Dawn of the Immortalis: Volumes 1-3

Chap. 21: On the Other Side

At last Talis head had submerged into the ground. He found he couldn't breath. Talis started to panic. Until, that is, he realized that there was no effect, he was still living. How?, he wondered to himself, well, if I'm not affected by time then I guess I don't need to consume anything. Wait, do I even have a heartbeat?, he thought, becoming alarmed. At that point, he felt his feet come loose, he wiggled them around, relieved he was almost through.

After his body was no longer held by the ground of the True Reality, it is as such I will call it, he landed lightly on another ground, identical of the one he was just on. So this is the corruption?, he wondered to himself. The ground was identical, but he couldn't see far in the distance. It was like a dark fog, like smoke tendrils that danced around him. The darkness, though, would not come near him, it actually backed away as he drew nearer to it. Looking up, there no longer was the ground from which he fell, just more of the dark fog.

Talis started forward.

"So this," Talis jumped when Mutt started to talk, "come on Talis, you're not afraid of the dark."

"I'm not," Talis replied quickly.

"Talis does not fear the dark no, he fears what lies within it, as do I," Quicksilver said, defending Talis.

The three became silent at the sounds of footsteps in the distance. Talis froze. The steps resounded louder and louder, it was coming fast. Then all of sudden the sound stop, an eerie silence crept into their bones.

"Show yourself," Talis said loud enough for all to hear.

"Idiot," Mutt muttered.

Slowly the footsteps begun again, slowly though. At last it started coming into view. Twelve or so paces in front of Talis, the tendrils of black fog started to curve gently around a head. It had a great maw that hung open, teeth were few but there were two long fangs in the front. Its nostrils were but two small and thin holes on its bulky snout. Its two ears were straight up like those of a dog, though gnarled and torn. With its silky black coat of thick fur, it was hard to make the creature out; it blended with the black fog. Great muscled forelegs came out of the dark next, showing great taloned paws. Small but sharp horns were oddly and inconsistently placed across the beast's back. The footsteps rung loud as it started to stomp its thick hindlegs. The long claws dug into the ground, ripping up whatever it was made of. Its tail was long and wicked looking with its long scythelike bone end.

"Next time Talis, please don't ask it to show itself," Mutt said, breaking the silence, "please."

"If there is a next time," Talis replied.

"Do not talk like that Talis," Quicksilver said, "draw me out Talis, let us be swift killing this beast."

"Agreed," Talis said, drawing Quicksilver.

The beast was but a few paces away, its dark brown eyes piercing Talis' courage. Quicksilver was not affected; he waved menacingly in Talis' hand. The tension in the air grew until it was most certain the fight would start. It was then when the creature suddenly closed its maw and looked up, past Talis, a fear of utmost dread spread across its face. The thing turned and ran from whence it came.

"Could we just not turn around, please?" Mutt whispered.

Talis nodded and chased after the beast that had fled. He did, though, look over his shoulder. There was nothing there, or so it seemed. So he kept on running. Quickly he reached the edge of the bogspawn. Charcoal resembling time strands appeared before him. It was then that he remembered that he must have been assigned a new color when he had put on the signet ring of the Immortalis. Anyway, merged into it and, well, it spat him back out. A couple paces back he was thrown.