Grimm Tales: Rise of the Yokai

Chapter 11 Into The Spider's Web

Most other portals I'd been through had been anchored. One end had been set in place, like with the warp gate. It kept them stable and had made using them as smooth as walking through a door. Most of the time, you went through so quickly, you wouldn't even really notice it happening.

This portal, on the other hand, was like jumping out a window, and into a hurricane.

Imagine being in the front car of a roller coaster going into a barrel roll. Now speed that up about a thousand times, add some strobe lights, and take off the harness. Now you might have some idea of what an unanchored portal feels like.

Amidst all the screaming (it's possible some of it was coming from me, but who can say), I spotted the portal's exit. It was getting closer, and more importantly, it was getting closer, really, really quickly. That's when I noticed that the portal wasn't slowing me down. And then I realized there was no way for me to make me slow down. And just before I reached the exit, one last thought popped into my head.

Please let me land on something soft.

Sadly, the universe had other plans.

I shot out the other side of the portal, and straight into what looked, and felt, like solid rock.

I still have no idea how I managed not to break any bones. I bounced off the wall with a grunt and fell right into a pool of water.

Unfortunately, the water wasn't deep enough to actually break my fall. I figured this out when I hit the stone bottom ass first without even slowing down. And after I got a good look at the water I was sitting in, I was pretty sure I was going to need some kind of shot when all this was over.

Stupid universe.

Five more crashes announced the arrival of my friends, in addition to their own rough landings. We'd landed at some kind of fountain, but it looked like Kora and I were the only ones who landed inside it.

Go us.

The stack of rock I had smacked into loomed above my head, and Kora was hanging partially off one side like a blonde crash-test dummy. Above her, a metal statue was shining in the sun.

It was a wolf, its head thrown back in a silent howl. While I waited for the world to stop spinning, I looked around and spotted three more metal wolves prowling around the sides of the tall rock pile in the middle of the fountain.

"Everybody alright?" I groaned, as I pried myself up out of the water, "Who's not dead?"

In response, I got several groans, and a very rude gesture from Kora.

Yep, they were fine.

Tobias had landed in the bushes lining the low metal fence surrounding the fountain. Jason was spread-eagle on the ground outside the fence. It was paved, so I know that had to hurt. Sarah had landed on top of him, which probably made it worse. Miroku was next to them, clutching the map as he climbed unsteadily to his feet.

My shoes slapped wetly against the pavement when I climbed out of the fountain. Even though I was soaked from the stomach down, I wasn't sure what was worse: how I looked, or how I smelled.

I used my magic to clean myself up as best I could. I pulled all the water out of my clothes and sent it back into the fountain. There wasn't much I could do about the smell, but at least I was dry.

While I was trying to clean myself up, Kora jumped down and helped Tobias pry himself out of the bushes.

"Oh my god, Jason, I'm so sorry," said Sarah, as she jumped up and offered him a hand. "Here, let me help you up."