Lunaria

By Myrica Moss

A high priestess of a dark god is attempting to break through an enchanted door. The daughter of a light goddess, accompanied by her dedicated companion, is determined to discover why and stop her. Through an identical door, they enter another world with a man searching across worlds for his lost twin brother. The world they find themselves in i

• Language: English
• Publisher: Myrica Moss
• Release date: Feb 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088090961

Myrica Moss

Born in England, then relocated to Florida, USA. Myrica is a Registered Nurse with a BSc in Information Systems. She is an avid reader of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre, and among her favorite authors are Brian Aldis, Ray Bradbury, and Stephen King. When she isn’t writing, she is playing RPG games.Website: https://myricamoss.comFacebook: myrica.moss.5If you enjoyed this book, then please make me happy and take the time to write a review for me. It will make my day.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Prologue

RAYLON LAY IN the bed, afraid to open his eyes because he knew they would be watching him.  His fear grew until he was shaking, rattling his bed with the force of his movements.

Calm yourself, a woman’s voice begged him, gently touching his tightly gripped hand. 

The touch caused Raylon to almost jump out of bed in alarm.  Leave this room, he roared, why do you torment me so?  He closed his eyes even tighter, afraid to accidentally see what he knew to be the demons in his room.

He is getting worse, Geena, said the tall man coming into the room, causing a sharp breath from the woman sitting by Raylon’s bed.  Raylon is not responding to any of the potions I have prepared for him.  His dark eyes scanned Raylon’s shaking form, then narrowed slightly. 

Geena quickly wiped a tear that ran down her cheek.  She looked over at Henrold, her bright green eyes pleading for better news than this.  Geena pushed back a strand of her dark blonde hair that had escaped from the braids on either side of her face.  The rest of her hair hung loosely down her back.  Geena wore a long red robe with short sleeves, secured at the waist with a braided leather cord, and sandals on her feet.

There must be something else to try, she said, her voice thick with emotion. My husband is in such distress.

Henrold wore a long brown colored robe with short sleeves, secured at the waist with a braided leather cord.  His brown hair was long, braided back from his face, and tied with another leather cord at the base of his neck.  I will give him something stronger to calm him, Henrold said slowly, but I think it is time to send him to containment.

Geena got up, rushed towards Henrold, and fell to her knees before him, I beg of you, please don’t send him there.  He will never return, she sobbed.

Henrold placed his hand on the top of Geena’s bowed head, they will take care of him there, he said gently.  Raylon will be a danger to you soon, he has the sickness, and his rational thoughts soon will be eaten away.  I have seen it many times.

Geena dropped her head in her hands and sobbed in defeat.  She had dreaded this moment since Raylon started talking about seeing demons.  Initially, Geena could rationalize with her husband, taking him to the corners of the room where he swore monsters appeared to him.  At first, that had worked, but then he told her all the things the demons did and said to him.  Geena knew that was nonsense because she heard no voices.  That was when she reluctantly sought out the council of Henrold and reported to him that Raylon was showing symptoms of the sickness.  Geena thought that must have been the worse day in her life, telling Henrold because she knew that by their laws, he must report any complaints of the sickness to the elders.  Hearing Henrold state that they must move Raylon to containment made this now her worst day.

The demons are telling me what you are going to do to me, Raylon screamed from his bed, his eyes still tightly closed.  Their voices grow louder, he continued with a hysterical sob. 

Open your eyes, Raylon heard the demons whisper, you need to see what your wife and Henrold are going to do to you.

No, never, screamed Raylon, desperately covering his eyes with his hands.

They are sending you away, Raylon’s demons whispered.  No one comes back from containment, and you know that.  Open your eyes so you can fight for your freedom.

Raylon thought about that for a moment, and a sudden rage rushed through him.  How could Geena do this to him?  He loved her.

Well, she doesn’t love you, the demons taunted.  Open your eyes, and we will show you how to stop her.

Geena and Henrold exchanged glances when they heard the conversation Raylon seemed to be having with no one.  I will return with a stronger sedative, Geena, Henrold said quietly, and I will notify the elder that it is time to arrange transportation for Raylon.

