A Key To Another World

Chapter seventeen

A yawn escaped him and his nose began to itch badly, making him sneeze loudly. Michael groaned and opened his eyes, only to close them again.

Damn sun!

The sun was shining directly on him, heating up his skin. He sat up and scratched his butt before deciding to open his eyes again. He reached out and prevented the sunlight from shining on his face.

Sunglasses or a cap would be nice. Too bad I didn't bring them with me.

Michael looked around and realized he was sleeping outside the cave next to a tree.

Wait a minute... How did I get here? Didn't I fall asleep in the cave?

He glanced in the direction of the trap and noticed that something was wrong with one of the four deadfall traps. One had been triggered and under the fallen log lay a fur-covered body. Now Michael remembered what had happened. Hearing from outside the cave that someone had triggered the trap, he came out to check and saw Zak lying there bleeding. After that, Michael just fell asleep outside, not caring about the risk of the redclaws finding him.

Holy fuck! It actually worked! I have to tell Zoe and Connor about that!

Michael smiled pricelessly as he rushed into the cave to wake them from their deep slumber.

Michael: "Hey guys! GUYS!!! Wake up!!!"

He walked up to Zoe and gently wiggled her, causing her to moan softly.

Michael: "Come on Zoe! We don't have time for this! Get your ass up! We have got him!"

He wiggled her more roughly, but it still didn't help. He changed his decision and was about to stomp towards Connor to wake him up, who was sleeping on the other side of the cave, but something stopped him. He felt something soft wrap around his leg and looked down to see it was Zoe's fluffy tail.

Michael: "What are you doing-"

Suddenly her tail swung the other way with a force Michael couldn't anticipate. He lost his balance and stumbled, but before he hit the ground he was pulled into a thick embrace by his lover. Now he was lying on top of her, her arms and legs wrapped around him, preventing him from escaping.

Still, he decided not to do anything about it and just sighed. He glanced outside and saw that it hadn't been long since the sun had risen. It was still pretty early in the morning, and now that Zak was gone, they had one less problem. So he decided to give in and rest with Zoe for a few more hours. He hugged her back, buried his head in her thick fur, and closed his eyes. A pleasant warmth flowed from all directions, warming his body. Her fur was so soft that he felt like he was sleeping on a cloud. It was not long before he fell into a deep slumber.

Wow, where am I?

A black and empty void greeted him. But it was different from the others he had experienced. He could actually move, feel and see himself.

Zoe: "Michi!"

He heard her call his name from some distance behind him. He turned and spotted her running toward him. Arriving at his side, she jumped up and clung to Michael.

Zoe: "Hey."

Michael: "Woah!"

Michael struggled to regain his balance as Zoe's jump was uncalled for. Just as he was about to fall with her in his arms into the endless darkness, the scene turned into a bedroom of sorts.

Zoe: "Ah!"

Zoe shrieked as they fell, and Michael closed his eyes and waited for the impact. They both landed on something soft and comfortable. Michael opened his eyes and saw that they both landed on a bed, his bed, in his room, at home.