Ari opened her eyes and shot upright with a racing heartbeat. She looked around expecting to still be surrounded by darkness, but she found that she was in a small room with a wooden bed, a rocking chair and fireplace. A fire had been lit, but it was only the left-over hot coals, and the room just started to become chilled. Ari realized she must have passed out after learning that her brother had been in this strange world for 12 or more years. Even as she thought about it again, Ari felt the room spin. She forced herself to put those thoughts away and shook her head to rid herself of the feelings. 'What about that dream?' she thought to herself. 'It felt so real.'

She heard voices then behind the door, but they were faint. Ari was fully clothed except for the shoes and cloak she wore last night. She figured they were removed to make her more comfortable while she slept. She found them by the chair along with her backpack and slipped on her shoes before she opened the door. It led back out to the tavern she had seen last night, but it was drastically different. All the booths and tables were empty, and the chairs were stacked on top as if someone had been mopping. The first rays of sunlight streamed in from the windows that lined the ceiling. The room was larger than Ari had initially believed, probably due to the sheer volume of people that had occupied it previously. Slightly to her left and across the room was Nathan seated on a stool at the bar. Brook was behind the bar wiping down the surface and Ari guessed her cleaning efforts would be the reason she could smell flowery odors. Once Ari stepped from behind the door, they had stopped talking and turned to face her. Nathan came across the floor and stood in front of Ari. She stepped back because she had forgotten this creature, with his horns and olive colored skin, was her friend from the pawn shop. "Oh right, it's you Mr. Fawn…. I mean Nathan."

Nathan smiled and understood what had happened, "It's a lot to get use to isn't it?"

"Yeah, it really is," Ari forced herself to smile, and Nathan led her back to the bar to sit next to him on a stool.

"How are you feeling?" Brook asked as Ari sat down.

"A little drained, but not too bad" she responded.

"Here, drink this but don't chug it down and only drink until you feel refreshed. Sip it slowly so it gets into your bones." Brook handed Ari a small ceramic up with a dark green liquid inside. It was thick and didn't look to appeasing, but when Ari put her nose close to smell it her nausea started to recede. Ari drank and took slow sips as Brook had instructed while they spoke.

"I have a lot of questions" Ari said after her first two sips. Brook stopped wiping the counter and came to stand in front of Ari and Nathan.

"I figured you would and since it seems we have time now, ask away." Nathan alluded to the fact that there would be no use in rushing to find Joseph since he might not be anywhere close by.

"Okay, first things first, what do we do now?"

"Well, I've been up most of the night talking to Tali and I think we may be headed to what is referred as Crasem Hole" Nathan said.

"What is that and why there?" Ari asked.

"Do you remember me telling you about the Crasem that was at the rip when I was trying to escape?"

"Yeah, I do" Ari nodded.

"Tali and I think the ruler may have had a Crasem stay there hoping I would come back through. Tali said the local villagers would see a Crasem every now and then flying from the rip back towards the Fortress. They may have changed out or reported back to the ruler over the years." Nathan explained.

"Then shouldn't we be headed towards the Fortress?" Ari said puzzled.

Nathan raised a hand off the bar from where it had been resting, "Absolutely not! We can't risk getting close to the ruler's territory. Also, there are rumors that the Crasem hold prisoners at Crasem Hole. When the Crasem grabbed Joseph, it wouldn't have known if it had grabbed me or not. It would have taken Joseph to the ruler and upon realizing it was not me probably would have had him imprisoned. Thus, we go to Crasem Hole."

"That's a lot of assumptions! What about the cells you and your friend were held in? He could be there! And how do we know it's the same ruler? It's been 160 years since you've been here!" Ari was out of her chair and flustered until a hand landed on her shoulder.

Tali had come up behind Ari and motioned her to sit back down. She sat back down reluctantly, and Tali walked back behind the bar with Brook. "My dear, would you make me a glass of tea?"

"Yes, mamada'" Brook answered.