A sob caught Geena’s throat at his statement, but she knew in her heart that it was the correct decision.  She glanced over at Raylon, who continued to argue with voices no one else could hear.  Geena got to her feet and started to return to the chair she had sat in for the last three days and nights when suddenly Raylon dropped his hands.  He sat bolt upright in his bed.  His eyes flew open, and he stared wildly around the room.  His brown hair hung loose and tangled around his pale, gaunt face.  Raylon’s brown short-sleeved robe was rumpled, and the cord to secure it at the waist lay in bed beside him. 

Geena’s stomach churned with fear when she saw the madness on her husband’s face.  She began to follow Henrold out of the room for safety, but Raylon leaped out of bed and then ran toward her.  He grabbed her by the throat, taking them to the ground.

I will not let you send me away, you evil woman, Raylon ranted, increasing the grip around her throat.

Surprised at his strength, considering that Raylon had not eaten in days, Geena attempted to pull his hands from around her throat.  Stop, she said, trying to catch her breath, but Raylon’s hands tightened again.  Geena looked into Raylon’s eyes and realized his madness had taken him over.  As she started to lose consciousness, Geena’s heart exploded with sadness.

Did we arrive in time, a male voice said as Geena began to regain consciousness.

Yes, Henrold said, relief apparent in his voice.

Geena opened her eyes and smiled when she saw Henrold kneeling beside her, concern on his face.  Then she remembered being attacked by Raylon and tried to sit up and warn him.

Steady, Geena, Henrold cautioned, assisting her to sit up.  I thought we were too late there for a minute.

Geena became aware of the pain around her throat and touched it gently.  Raylon tried to strangle me, she croaked painfully.

Yes, I saw him, Henrold said sadly.  I called for the assistance of the containment attendants and managed to hold Raylon down until they arrived.

You saved my life, Geena gratefully, her eyes bright with tears.  Have they taken him?

He is safe, said the tall man standing in the doorway.  He wore a blue short-sleeved robe, secured at the waist with a wide leather belt.  Sheathed in the belt crossed behind his back were two swords.  His blonde hair was tied back from his face with a leather cord, and his blue eyes looked relieved at Geena’s recovery.  All the attendants had blue robes for identification, were armed, and wore short boots instead of sandals. 

Can I say goodbye to Raylon before you take him?  Asked Geena sadly.

It is too dangerous, replied the attendant, he is not the person you knew anymore.

Geena nodded sadly, please take care of him, she said.  Before the sickness, Raylon was a kind, gentle husband and father. 

We will, my lady, the attendant said, placing a clenched fist over his heart. 

Thank you, Geena said, her voice barely a whisper.

CHAPTER TWO

Darkness and Light

TWILA, AMANI, AND Devon stepped through the crystal gateway opened by the goddess Saressa.  Immediately after the last one was through it, the door to Ramos’s Mountain closed behind them and disappeared. Twila felt a moment of panic, knowing they were now trapped in the world of Lunaria until they had successfully found and destroyed Valeskas. Her thoughts turned to Danior, and her courage returned because Twila needed to find and save him. 

Twila was five feet tall, petite, and had a pale olive complexion.  She had long dark wavy hair, and her eyes, once blue, were now golden. Twila’s eye color changed when the dragon Radon healed the Dark One’s blood hunger that Ramos, the gypsy necromancer, had caused within her. Ramos had used her human blood to replace the seal between the world of Sheukhawn and the shadow world of Lunaria. Then Ramos infected Twila to prevent the seal from failing when she aged. Now Radon’s blood coursed through Twila’s veins and the powerful enchantments of light that his soul dragon brothers had gifted her. She wore a long-sleeved white shirt tucked into her black leather pants with short boots. It was not the typical dress of a gypsy girl, but for their earlier fight against Ramos, Twila had chosen to wear something more practical.

Devon, your world is beautiful, Twila said, turning to the tall Lunarian beside her. Devon’s handsome face had a long-jagged scar running down his left cheek, his dark hair reached his broad shoulders, and his dark eyes shone brightly in the moonlight. The way Devon walked always reminded Twila of a large animal stalking its prey because a graceful power filled his every movement. He wore a long-sleeved black shirt and black leather pants tucked into knee-length boots. Devon carried a dagger tucked into each boot but was not a swordsman. Devon had another skill instead. He could meld with things, like a shadow, and become one with them. 

