Across the Threshold

Traveling

Shade and Ceris entered the camp to see that the others had already finished packing. They appeared to have been done for a while, as they were sitting down and discussing the way to go.

"Ah, there you are," Rain said. "We were beginning to think that you had forgotten about us."

"Don't be silly Rain," Stella chided. "You know that Ceris had a lot to explain to Shade."

Rain shrugged, picking up his pack. Kane walked over to Shade and Ceris.

"We're walking to the Netherbane tavern," he told them. "We'll pick up horses there and ride to Dreadfort."

Shade nodded. He started to pick up some supplies, but Ceris stopped him.

"Shade, I want to thank you," she told him, "not for rescuing me, but for helping my people."

"I couldn't just leave them to be killed," Shade replied. "I had to at least give them a fighting chance."

She nodded, "I understand that conviction. It is why I gave up my position as the Ender Matriarch. It was the best way to protect my people." She turned away slightly, "I only hope that some of them escaped."

"Oh, they did," Shade replied. "They teleported to the Overworld after you. Hopefully they make their way to the Frostbourn as well."

"How do you know that?" Ceris asked.

"I can feel their general presence here in the Overworld," Shade replied. "Nothing specific, but I know that they are here."

Ceris smiled, "Thanks, that helps a lot."

"Just doing what I can," Shade replied, hoisting a pack onto his shoulder. "Now come on. The others are ready to leave."

~ ~ ~

The hike to the Netherbane tavern went relatively smoothly. They arived later in the day, and decided to stay the night. The group ordered food from the bartender, and went outside to eat.

"So Shade," Stella asked, "what was your life like before you arived here?"

"It wasn't very interesting," he replied. "I was a cashier at a local store. The person behind the counter," he explained, seeing their blank stares.

"Yeah, I could see how that would be boring," Ciara remarked. "It reminds me of the time that Kane made me be a bartender for a day," she glared at Kane. "It was not fun."

Kane shrugged, "It was good for you." The group laughed, causing Ciara to scowl.

"I think it's interesting that in a group of six, we have no regular humans," Rain said after everyone had calmed down.

"What do you mean when you say, 'no regular humans'?" Shade asked. "I'm a human, and you all seem mostly normal."

"Well, you see Shade," Rain began, "the four of us, me, Stella, Kane, and Ciara, we're all of undead. Ceris is an Enderkin, and you are from another universe. I'd hardly call any of that regular."

Shade looked at him is shock. "You're undead? But you look so normal!"

"I'd hardly call gray skin or horns normal," Kane replied, grinning.

"Well you don't look dead either," Shade pointed out.

"Ah, you're thinking of zombies," Kane said.

"Which, I was at one point," Rain interjected

"Yes, well we all had different ways of becoming undead," Kane continued. "Some of them are actually pretty interesting."

"Speak for yourself," Ciara retorted, causing Kane to chuckle.

Stella yawned, "Well, I'm going to bed."

"We should all get to bed," Rain said. "We have a long journey tomorrow."

They all said goodnight and made their way twords their rooms. Shade fell asleep quickly, worn out from the day of travel.