"Ari, I can understand your frustrations. But there is some things and history you need to know to help you better understand why we think your brother will be at Crasem Hole. Would you give me the chance to explain?" Tali stared at Ari and waited until she nodded. "First things first, as you may have already grasped, time works very different here in Aldatu. Aldatu determines how fast or how slow time progresses. For example, I'm 238 years old and Brook here is only 62" she began. Ari looked at Brook then, who was dunking an herbal bag into a cup with steaming water. Ari thought to herself Brook looked really good for 62-years-old and thought maybe Nathan was thinking the same thing considering the way he glanced at her. Ari saw the similarities between Tali, Nathan, and Brook last night, but in the daylight she could see the stark differences. Brook had long dark brown hair that reached her lower back, her skin was a tinted orange color and she had deep green eyes. She was beautiful and couldn't blame Nathan for noticing. Plus, she was his age in this world and their world. 'Might have to do something about that later' thought Ari with a devious grin.

"What do you mean by Aldatu determines time's progress?" Ari asked confused turning back to Tali.

"Aldatu is alive and has been for thousands of years. There are tales that the creatures of this world were born out of the ground of Aldatu with the Crasem being the first to emerge. Crasem held dominion over Aldatu for a long time until the Nedai appeared. The Nedai were the first to contest the Crasem in a fierce war. They wanted the power and rule that was naturally given to the Crasem more than anything else. When the war had been going on for some time, people started to notice that they were aging faster and that's when the Crasem made the connection to Aldatu. They figured out that Aldatu had become upset with the war and was trying to stop the fighting by speeding up the life cycle of those alive. To stop the bloodshed and preserve their bloodlines, the Crasem promised to serve the Nedai forever so long as the Crasem were the ones to appoint their supreme ruler. They agreed and after that, time slowed once again. Since then, the Crasem have always done what the ruler commanded and remains a part of his army." Tali continued, "Many years passed, and more tribes and creatures appeared in Aldatu. But the ties between the some of the tribes, Crasem and Nedai had become tense. To stop Aldatu from taking control over their fates again most of the Nedai and those Crasem that still served them faithfully moved to the big island of Aldatu which we now call the Fortress. So named because it's almost impossible to access the island due to the steep and sharp cliffs that make up its borders."

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"You said most of the Nedai, not all went?"

"No, some spread out over Aldatu, most of them were loners like Kollsar." Ari looked to Nathan then.

"Not all Nedai wanted absolute power. Some just wanted to live a peaceful life and Kollsar knew he wouldn't have had it if he had gone to the fortress" Nathan said defending his friend. "He didn't have a conquering bone in his body."

"Some say that two of the Crasem bloodlines stayed as well. We know for a fact that the Talo and Exvis bloodlines remained loyal to the ruler. However, no one has seen the Draco. They were the ones who fought the hardest during the war with the Nedai."

"They are the ones with green eyes" Nathan said before Ari could ask the question. "They may have not survived the war unfortunately."

"I really wish they would have" said Brook coming up with Tali's tea in hand.

"Why?" Ari asked.

Tali answered, "They were the high ruling bloodline. Most feel they would be the only one's who could get us out of our current situation."

"What situation?"

"We are at war once again with the Nedai and it started around the time Nathan would have gone back to your world." Ari's heart sank and Tali continued. "Aldatu has started speeding up time again. We can all tell and soon it could get worse."

Nathan jumped in then, "What I think is the time the Nedai had with the books was enough to get the war started. Tali has told me that many tribes that had shown resistance to them in the past are already wiped out and they have taken over land in the north. Once, I took the books they didn't have the information to take over in central Aldatu near the Tunic River. The war has stagnated, but Aldatu continues to speed up time."

"When the Crasem army moved onto the mainland they set up residence at an old Crasem worship site, which was said to be the supposed birthplace of all Crasem. Then a few years ago, before your brother was taken, people were saying they saw the ruler's procession move into the invasion camp that was set up right outside of Crasem Hole." Tali said while she took a sip from her cup.

"That bastard never went anywhere without his procession. So, if the tales are true and the Crasem were really born out of the ground Aldatu, then it would make sense that Crasem Hole is where the ruler is now." Ari's shoulder's relaxed as she took another sip of her cup, and she came to understand Nathan and Tali's decision to go to Crasem Hole. She pushed the cup away from her after only drinking half of it, but she felt very calm, and all her alignments she awoke with were gone.

"And if the Crasem who snatched my brother took him back to the ruler, that would be why he is not in the cell's you were kept in." Ari nodded her head as it all came together in her mind.

"Right" Nathan said as he tapped the top of the bar with one hand.

"But once we get there what are we supposed to do? Ask for my brother back nicely?" Ari asked sarcastically.