Lunaria, named for the two moons that orbit this world of shadows, was a peaceful place before Saressa cast the Dark Ones amongst us. Muttered Devon bitterly. "Worse still, she imprisoned their leader, the dragon Valeskas, deep within the core of Lunaria. The Dark Ones hunted my people as prey, and then they treated us like cattle to be used to feed their blood hunger. The Lunarian survivors escaped to the inner catacombs and successfully created a safe world for themselves away from the Dark Ones. 

"My people eventually developed skills that allowed us to adapt to our new environment. But I grew weary of staying hidden and began tracking the Dark Ones. The concealment spells my people developed prevented the Dark Ones from discovering me amongst them. I destroyed all those that were unlucky enough to cross my path alone. When Ramos created the opening to this world, I followed a Dark One named Stefan. He was a leader of sorts, and when Stefan crossed to Sheukawn and met Ramos, I slipped past the two of them unnoticed. Sheukawn seemed the perfect place to bring the remainder of my people. So once again, they could be free to walk in the moonlight without fear. I wanted to be sure that Sheukawn was as peaceful as it appeared before I returned to lead them there. Unfortunately, before I could return to collect them, Ramos placed the seal preventing me. 

I am of the Tolarist clan, and my father is Elan. He is our leader. When I encountered Rowan in Ramos’s mountain, he said that my city, Silvern, is one of the last few remaining. My mother has died, and my father has taken her loss badly. I am glad Saressa provided this way back into my world. It is time I returned home and put an end to Valeskas and the Dark Ones.

Twila silently nodded as she looked at the majestic mountain range stretching out before them for as far as her eyes could see. The light from the two moons bathed the mountain’s jagged horizon in a brilliant shiny glow. It was a landscape of silver and black and the perfect place for the blood-drinking Dark Ones. A world of light without the threat of a sun’s harmful rays.  

Twila looked to her left and noticed the landscape in that direction was different but just as breathtaking. Hills and valleys of darkness lay far below where they stood. Twila could see streams and lakes shimmering in the bright moonlight. She was surprised to notice several clusters of buildings scattered amongst the valleys.

There are villages down there, Twila commented. Is that Silverna?

No, replied Devon. Those abandoned villages are where the Draics used to live before they fled from the Dark Ones.

Who are the Draics? Asked Amani approaching them. Amani was tall, slim, with long white hair, and his dark eyes had unusual flecks of gold. His face was handsome, and when Twila and Devon first encountered him, the robes he chose to wear were typical garments for a holy man. As Twila had done, however, for the battle with Ramos, Amani had chosen to wear more appropriate clothing for a fight. He wore a white long-sleeved shirt and black leather pants tucked into knee-length boots. Amani carried no blades, his skill was shapeshifting, and thanks to Radon and his dragon soul brother’s gift, he could also take on that form. 

The Draics inhabit the Light Side of Lunaria, replied Devon. "We were unaware of the Great War between the goddess Saressa and the dark god Dra.  As Saressa explained to us when she opened this gateway, Lunaria was an unfinished world, and it was a surprise to her that anyone lived here. My people cannot tolerate sunlight because it weakens us, so we never visited the Light Side of Lunaria. 

"One day, a group of people visited one of our villages. They didn’t look like us at all and called themselves Draics. They explained that they had fled their world of Draic when the Dark Ones invaded it during the Great War. We had not heard of the Draics or the Dark Ones before that.

We traded with them, and some moved here to live amongst us. When Saressa cast the Dark Ones here at the end of the Great War, all that finished. We fled into the mountains, and as the sunlight destroyed the Dark Ones, the Draics that had moved to our villages fled back to the Light Side. Not all of them escaped quickly enough, though, and became the prey of the Dark Ones. They breed them like cattle to become feeders. The purpose of their miserable lives now is to be the source of blood to feed the Dark Ones. 

Twila visibly shuddered at the horror of that revelation, and her eyes went bright with tears for a moment. We will change all this, she said quietly.

I can see a bright light on the horizon over there, said Amani pointing to their right. Is that the Light Side of Lunaria?

Yes, said Devon as Twila turned to see what Amani was referencing. 

A brilliant yellow and orange light illuminated the whole horizon, making the peculiarly flat terrain just before it even darker.   It reminded Twila of a forest fire approaching her gypsy camp as a child.

