Sharp.

That was the first thought Quinn had upon entering the world and taking it in. Everything around them was sharper than it had been in her dream. From the trees that looked like odd 3D renderings of particularly spiky pine trees, to the ground, that even through her protective clothing, she could tell was coarse like 40 grit sandpaper.

The second thing she noticed was Hal had shrunk himself down more. He was on a par with Malakai’s height instead, making him more maneuverable, which was necessary right now.

The third thing that stood out was that they didn’t enter through a doorway. The air behind the group rippled as they all moved through to stand near a couple of those spiky trees. She glanced around, tried to figure out how they got through, when she saw Milaro give her a wave from the other side of a shimmering doorway.

“I thought it could only open into another doorway...” she murmured under her breath as she watched the hole close behind her.

Eric laughed, keeping his volume level low. “Anyone with a doorway can open it. Anyone with enough magical strength can create a doorway anywhere.”

Quinn mulled that over as everyone checked over their supplies one more time. Magic was sometimes a far too convenient excuse.

Hal checked over everyone with a quick and efficient wave of subtle magic that activated the suits they wore. Once engaged, the camouflage aspect blended them with their surroundings. He frowned as he looked at them all.

Quinn blinked. It was only because she knew where everyone was that she could identify them properly. And even then, it took perhaps a minute or so. If someone concentrated on the area they occupied, then they’d see them. But, hopefully, they wouldn’t have a chance to do that, anyway.

She took a deep breath as Hal stood next to her. He spoke once in a low voice that practically penetrated her soul. “Surface level targeted mind communication, so we at least don’t alert anyone to our presence because of the noise. I’ll activate the channel and give you all access.”

Suddenly, Quinn felt a gentle probe against her mind and accepted the offered tether.

Better. Hal said. Librarian? What do you sense?

She closed her eyes for just a second, gathering her bearings. They hadn’t come out where she’d been in the dream. Then again, she’d walled her mind off as tightly as she could so she didn’t get pulled back in. But she could sense, like, a whiff of something tantalizing on the air, just where they needed to go.

She missed Aradie already. But with the need for subterfuge and the camouflage, not to mention the air, they’d thought it better for her to stay in the Library and assist in protecting it just in case. This was the last trip she’d take without her owl, even if she had to help her with the air circulation herself.

Finally, after what felt like an age, even though she knew it’d only been a moment, Quinn opened her eyes and pointed off to the left. Over there.

He nodded. Move easily. Follow me. Make as little sound as you can. Touch nothing but the ground we walk on.

Quinn fought the urge to roll her eyes, but the nerves about the whole situation took care of that urge pretty fast. She glanced to her right, watching Malakai out of the corner of her eye. He was being uncharacteristically quiet. She nudged him with her elbow and he gave her a tight smile.

One that didn’t reach her eyes.

Quinn wasn’t sure how she felt about that. It was almost like he’d changed since coming back from making sure his grandfather rested. Or maybe he was just in a bad mood.

I’m fine.

She glanced at him. That had been on the surface of her mind only, and not through the group link. Sure, you’re fine. How about you tell me why your face looks like a cat's bum?

Malakai’s facade cracked, and a laugh leaked out momentarily. I’ll talk to you later. We should concentrate on this.

What are you two doing? Eric was suddenly hovering in front of him. It was so disconcerting with the way the camouflage gear worked. He flickered in and out of her vision.

Sorry, Malakai said, not sounding like he meant it in the slightest.

Eric scowled, and this time didn’t budge from their side.

Later would have to do. Quinn concentrated instead on the way the ground here, the trees, and different lighting in the sky were all so genuinely precisely faithful to her dream. At the edges of her senses, she could feel people and things.

More of the things were obviously native animals. She could sense a few bugs, beetles, and definitely some spiders. Not to mention other creepy crawly things that seemed to be native to this strange landscape. She wanted to ask what this was... the material that made up the ground.

Hal held up his hand as the treeline began to thicken. Be careful. You can’t afford to puncture the gear.

They were getting closer now.

Escadril spoke through the bond. He’d remained behind to obfuscate their entry and stand guard for the potential exit point. There is something amiss with the vegetation here. It is in pain.

It’s not exactly an ideal ground for anything to grow. Eric grumbled.

Quinn could practically see Escadril shaking his head as he spoke. These are trees and shrubs from the Bishickah family. They can grow and actually flourish in this climate. They should not be emanating this type of pain.

Do you have any suggestions? Hal asked, his voice echoing strangely through the link in her head.

Quinn could hear Escadril breathe and thought he wouldn’t speak for a bit, but then he proved her wrong. There might be a torgud around. Be cautious. Their burrows are something the suits will not protect against.

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Got it. Hal said, and he sounded annoyed. Keep an eye on where you’re walking. The last thing we want to do is fall into a torgud burrow.

A low murmur of assent whispered through their mental link. All Quinn wanted to know was what the hell a torgud was.

She could see Malakai fighting laughter next to her. Or at least, he seemed to be as far as the wispy visage their camouflage gear let them see.

Have something to say? She asked him.

Torguds are very similar to the creatures we fought back on the Dabilian homeworld. Except their legs are powerful, more like grasshoppers. Their exoskeleton is hard as rock and the only vulnerability they have is the soft area where their joints meet.

Quinn gulped. Sounds wonderful. It was amazing how much easier tone was to convey through thought.

