The journey through the forest and plains took longer than Kiri anticipated. She should have known that Johann wouldn't be able to keep up the pace with her. A simple redistribution of bio-ethereal energy proved to be enough to increase her own speed without tiring her body all too much. Humans were much more simplistic in nature and couldn't push themselves as hard for long. Fortunately, the rain had died down to a soft drizzle and and the afternoon sun helped keep her warm but not managed to dry her skirt.

A small patch of trees blocked her view to the Cove but she could already smell the saltwater. They were nearing their destination and she already had a tingling feeling that the portal would be open. Kiri slowed down and glanced over her shoulder to see how far back Johann had fallen. Her heart skipped a beat when she couldn't spot him right away and spun back around to scan the horizon.

Worries shot through her mind. Did she overhear him calling out to her earlier. He could be injured or possibly taken by the creatures of the forest. So far they'd been lucky in that most smaller predators avoided getting on Kiri's bad side, but out in the open there were bigger creatures that didn't pay her as much heed. She retraced her path over a soft hill and slowly began to pick up speed when Johann stood up.

Johann had been bent over his knees gasping for air, that she hadn't seen him over the long grass that grew up to five feet high in the open. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and said, "Missing something?"

"Yeah, don't ever do that again?"

"What, breathe?" His lips tugged into a warm smile. "Thanks for coming back but how far is this place? My lungs and feet are killing me."

Kiri followed his eyes down to his feet, but she didn't have any problems moving around on exposed feet. "That's because of your feet clothes. Why are you stuffing them inside such an uncomfortable piece of leather?"

"You're only saying that because you haven't tried it out for yourself. These boots protect my feet from the elements and help me have good footing," he said, suddenly becoming much livelier."

"There's no need for me to try the unnecessary out. I don't need to jump off a cliff to determine whether I should or shouldn't." Kiri turned back the way she came and pointed to the tree-line. "You're in luck, we're almost there and then we can take a short break. Or I could also carry you."

"I still have my dignity," Johann said with a laugh and pressed on. Kiri couldn't help but smile and quickly followed him, making sure to match his pace this time and keep him in the corner of her vision.

With Johann at her side, she knew that her decision was right -- at least it felt that way to her. To the Alseid, she was breaking the rules and when she returned, she'd be punished just as well as Zafira. That didn't matter to her though, what did were the lives at stake and making sure Johann didn't get hurt. With the Amber Hearts, Zafira would be able to revitalize the planet and use nature as a weapon. She shuddered at the possibilities ranging from direct attacks to withholding valuable water.

"How many Erythrai are there?" Johann asked as they stepped around a particularly nasty bush. The leaves would leave behind a rash with a powerful itch and in the worst case lead to the leg dying. She didn't have time to explain all the dangers around, so she guided him around them.

"Three."

Johann raised his brows, seemingly surprised at the number. Kiri had to admit how cute he looked whenever he came across something he wasn't expecting. "That's it? I thought there were a lot more of them where she kept me."

"There are twelve Children of Dawn and a couple dozen half-breeds that flocked to Zafira's rallying call." Kiri tried to keep the sadness out of her face. A lot of hybrids felt unwelcome in their homes as most lacked the abilities of their race but shared the appearance. Zafira gave them a home and trained them to be more than just a race. It worked in uniting them, but Kiri knew she would be abusing that trust in her upcoming fight. "Fifty at max but it's the Erythrai we need to concentrate on. If we can capture them, then the others will surrender and come back."

"Sounds simple enough. We move in under the cover of darkness and capture them. They won't have the same advantages on Earth as they do here. We'll have to see just what there plan is but I think I can make a pretty good diversion."

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"I don't doubt it, you are the loudest creature I've happened across. Even so, it's not like they're just going to let us walk in there and take them away. Zafira has been training them for months to become warriors." Kiri cast her eyes down as she realized a whole threat she forgot about but already had a close encounter with. "We'll need to keep an eye out for spiders. We haven't found out yet how she's able to control them, but we have to assume she'll be fielding them on her journey."

"Spiders, great."

