, Massic sent Fessar one way and Zio the other to scout for the best camp spot, while the rest of the party continued forward. In a short time the other two returned and exchanged their findings. Zio had found a clearing just large enough in the stubby trees to provide room, while still affording decent cover about them. Turning the follow, they were all soon in the little clearing. Provision sacks were unpacked and bedding pelts lain along the ground. Eric hoped the night wouldn’t get too cold.

| As Eric was laying his pelt, Massic turned to him. “Human… why not gather some wood for a fire while we prepare to hunt.” Massic picked up the spear Fessar had been carrying and tested the point.

| “Yes sir.” Eric quickly proceeded into the bush, gathering all the wood he could find before the sun vanished on the horizon. In a way, he was glad to be alone and away from Rothar. He already felt terrible for giving such an angered response and was worried that the ensuing silence meant he had offended his mentor. I’ll tell him I’m sorry when I get back… I hope he’s not mad.

| When Eric returned, Massic and Zio were not there. Fessar and Rothar sat with their backs to a large and ancient looking fallen tree, conversing quietly, though Fessar seemed almost nervous. Eric hoped nothing was wrong. As he entered the clearing, Fessar stood “Ah, here is our firewood at last.” He went to Eric and helped take part of the bulging load from his hands. “I’ll make the fire for us since Massic wanted to hunt with my spear. Why don’t you two relax.”

| Eric set the remainder of the wood down in a pile by a ring of rocks that had been prepared. “Sure.. thanks.” He walked over to Rothar while Fessar busied himself with preparing the fire. “What’s with him? He seems a bit nervous.”

| Rothar grinned “Many are uncomfortable under the gaze of a Seeker - he has always been especially bothered by it, though I’m unsure why.”

| Eric chuckled. Of course… why else. “Hey… I should apologize for being angry back there. I just don’t like a lot of what my race has done in history. It makes me wish I weren’t one of them sometimes.”

| The Seeker held up his clawed hand “That is alright, I should have not draw on a topic that brought about discomfort. Forgive my inquisitiveness.”

| With a giant stretch, Eric yawned and sat down beside Rothar with his back to the fallen tree. “I’m just glad you aren’t mad. I thought I might have offended you.”

| The wise Seeker laughed and placed his hand warmly on Eric’s shoulder “We seem to spend a great deal of time worrying over our potential offences to one another, yes?”

| Eric smiled and reached up to hold his hand over Rothar’s. “Yeah… kinda silly, aren’t we?”

| “Nonsense.” Rothar turned his gaze from the growing fire that Fessar had started to meet Eric’s. “We care very much about the other. That is a powerful bond and trust, hardly silly.”

| As usual, the Seekers words were true. With Rothar, Eric had found a bond of friendship that was strong enough to transcend fears and uncertainties, and immerse him into a civilization that instilled a sense of purpose about his life. He cared immensely for Rothar, and was realizing it was the same for the Seeker somehow. Eric smiled, returning Rothar’s strange gaze. “I’m glad we have it.” The smile returned by the Seeker warmed Eric inside, as Rothar’s hand had warmed his shoulder.

| The pale gaze shifted back to the flames with a distant stare. “It will not take Massic and Zio long to return with our meal. We should enjoy the quiet inaction until then.” He stretched his powerful body from limb to limb, ending with a long and beautiful flaying of his toes.

| Humph… sure… tease me Eric huffed. As it finished, his eyes lingered back to Rothar, who was grinning at him. Eric chuckled “Thank you - most enjoyable.” Rothar nodded and gave them another stretch before both reclined comfortably to stare at the warming fire.

| Fessar busied himself with tasks here and there - anything he could find in order to avoid having to converse with the Seeker and his unnerving stare. The human, Eric, seemed the only one besides Massic that wasn’t bothered by the ghostly eyes. In fact, the human and Rothar seemed to interact quite warmly - almost affectionately. Strange things for a strange Zagoran as far as Fessar was concerned.

| Massic and Zio soon returned with three slain animals. They were not quite like anything Eric had seen before - the closest he could even think of was a cloning experiment gone wrong with a hog, chipmunk, and deer! Rothar called the beast a Havlik - apparently very tasty. The animals were skinned, dinner was prepared, and sleep soon fell upon the camp. Just before they all committed to rest, Rothar meditated and reached out with his Jantra to feel for danger - in case they needed to post a sentry. Nothing was felt, and all were assured that the night would be restful. Sleep took them all soon after.

