The Portal Of Odd

Chapter 11 Leaving This Odd World

Abe and I ventured into the halls of the temple. Even though I knew most of his race's history, Abe still enjoyed telling the story about his culture painted on the walls and floors that we walked on while the torches lit the way. One drawing on the wall made me stop in my tracks. It was a meech—one of the Oddworld critters that went extinct due to the Glukkons eating them all up.

I remark on it as we procrastinate in the hallway, "Our worlds are so much alike, you know? Making our critters go extinct back on Earth. So many we've lost due to habitat loss and poachers."

Abe listened as I explained more about Earth, he soon chiming in, "Their story has a happy ending, though. Big Face and the other natives spotted a few meeches close to our village. Now it's up to the meeches to make a comeback, and we're trying to protect them the best we can."

"That's great news! Good thing they have Mudokons to watch over them." We both proceed to the opening, seeing the Shaman Healer standing in the middle, waiting for us to arrive. I still felt a little overwhelmed with the four Mudokon statues around us. Finally, Abe and I made it to the center, standing before the Healer.

"Took you two long enough?" He scoffed out loud.

I sweat a little, clearing my throat, "Sorry....we kinda got distracted along the way here."

"Please, have a seat." The shaman waved his paw down towards the ground where I should sit cross-legged again. "Abe?" The Healer whipped his head up at him. "Step back and wait until we are finished."

As Abe backed up slowly, he kept his eyes on me as I laid down, reassuring Abe that it'll be okay with a quick thumbs-up. I cross my legs and place my hands on my lap, waiting for the shaman to start the process. The shaman, this time, stayed standing up, facing me. I looked down with my eyes closed, being respectful until I hear him hum. His soft humming suddenly begun to rise in volume. I open my eyes and cautiously looked up, seeing his palms pressed together as he rotated them in front of me. The same motion when Abe possesses his host. My heart started to pound. Was he going to take over my body? I thought Abe only had that ability. I tried to settle my nerves, trying to breathe in and out slowly. Thankfully my theory was wrong. My eyes glanced down to the ground seeing a circular design lit up in blue all around me with the help of the shaman's powers. It looked like the blue light scanned my body as it lifted above my head and lowered back down to the ground again. The light then faded back into the circle on the floor, having the color around the room change back to orange from the torches.

"Hmm...." The Shaman Healer took his time relaying the message if I was going to be well enough to go through the portal that Big Face will open for me.

"So?" I ask abruptly, eager to know the answer, even if my voice sounded a bit demanding.

The Shaman paused briefly, placing his hands behind him, bending down towards me, having his wooden mask close to my face. "You're good!" He stood up afterward and turned away from me with his hands still in the same pose.

"I am?!" My eyes go wide, almost jumping up from my lay with excitement, until I realized where I was, in a sacred place. I planted myself to the ground until the Mudokon shaman gave out his hand for me to grab.

He helped me up and retorted, "Yes. It seems like the antidote works on outsiders. I had my doubts at first if it could cure your illness like it cured the Mudokons of the brew's poison. Reasons why I wanted to see you and prove my theory wrong."

I almost turned white in the face when he spoke truthfully. After all, I thought that shamans are all-knowing and never made guesses. Abe was allowed to step back into the opening as the Shaman Healer waved him to come forth.