Twila and Amani were weakened by the sun, just like Devon, none of them were blood drinkers, but all were immortal. Amani was a Darpelian, half Dark One, and half-human. His mother, attacked by a Dark One while pregnant with him, fled from her village to protect her unborn child from being slaughtered at birth. She had died shortly after Amani’s birth, and gypsies raised him after finding him beside her body. When he came of age, he sought out the Dark Ones who had escaped when Ramos had accidentally caused a rift between worlds. Although Ramos had created the seal that closed the gap, many Dark Ones found themselves trapped in Sheukawn.  Amani had decided to seek those Dark Ones out and destroy them. He followed one of them through a doorway opened by a crystal and found himself in front of Radon. Amani had agreed to work with the dragon and assist him in guarding The Dragon’s Tear, a source of great power. When they discovered that Ramos had invoked Valeskas from his prison in the Void, Amani asked if he could help a small group who planned to destroy them. After the battle ended, Amani agreed to accompany Twila and Devon to find Valeskas’s prison at the core of Lunaria and abolish him forever.

I still cannot sense Danior, said Twila sadly.

Amani and Devon exchanged glances at her statement. Remember, Twila, Amani cautioned, the darkness may have changed him already.

I will heal him, said Twila firmly, I have sworn to it.  

We need to go, said Devon, we are not safe out in the open for long, and I am anxious to let my father see that I survived. I have been gone many years.

Devon headed towards the mountain range in front of them, and Twila and Amani followed him.

Sylvian stepped through the dragon symbolled door that opened for them in Vesta, followed by Kaida and Meelay.  Kaida turned to close the door behind them using the Vesta crystal key, and as it shimmered out of sight, she noticed it situated in the rock of a cave wall. We need to remember this location, she said quietly, so we can find it again when it’s time to return. The others nodded in response.

Kaida had recently discovered she was the daughter of the goddess of light, Saressa, and the god of darkness, Dra.  Dra had attacked Saressa when they were both in human form, and Kaida had been the result. Her foster mother Freyer raised her and kept the secret until Saressa had visited the Tree Realmers, Noda and Ludon, in their dream time and asked them to find Kaida. They found her, explained whose child she was, and introduced Kaida to the powers inherited from her parents.

After Kaida had assisted King Agaten’s army in defeating a tyrannical warlord, she had agreed to be the new keeper of the Vesta key. The only dragon, Radon, not infected by the blood hunger during the Great War, guarded the most incredible power source in existence, The Dragon’s Tear. Saressa created The Dragon’s Tear from the souls of Radon’s infected brother dragons. Saressa then built Vesta, a place where all the doorways to her worlds could be guarded, in addition to The Dragon’s Tear.

Kaida had long blonde hair that curled even when tied back and brown eyes. She was small in height, petite, and a quick learner at every task.  Kaida favored the hunter’s type of clothing. Her tan-colored pants, long tunic, and the soft boots she wore suited her purposes much better than skirts.

The dragon carvings are very subtle commented Meelay, but I can find my way here again using my door crystal. Once he had visited a place, Meelay just held his crystal, envisioned it, and then he could travel there.

Meelay was tall and lean, and he had long black curly hair worn loose. His dark brown eyes took note of the cave they had found themselves in so he could remember it. Meelay wore a white shirt and brown pants tucked into knee-high leather boots. He was a Darpelian and had been hunting for his twin brother, Amani, since he came of age. Radon explained that Amani did not know he had a twin brother.  Meelay had traveled worlds in search of his brother and, in some cases, missed him by only a few days. Radon had told him that Amani was on a new journey to defeat Valeskas, the only dragon who had refused to be slaughtered and become part of The Dragon’s Tear. Amani and his companions would return to Ogham Mountain, renamed after Ramos and Valeskas’s defeat. Meelay had found his door crystal in Ogham Mountain, so he could return there and finally meet his brother once Amani returned. He did have shapeshifting skills in addition to his door crystal and was immortal. Unlike his brother Amani, the sun did not weaken Meelay.