***

| Sitting up from his bed, Eric glanced about. It was the cover, back in the village. For a moment, he felt disoriented, then remembered his journey. He was dreaming - he was sure of it. He looked about, and things seemed real, like the dream realm, only here, he wasn’t hunting for Hethren, but dreaming of the only home he now knew. He felt groggy, even in the dream. Hmmm… must be a vivid dream. Too bad Rothar’s not in it. The thought seemed to invoke reality in the dream, and Rothar was suddenly lying asleep in his bed pelts.

| For a while, Eric starred at him, swearing he kept winking in and out of the dream as his groggy mind tried to hold him there. The Seeker was beautiful to behold, even in this groggy state. Eric watched the rhythmic pulsing of Rothar’s chest, and traced out the contour of his agile form as it lay in rest. Eric shuffled over to him, and knelt by him.

| In this world, Eric was very alone. Rothar seemed to be the one that sympathized and understood him the most - even the foot thing. Eric was beginning to feel much greater feelings toward his savour, his friend, and his mentor. In consciousness, Eric’s logical reasoning fought against the growing emotions towards Rothar, but in his dream, they caused only a flicker of hesitation. Very carefully, Eric laid down beside Rothar with his chest facing the Seeker’s. He closed his eyes and held his arm around Rothar, and smiled as the Zagoran gently did the same to him. It felt right - comforting and safe, and… maybe exciting, except for his grogginess. He concentrated on Rothar, trying to mentally hold his form steady in his dream. His head rested gently at Rothar’s neck, with the big Zagoran’s chin curved neatly along his forehead.

| Rothar lifted his clawed hand and started to run his claws softly through Eric’s hair from forehead and back, over and over again. Eric sighed - it felt wonderful, or at least in his dream it did. He always loved it when girls ran their nails through his hair, though they barely compared to Rothar’s claws. Stroke after stroke, the claws massaged his scalp until it tingled with a wonderful sensation. When Eric opened his eyes, Rothar’s pale eyes were looking at him longingly, which surprised him. They smiled back to one another, but Eric felt a sense of loss, knowing that it would be gone when he woke. As if thought were giving into reality again, Rothar vanished, and Eric faded back into the real world.

***

| Morning came with a light dew - noticed by Eric since they had slept outdoors for the first time since his arrival. The small bush they had chosen for shelter was alive with the chirping of brightly coloured birds, and the scurrying of funny looking little rodents. By the looks of it, he was the first one up, until he saw Massic sitting at the edge of the bush, starring distantly at the open lands before them. He seemed lost in though, as he was after the battle with the Hethren. Eric wondered what the Zagoran leader was thinking about, but really didn’t think asking was a wise idea. Instead, he busied himself with getting more fuel for the fire and getting the morning rations. Zio had hung them in one of the larger bush-like trees to keep the animals from getting into them.

| Soon after, the others awakened, and joined in preparing the daybreak rations. Massic spoke briefly of their travel plans with Rothar, who confirmed that they had another half-day’s walk ahead of them. Eric noticed that Rothar was looking at him a great deal between each of their chores, or maybe he was just imagining it, since he felt a little nervous upon the conscious realization of what had happened in his dream. That was weird… I mean, it was nice, but yikes… how could I even hope to do that? Why would he? Arg… I think the heat in this place is frying my logic nerves. Eric was carrying a water skin to bring to Rothar, who was tending the cook fire.

| “Here’s some water to wet your throat with - mine was a bit dry this morning, so I would assume yours is too.” Eric smiled and held out the skin for him.

| Rothar poked at the sticks of the fire with a long stick - trying to arrange them more evenly. He smiled and said “A thoughtful assumption, and a correct one. Just a moment Eric - I will have some as soon as I finish getting the fire burning evenly.” The Seeker was very precise, distributing sticks and coals evenly about to create a smooth cooking surface. “I hope my assumption about stroking your hair last night was correct as well.”