The cove stretched out in front of them. The orange light of the setting sun shimmered in the crystal clear waters as if it were an invitation. Even from the distance she could make out where the portal had opened and felt the energy unleashed pricle the hairs on her skin. If she did not act within the next hour or so, the portal would close and make it nigh to impossible for her to retrace Zafira's tracks.

"So where's the portal? I don't see anything."

Kiri pointed near the center of the cove. She flicked her long hair back over her shoulder as studied Johann.

"This looks like the perfect spot for an ambush, if I've ever seen one," Johann remarked. He kept back and surveyed the tree and coast line. The clothes he wore were torn in several spots and the color of the uniform taking on a different color from that when she found him. If it were up to her, he wouldn't have to wear anything and they could spend the whole day in a sleeping bud but she couldn't do that -- yet.

Kiri did not need to worry herself with such trivial matters. The grass already whispered to her that Zafira wandered through the portal and that none remained behind. She walked down to the beach where gentle waves washed against her feet. Many might enjoy the touch of water and relax but Kiri felt assaulted whenever she came in contact and the loss of bio-ethereal energy that was sapped away from her. She looked back at Johann and smiled, inviting him over. "We're safe, they're gone for now. We have to be prepared for anything when we reach the other side. There's no telling where on Gaia she opened the portal."

Johann glanced around before turning back to Kiri. "Ajalla said she'd meet us at the portal with an army. How much longer do we have?"

Kiri held her hand out over the water and felt the impulses growing steadily weaker. "We still have some time but once it closes we won't be able to relocate her as easily. She could be setting up camp right on the other side of the portal or she could be hiking for miles we don't what it is she has planned exactly."

"I understand." Johann sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Let's leave a message behind so she knows we went through to scout on ahead."

Kiri went back to the grass growing along the dunes. She knelt down and whispered, "Please, let Ajalla know I've gone on ahead and that we'll be waiting for her."

The grass chirped in response and she smiled, stroking the leaves and granting them a sliver of energy as a reward.

"All right, stay there while I go ahead and reopen the portal." Kiri strode along but before she could pass Johann, he grabbed her by the arm and held her in place.

"I want you to know that I'll do what I can to help you bring them back."

"I know you wou--"

"But if it looks like things are going south, I won't hesitate to take them all out."

An eerie silence passed between them. Kiri felt shudders run down her spine at his words. After all the time they'd been together, she thought he'd revoke violence. He was a warrior that lived by the sword and the only way for her to prevent bloodshed was by defeating Zafira. Lefaljac trusted in words, she'd have to put her faith in her own abilities and fight her one on one. Kiri pulled her arm away from him and steeled her emotions. "I hope it won't come to that, for both our sakes."

A few days together couldn't undo years worth of damage but hope flickered through the cracks that he and the rest of mankind could be helped. If she was wrong and helped bring down Zafira, then it may spell the end of the universe in some distant future.

Kiri took a deep breath to calm herself and waded into the water until she felt the humming grow stronger. She held her hands out and reached with her mind until she could grip the portal and began to tear it open once more. Flashes of far off places and faces danced in front of her eyes. The water around her gave way as the portal opened with a thunderous clap. She waved Johann over and leapt inside, falling through pure darkness for several moments. Unsure whether she could breathe or not until she came through the other side where she dropped onto the ground with her knees buckling.

Johann followed a few moments later, landing even rougher beside her. She stood up and examined the forest around her and the colder climate that let her knew she was successful.

"Where are we?" Johann asked, pushing himself up onto his side. He held a hand at his waist and glanced around.

"I was hoping you'd tell me," Kiri said. She'd only been to Gaia once before and the forest she stood in was much more alive than there but she could still taste the arid fumes in the air that let her know civilization was nearby. She spun around to get a full view of her surroundings when her eyes stopped and focused on a woman nearby. A bow in hand.

Kiri heard the arrow pierce her long before she felt it. With lazy eyes, she glanced down where the shaft protruded from her gut. It seemed unreal to her, as if she watching it occur to someone else and not on herself.

"I got to see the forests of your world," she said with a smile, just before the world grew dark around her.