Sylvian had walked to the mouth of the cave and was scanning the area around them. His father was human, and his mother was a Tree Realmer. He was not as tall as a Tree Realmer but taller than Meelay. He was a little older than Kaida, slender in build, and somewhat muscular. His complexion was tanned from the sun and not green like a Tree Realmer. His hair was long and blonde, but depending on the light, pale green strands could be seen betraying his heritage. He had fashioned his hair back from his face and tied it with a leather cord. His eyes were a startling green color. Sylvian wore a tan-colored tunic over black leather pants tucked into his black leather boots, and he had a bow strapped to his back. He had sworn to protect Kaida, on behalf of the Tree Realmer Ludon, as a gift to Saressa for saving him.

I don’t see any signs of life yet, commented Sylvian as the other two joined him. The trees surrounding the cave entrance were nothing Sylvian and Twila had seen before, but immediately Meelay recognized the foliage. 

These trees look like the ones surrounding Hariah, Dra’s high priestess’s temple, commented Meelay, it is as hot and humid here too by the feel of things. He searched the trees expecting to see the colorful parrots, but he saw none.

I wonder what world this is then? Commented Kaida, turning to look at the mountain towering above the cave. It was so high that she could not see the top from this angle. Vines of lush green leaves with sporadic flowers climbed their way to the top.

Whatever world it is, replied Meelay, Hariah was very interested in breaking through the wall in Dra’s temple to access the doorway. I saw the same dragon carvings on the wall, so Radon assumes that both doors lead here.

You mentioned that an enchantment spell protects the wall, said Kaida, so now we need to find out what attraction this world has for her before she manages to break the spell.

If that is even possible, replied Meelay, usually only the person who created the enchantment can remove it. Radon believes the people living on Draic before the Dark One’s invasion during the Great War went through that door, and one stayed behind to seal it.

Did that person give their life to protect the rest of his people? Asked Kaida.

Yes, replied Meelay.

Well, let’s discover what Hariah is searching for and make sure that Draic did not give his life in vain, said Kaida. 

I think we should make our way through this forest and see if we can find any road we can perhaps follow. Said Sylvian. We cannot see much from this location.

I agree, said Meelay and Kaida in unison, and they all started walking down a narrow path between the trees.

Danior stood in line, waiting his turn at the Feeding establishment. This nightly ritual quelled his blood hunger, but he hated it. Danior was more fortunate than other Dark Ones, that had used up all their blood tokens or coins to purchase a feed. Once that happened, the blood hunger drove them crazy, and they tried to steal blood out of desperation. They always got caught by Commander Stefan’s men and, as a result, were chained to the city’s rain gullies as their punishment. They were known as Forlorns, and eventually, they became one with the mud at the bottom of the drain unless they were lucky enough to escape to the Light Side. Danior had assisted a Forlorn to flee to the Lunaria’s Light Side a few weeks ago. The Forlorn had found himself on the wrong side of Commander Stefan, but for once, not because he couldn’t afford to pay for feeds. The Forlorn had questioned Stefan’s actions with a feeder. As a result, he was chained like the others by a metal bolt rammed through his lower leg just above the ankle. 

The Forlorn had begged Danior to find him a tool so he could cut his leg free from the chain and escape to the Light Side. In return, the Forlorn gave him enough coins and tokens so Danior could pay for this Feeding establishment for a long time. Danior had watched the grateful Forlorn scuttle away quickly in the direction of the Light Side once he had released himself. A few minutes later, a burst of flames could be seen briefly on the horizon between Lunaria’s Light and Dark Sides. The Forlorn had effectively ended his suffering.

Danior shuffled forward in the line as another Dark One fed and left, and his thoughts returned to how he had ended up in this situation. It had been more than three decades ago when he and other gypsies in his clan agreed to assist Ramos to close a rift between this world and Sheukawn. His task had been to slaughter any Dark Ones that had escaped once Ramos placed the seal. What Danior hadn’t known was that Ramos had accidentally caused the rift himself while searching for more extraordinary powers. Ramos had purposefully allowed Commander Stefan to bite him so that he could turn into a Dark One. In return, the Dark Ones could enter Sheukawn to feed. It solved a problem for both parties because Ramos wanted to be immortal and expected some powers to come along with becoming a Dark One. Commander Stefan desired to stop the complaints and uprising against him because of the reducing number of feeders.