| Eric gasped and dropped the water skin, which landed and spurted water over part of Rothar’s efforts. Massic’s head whipped around at the sudden hissing of the cook fire, and he scowled at Eric. “Water and fire do not mix human! And I should think that cooking will be very difficult over sopping wet coals.”

| The Seeker’s calm pale gaze met Massic’s “It was only an accident My Lord, it has barely touched the coals.” Massic huffed and dismissed them both, going back about his business.

| There was a sick feeling in Eric’s stomach again. How could that have been real? It wasn’t the dream realm, was it? He sat down, feeling like his legs were going to give. “But… how - it wasn’t the realm, and I thought it was just my own dream… I mean, I thought you were just my own imagination.” Eric was turning a pale white again. “I’m sorry… I didn’t know it was really you.”

| Rearranging some of the coals around to compensate for the spilled water, Rothar finished and sat down beside Eric. “The dream realm can be many things. When those like us dream, even normally, we can call upon one another, the way you did with me last night.” There was silence as Rothar finished and Eric sat looking quite pale, not knowing what to say. “Eric, why do you apologize for something of such profound meaning?”

| He’s not mad? Eric looked up to Rothar, meeting his pale eyes as best he could. “I… I did what I was longing to do but only because I thought it wasn’t really you. I mean, I wouldn’t think of doing that in real life, just that, I felt that in the dream… I could… that it…” Eric closed his eyes in frustration. “I don’t know. I wanted to, and I’m sorry.”

| Looking monetarily at the others in the camp, Rothar found them busy listening to a set of ideas from Massic. He looked back to Eric, putting his hand on the human’s shoulder. “Eric, do you have feelings for me that transcend beyond friendship?”

| Oh shit! I can’t believe he asked me that! The upset feeling in Eric’s stomach was turning into a knot. What could he say? There was something there - much as he couldn’t figure it out, there were feelings in him for his Zagoran friend - strong feelings. What would happen if he admitted to it? How could the others even accept it… or him. What if it wasn’t allowed for Rothar to have anyone in his life? His mind raced.

| The Seeker lowered his voice. “Eric, I must know - I will not tell anyone of your answer, but it is something that should not be hidden between friends.”

| Closing his eyes, Eric whispered his answer “Yes.” He was shaking, despite the heat of the morning. He wanted to run, embarrassed about himself and his answer for reasons he couldn’t explain. The growing fear of resentment was suddenly quelled as Rothar’s hand gently closed over his own with the words “As do I.”

| After a moment, Rothar stood, and leaned down to Eric. “I am glad we have overcome the inhibitions cloaking our feelings Eric, but this is not the time or place to realize it further.” The Seeker picked up one of the rations sacks and took out some tremp bread and supplies.

| Eric nodded “I know.” He still felt odd, though not so horribly now. He was in was shock - shocked that he had admitted what he felt, and more shocked to find that Rothar felt the same way! He wondered how or why it could be like this, but then it really didn’t matter. “Rothar?” The Seeker turned to him amidst his daybreak meal preparations. “I’m glad I’m not alone.”

| The Seeker smiled “Neither of us need be alone now. Come, help me with the meal work - perhaps Massic will better his mood with some food in his belly.”

***

| The two friends had prepared a meal in short order, which was quickly consumed in the hopes of an early departure. Massic’s mood had not really improved, though Eric was beginning to think some wiring was cross in the big leader’s head that just managed to keep him permanently irritated. The day wore on, much hotter than the one before, and the group often rested to rehydrate themselves. Eric seemed to have it harder than any of them, not used to the long treks, and not nearly as physically efficient as the Zagorans.

| The party reached a clearing in the terrain that contained some rocky outcrops. Rothar halted everyone and pointed to the centre of it, shadowed by the towering rock structures behind it “This is where we must make our offering. Stand here whilst I open the gate.” He turned to Eric “Eric, I will need your help.” Eric’s looks of confusion was quickly answered. “Opening the gate in my weakened state would require more rest, but with your help, we could quickly manage it.”

| Massic didn’t seem quite as optimistic. “You want the human to help? How is he to aid a Seeker? The questions were barked out while Massic starred down Eric defiantly.