"There is a Reekalf tribe close to Crasem Hole that has set up camp and held its ground. I have another friend there who may be able to help us. That is if he is still alive mind you." Nathan said with a worried expression look on his face.

"Alright then, when do we leave?" Ari said feeling a bit relieved that Nathan had a plan roughly thought out. It was more than Ari would have been able to contribute.

Ari looked to Nathan, and he stood up before saying, "We'll need to grab provisions from the market stalls. Tali says there are a few still here and we can put them in your bag. It's a three-day trek to Mathau where we can grab the next round of supplies."

Ari stood up as well, "I'll go grab my bag."

Nathan and Ari turned to leave when they heard from behind them, "I want Brook to go with you" Tali said. Nathan and Ari turned back to the bar frozen where they stood.

Nathan protested, "That's not a good idea Tali! She could get hurt!"

"You underestimate her Nathan" Tali said as a wry smile appeared on her face. "Brook is one of the most trained warriors in the village."

"I was going to join my parents in the spring. They are with the Reekalf resistance in the same camp you mentioned earlier. This way you get some added security and I get to see my parents sooner than expected. Please let me go with you! I won't be a burden, I promise!"

Brook pleaded with Nathan, but Ari was the one to answer, "The more the merrier!" Nathan whirled on Ari then and his ears were getting red. Ari wasn't sure if it was anger or embarrassment.

Nathan had come close to Ari to whisper, "This isn't a good idea, it's going to be dangerous for us out there."

"Can you fight?" Ari whispered back.

"I'm not an old man anymore and I was taught enough the last time was here" Nathan said a little indignantly.

"Will you be able to always protect you and me? Because I can't fight!" Ari whispering a little louder into his ear.

"I could teach you some basics, it wouldn't be much, but it would be enough to defend yourself." Nathan was bobbing his head back and forth and didn't make Ari feel too confident in his teaching skills

"I'll probably take that offer up, but we need her. Not only for protection but for guidance. This place has changed even for you. She would be able to help us avoid trouble" Ari knew she had won then. Nathan had slightly bowed his head and nodded his agreement. Ari looked to Brook and nodded to her. Brook's face broke out into a broad smile.

"I'll go change and get my gear while you get provisions. Meet you outside the tavern in an hour" She left out the back and Tali shook her head smiling.

"She's been quite saddened since the departure of her parents. I think you just gave her a spark of new life!" Tali came around the bar holding a brown pouch and tossed it to Nathan. He caught it, but her toss had surprised him.

"Still got that arm Tali!" He chuckled at her.

"And if it weren't for a pissed off Aldatu, I'd have my looks too!" She smiled and pointed to the bag, "You'll need that for your provisions and travels. Try not to spend it all in one place."

"We won't" Nathan said returning her smile.

Ari grabbed her bag and Nathan led her out of the front of the tavern. Outside, the streets had filled the inner circle of the town with stalls and wares on each side. Nathan led Ari to a stall for water containers and selected three identical leather pouches. Ari figured one would be given to each of them. Next, Nathan stopped at stall that had strange food set out. Nathan went over each one with Ari and tried to describe what some of them had tasted like and how it was prepared. Most needed roasting over a flame or boiling. Ari was surprised to find that he could remember in detail what they tasted like and what he could make. Lastly, they stopped at a store rather than a stall. The building looked as well kept as the tavern and Ari could see clothes being displayed through a window on the door. She stopped outside of the building and asked, "What do we need clothes for? I brought summer and winter weight."

Nathan stopped on the last step up before he got to the door and said, "You really think wearing a pair of Converse is going to get you through Aldatu?"

Ari looked down and scrutinized her shoes. It was true, she had thrown on her light blue Converse that morning when she was getting ready for work at the pawn shop and she hadn't thought to change them, but they were her favorite shoes. "These shoes are tried and true!" She had defended her shoes, but the raised eyebrow and smirk crossing Nathan's face told Ari she wasn't thinking rationally. "You're wearing Reeboks!"

"And I plan on getting shoes too. The terrain is going to be rough and the Reekalf know how to make good footwear" he said eyeing his own shoes.

"Fine, let's go get some shoes" Ari caved and made her way up the steps as Nathan opened the door to the shop.

When she had passed him, he said "And some clothes too, your fashion sense really needs help."

And as they walked through the door to the shop, Ari snapped her head over her shoulder, dropped her jaw, and furrowed her brow. She could be heard out in the streets when she said, "Where do you get the audacity?!"