Before The Fall (origins)

Swallowed

The ground they were just standing on cracked and ruptured to reveal a smooth stone surface.  A huge disk of stone, unnaturally smooth and polished to perfection rose out of the ground and fused seamlessly with it.  Around them, more stone circles rose and became one with the soil of the forest.  The brown of the trees melted and became polished stone as well, a stone effigy of the forest scene carved into the wall of a cavern.  Lights permeated from the walls naturally, but cast no shadow.

"We were in the antechamber the whole time.  Not even Richard realized."

The transformation completes itself with a thunk of finality.  What seemed to be the foot of a mountain was now a cavernous opening fusing the forest and a cave seamlessly and unnaturally.

"That's really cool, actually.  How'd they do that?"

"World Keeper tech.  Dimension splicing.  It's the same place, but with another layer of space time added.  Like splitting a hair.  Change one side and then fuse them together at will.  Defies all human physics in the process."

"Damn.  These guys were..."

"Overpowered.  Yes.  But why open now?"

"Maybe they've entered already."

"Them?  I doubt it.  Krista couldn't have awoken so fast.  It might take some time or whatever.  We can still get her back before they enter the Catacombs."

"And what if they enter the Catacombs with Krista?"

"Then we won't be able to find her without them coming out first."

*

"Where does this cave lead?  We've been walking forever."

"It's been five minutes.  Keep your pants on, mate."

"Is that them?"

"I think so."

"Shouldn't we get them now?"

"Too late, they've seen us."

Just before they could accelerate, another rumble shook the entire cavern.  This time, it was coming from the giant iron circle that served as a door to the Catacombs embedded into the wall.  Light bled from a central pout in the formation, so near to the door that it seemed as if the carved dragon face on it was breathing molten lava.

"Oh god.  I can sense her."

"What's wrong with that?"

"This cave is only the antechamber, but it's has dampening properties as well.  The fact that I can sense Krista means she's awoken."

Light continued to pour out of her, bathing the dragon in blazing white light.  As the light hit the two gemstones that served as eyes for the stone figure, the gemstones lit up as well, sending beams of light scattering around the cave.  The beams reflected off the walls endlessly, and hit the two blurry objects heading for it.

"ARGGHHHH!!!"

"Shit!  Magrathea!!"

Gold and red tinged the walls of the cavern as the mouth of the dragon opened, and the two boys fell to the floor writhing.  The last both of them saw was the bright light being swallowed by the gaping jaw of the dragon.  And all went black.