The agreement between Ramos and Commander Stefan worked well for some years, but the Dark Ones became greedy. They raided villages in groups and caused havoc on Sheukawn.  Ramos finally had to do something about them, and he created a seal using the blood of a gypsy girl. Danior did not know the details of Ramos’s enchantment to create the seal, but it worked. Unfortunately, a Dark One jumped Danior from behind and bit him. Ramos slaughtered the Dark One and then turned Danior into one. In return for saving him, Danior had agreed to become the gatekeeper of the seal. If anything happened to it, then he was to alert Ramos. However, there were rules around that agreement. Danior could only feed on Lunaria to prevent him from becoming a problem to Ramos, but he could cross the seal and visit Sheukawn. 

That is when he met the love of his life, Twila. The seal had started to fail, and Danior searched for a gypsy girl with the gift of The Knowing. He attracted a group of gypsies to come within range of the seal because the girl whose blood Ramos had used was among them. Danior knew she would be an older woman now, but he thought another in her group might have The Knowing. If so, then Ramos could replace the failing seal. Danior realized that the seal was fading because the woman was dying. Her daughter, Twila, had The Knowing, and Danior sent her to find Ramos.

Ramos realized that Twila would eventually age like her mother, and the seal would fail again. So, Ramos bit Twila and infected her, allowing Danior to revive and turn Twila. Now that she was immortal, the seal was secure forever. When Danior crossed the seal urgently to feed because Twila had drained him, Ramos cast a barrier spell so that he could no longer cross into Sheukawn.

Danior shuffled forward again as the line moved. After he had quenched his blood hunger, he would return to the seal, just in case, by some miracle, he could cross and find Twila.

I recognize that rock formation over there, blurted Devon, it hides an entrance to the underworld. Hopefully, the wars that raged between clans after I left didn’t destroy it.

Why would the clans destroy entrances if it is not safe out here? Asked Twila, peering in the distance of the rock formation.

Some feuding clans created their own spaces in the underworld, and they do not connect with the rest of the cities. They destroy entrances to either prevent access to their areas or prevent the clans they were fighting escape the battle. Replied Devon.

Will we need to travel to the next one if this entrance is Destroyed? Asked Amani.

No, smiled Devon, I can encourage it to open again, as could any of my people.

Then why did they think that was an advantage, asked Twila, surprised.

In the heat of a battle, there is no time to reopen an entrance, replied Devon, if defeated, the entrance will remain destroyed.

They reached the rock formation, and Twila and Amani waited as Devon leaned his ear against the side of the rock. Devon stepped back and firmly placed both hands against the large boulder at the base. Suddenly the rock became translucent, and Twila and Amani could see what appeared to be a road on the other side. This entrance is intact, said Devon with another smile, follow me, he instructed as he stepped into the walk of rock.

Amani and Twila exchanged glances and followed Devon. Once through the entrance, Devon placed his hands on the rock wall to close it and immediately plunged everyone into darkness. The glow bugs are gone, said Devon, can you cast a light spell, please, Twila?

Twila raised her hand, and a flash of bright light exploded from her fingers and illuminated the area around them.

That’s better, said Devon, walking down the path they were standing on.

Twila and Amani followed him, and she cast another light spell when they walked out of the illuminated area. They finally reached a hollowed-out location with a strange contraption that appeared to be a cart with no wheels. The light spell dissipated again, and Twila was about to recast it, but Devon stopped her.

Wait, Devon said suddenly, look over there.

Twila and Amani looked and saw a bright glow emanating from tiny balls of light on the roof above and the walls around them. Their combined light was almost as bright as Twila’s light spell.

Glow bugs, Devon said with a smile, I was concerned when we didn’t see any at the entrance, but there are still many in this area.

It’s amazing, said Twila, they are so bright they look like little moons. 

They are everywhere down here, explained Devon, they thrive in this environment. Now we can see if the transport system still functions. It appears intact, Devon commented as he examined the cart without wheels. Then he inspected the ropes attached to it, tugging them one by one to be sure they held firm. This will be a whole new experience, he said with a smile. When I get in this Descender and activate it by pulling this piece of wood here, it will take me down to the Outer Core, where our cities lie. Amani, if you monitor that second transporter area over there, when I descend, another one will come up in response. Send Twila down in that transporter, and then walk back here to get into mine that will return as she descends.