Basically, we have to dismember it if we come across one. Use anything with a cutting ability, slicing... that sort of thing. Malakai offered what he probably thought was a reassuring smile. But in actual fact, with the shadows and incorporeal sensations, the suits gave off... it only made her uneasy.

A thousand different thoughts flew through her mind, vying for her attention. She couldn’t figure out why, if they could anchor a door anywhere, they hadn’t just anchored it right to the book, grabbed it and poofed back out of existence, returning to the Library with no hint of danger.

All around them, the trees didn’t move, even though Quinn could feel a light, humid breeze around her. The air still smelled and felt stagnant, despite the suit’s filtration, and her own magic kicking in. She’d felt none of this in her dream.

They wove their way through the Bishickah trees, all following Hal’s caution and not coming into contact with them. Quinn got the distinct impression that nothing on this planet was friendly, including the people she could sense far off to the left.

Perhaps, especially them.

Walking just to the right behind Hal, she almost missed it. Just one step after Hal experienced a visible shudder, Quinn stepped over what seemed like a threshold. Only it had been dampened.

What...

Hal held up a hand, bringing everyone to an abrupt stop. He motioned with a finger to his lips for everyone to remain silent.

She watched as his eyes glowed briefly and felt the dampened web around them relax again. After a few seconds, with the ground calmer, he spoke. There are security measures taken throughout the area. Most of them are underneath us, sensing vibrations and weight fluctuations, but there are also some that are airborne. Using too much magic will disturb the flow of the air and likely alert them to our presence sooner than we’d like.

Ikeshal moved slightly to the fore. Then what do you suggest?

But it wasn’t Hal who spoke up. Nishpa flitted up to hover next to him, a frown on her face. I can activate my innate canceling of magic, but that might alert them more. Better to have a flux than to have a sudden absence?

Hal shrugged like he was weighing her words. Better leave it as is. I pushed it with my redirection just now.

Could a shield help? Quinn asked.

What sort of shield?

Like a don’t look over here sort of blanket to cover us all? Redirection - perhaps misdirection is a better term? She had several books from her arsenal that would allow her to twist the shielding in that sort of way.

Hal frowned and nodded once. Do you know how much energy that’ll cost?

Quinn blinked. It’s not a spell, I should just be able to do it. Here... let me try it on myself and you can see. One person won’t make a dent. Quinn always wore her shielding anyway, at least she did when they traveled outside of the Library. So, adjusting its frequency wasn’t difficult. She closed her eyes, reached through the ability and changed it, pulling on one of the first books she’d ever absorbed: Blink, and I’m gone, adjusting it ever so slightly. It took maybe two seconds.

She felt a sort of shimmer as the shield adjusted and then heard a mildly panicked voice.

Quinn... Malakai sounded worried, but then she felt him relax to the side of her. That’s eerie.

But effective. Hal stroked his chin and nodded. Do it. I didn’t feel a thing.

Quinn got to work. It took a moment, but soon all eleven remaining members of their party basically had a look-away-from-me spell cast on them. They moved out, and Quinn could already feel the resistance against them had lessened. In fact, she only realized it was there now, because she knew it was there.

They continued walking for a while, and Quinn was getting decidedly bored and a little hungry. Probably a side effect from boredom. The landscape barely changed. There were no hills, no mountains, just nighttime in a desolate area with vegetation. It was wiser not to touch, having to remain camouflaged and hidden from any potential detection.

Are we just walking in circles? Eric asked suddenly.

But Hal shook his head. No, we’re definitely walking toward that cluster of trees over there. He gestured off to the left, where it was definitely closer, but still seemed so far away.

Can’t I just scout? Eric asked, his impatience shining through.

Nishpa beat Hal to the answer, though. Only if you promise to be careful.

What she said. Hal reinforced the direction. Take one of the others with you.

Eric nodded, motioned to one of the other imps Quinn didn’t know the name of, and took off. It took maybe a second for her to lose sight of him in the dim light and gear he wore, but she could sense him. He lit up in her mind like a lightning bug; her shielding was always visible in her thoughts.

The rest of the group continued moving cautiously. Quinn was well aware she wasn’t the only one reaching out her senses to check, double, and triple check that nothing approached them. She knew full well that other people had access to camouflage gear, and she couldn’t shake that damned feeling in her gut that’d been there for days now.

Her body felt like lead, heavy to move through this strange atmosphere, despite having the acclimated suit, and the breathing and air purification spells. She was tired, but not tired like she’d been when she was poisoned a few days ago.

Had it really only been a few days? Everything seemed to bleed together in her head these days. Time was fluid and passed too fast, while sometimes too slow. Quinn had to shake her head to clear her thoughts and focus on their surroundings.

Are you okay? Malakai asked, the emphasis on you.

Quinn shrugged. She wasn’t okay, but she didn’t think everything was going smoothly. I’ve just been feeling like something is coming, as if something very bad is happening.

Well. Malakai said, his tone very matter-of-fact. It is. There is bad currently happening, about bound to happen in the future. Can you be more specific?

But just as Quinn was about to answer, she felt like she got punched in the gut. Stumbling, she fell to one knee, barely saving herself that much by putting her hand out to catch herself. The ground pressed dangerously close to puncturing her suit through her fingertips, and she unsteadily got to her feet. Nausea threatened to overwhelm her, but as it cleared, she knew one thing with certainty.

One of her shields was badly damaged, and heading directly toward them, limping along in flight.

But the other shield?

Had been obliterated.