| “He holds in him the ability to wield Jantra - I have tested him. He is more than you think him to be, My Lord. You must trust me.” The matter-of-factly answer of the Seeker left little room for rebuttal. Massic huffed and nodded. Rothar and Eric walked to the centre of the rocks, where Rothar motioned for Eric to sit down. “Sit here, and concentrate as you did yesterday morning. Think of me, in the heart of your mind, and think of an ebbing flow of energy that travels to me from you.”

| Eric gulped “Umm… alright, I’ll try. I remember the feeling - I’ll concentrate on it and work from there, right?”

| The Seeker nodded and sat down a few paces from him, facing him. “Close your eyes, and feel the Jantra within you come alive! Then concentrate on me.” Rothar’s pale eyes closed and he took a deep breath.

| Concentrate on him…heh… that’s easy enough! Eric closed his eyes and relaxed himself. He thought about the feeling of the Jantra from the other morning - about the dream realm, and how he could sense so much in both states. Slowly, he could feel his senses rising, and the tingling sensation fill his body. He began to picture a red luminous fog of Jantra in his mind, drifting over to where he knew Rothar was sitting.

| The other Zagoran’s watched in amazement as a red glow enveloped both their Seeker, and the human, Eric. A glowing mist began to rise around Eric and drift to Rothar, where it dissipated and made the glow of his Jantra all the brighter. Rothar raised a hand to the space between himself and Eric and a flash of light fired from his claws where it seemed to hang in the air between the two. It twisted and spun, and began to change shape until it had grown into a pulsing ellipse of haze surrounded by a brilliant light. Rothar’s pale eyes opened slowly and he stood. “Come into the presence of Dar Souljeth!”

| Eric opened his eyes, and stood in his spot. Rothar motioned for him to remain at the gate side as he was. He couldn’t believe his eyes - before him shimmered a hole in reality! It was hazy at its centre, and he could swear there was something in there… a place of some sort. More over, he was even more astonished that he helped in creating it! Whoa… this would freak out the scientists back home!

| Massic approached the gate with Fessar and Zio at his sides. He held forth the sack of Hethren ashes and boomed “My creator, I bring you the ashes of tyranny - of evil removed. Take them, if you will it, and turn them to goodness.” He walked to the base of the gate, knelt and gently heaved the bag into the shimmering gate. It flickered and pulsed as the ash hit it, and vanished in its hazy depths. Massic rose, and took a few steps backward.

| For a moment, there was nothing, then the shimmering seemed to increase. In an instant, two white bolts of lightning lanced out and struck Rothar’s eyes, and continued. His body remained absolutely still, as the powerful energy surged through him. Eric’s jaw had only a moment to drop before two more bolts lanced out and connected to his eyes as well.

| The three remaining Zagoran’s backed quickly away in fear. They had all seen the bolts before - it happened every time an offering was made, since it was the method that Dar Souljeth used to return power to their Seeker, but this time, the Seeker was not the only one receiving it! The two friends stood by the gate, absolutely still, as the energy held them, fizzing and popping all about them. Rothar’s body suddenly began to crouch and take the posture of hunting animal. The energy bolts stopped to the Seeker’s eyes and left them glowing an eerie white with no pupil. He hissed as he looked from face to face of those gathered before him.

| The others were now genuinely afraid - even Massic. This had never happened before, and they weren’t sure what Rothar was going to do. As if in answer to their fears, the Seeker spoke in a thunderous voice that was not his own. “I am Dar Souljeth!” The declaration boomed loudly across the land, sending vibrations right into the chests of the three Zagoran’s watching. They fell to their knees, and shook for none of them ever thought they would be in the presence of their creator in life!

| Dar Souljeth watched them through Rothar’s eyes, and smiled an eerie grin “Do not fear me, for I am light. I take this body to give you word of change.” The words ended in another hiss. Rothar’s clawed hand rose slowly and pointed to Eric. The human’s body began to lift from the rocky surface, and hung suspended in the air before him. Bolts of white energy lanced around him, and continued to flow into his eyes. Dar Souljeth’s final words roared like thunder “BEHOLD THE REALM WALKER!”

| In an instant, everything stopped. The gate flickered and winked out of existence. Rothar’s eerie white eyes closed and his body slumped over weakly. Eric’s body dropped to the rocky ground, and remained motionless. All that remained was the stunned silence of the three Zagoran’s who had witnessed it.

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