That is an excellent creation, said Amani, obviously impressed. I have traveled to many worlds and seen some exciting things, but this is one of the best ideas I have come across.

The Draics developed it decades ago, said Devon, it has been here since long before I was born. 

Devon opened a gate in the side of the cart and stepped inside the transporter closing it behind him. Push this handle here, once you have closed the gate, he instructed, and hold on to these ropes here. It goes quite fast. Amani and Twila nodded.

Devon pushed the handle forward, and a whirring sound filled the air as the transporter moved forward and disappeared out of sight down a wide shaft. Suddenly a whirring sound could be heard from the second shaft, and Amani and Twila walked over to it and waited. They didn’t have to wait long. A second transporter rose from the tunnel, slowly moved forward onto the cave floor for a short distance, and then stopped.

Are you ready? Amani asked Twila as he opened the gate to the wagon for her.

Yes, said Twila, feeling a mixture of nervous excitement. She climbed into the transporter, and Amani closed the gate for her. She pushed the handle forward, the cart slowly moved, and the whirring started again. Twila gripped the rope loops on either side of the wooden walls, and suddenly the transporter dropped over the edge of the shaft. Twila thought her stomach had flown out of her mouth as the cart dropped smoothly toward the Outer Core. The shaft walls filled with glow bug lights sped past her as she descended. Then suddenly, the speed of the transporter slowed down and came to a graceful halt on the floor of the Outer Core. Twila immediately saw Devon waiting for her with a big grin on his face.

That was fun, she laughed, stepping out of the transporter through the gate that Devon had opened for her.

I am glad it wasn’t disturbing for you, Devon said, closing the gate again. Let’s go and wait over there for Amani, he said, walking over to another area of the cavern. 

Moments later, the first transporter appeared above them and slowly settled onto the ground. Amani had a big grin on his face. Now that was some experience, he said, it is a similar sensation to what I feel when I shapeshift into a raven. He stepped out of the transporter and closed the gate behind him.

Silvern is this way, said Devon walking purposefully away from the transporter cavern. He was anxious now to get there and find his father.

The further amongst the forest of strange trees Sylvian, Twila, and Meelay traveled, the louder the sounds of birds and insects became. This does look like Draic, commented Meelay. See, that bird over there, the red one in the tree, he said, stopping to point in that direction. They are called parrots and are very colorful. Should I shift into a parrot and see if I can discover where we are?

That’s a great idea, agreed Sylvian, we will take a break here until you come back.

Meelay dropped his bag by the side of Kaida and instantly changed into a parrot. Kaida and Sylvian watched in surprise as Meelay flapped his wings and flew up into the tree to join the red parrot. Then they found a comfortable spot to wait for Meelay to return.

Greetings, friend parrot, Meelay said as he landed on a branch close to the red bird. I am a visitor to this area.

The red parrot turned his head to look at the visitor. Greetings, he responded with a squawk. Are you lost? I see you came from the direction of the Enchanted Cave.

I was hoping to find out what area this is, responded Meelay, thinking that asking what world they were on might not be such a good idea. Why is it called the Enchanted Cave? He added.

The red parrot blinked and turned his head, scrutinizing this newcomer. It is called the Enchanted Cave because the people living here came from there. Everyone knows that, he added haughtily. Did you come from there too?

Meelay thought about this a moment and then decided the bird would not be a threat. Yes, I came from the cave, Meelay said, and now I don’t know where I am. I don’t even know what world this is. Can you help to enlighten me?

The red parrot contemplated this statement before replying. Are you sure you came from the cave? He asked. I thought it was just a myth, a folk tale.

Yes, confirmed Meelay, it was an accident, he lied, and now I don’t know where I am.

This world is called Lunaria, said the parrot, realizing that this newcomer did not know where he was. This is the Light Side, do not venture to the Dark Side because a breed named the Dark Ones lives there. They will drink your blood if they catch you, he warned.

Meelay almost fell off the branch he was clinging to at that statement. A rush of excitement flooded through him because Amani was somewhere in this world. Thank you for the information, friend, Meelay replied, and especially for the warning. Where are the people that live on the Light Side?

Keep the Enchanted Cave to your back and go straight until the forest thins out and you see a large building. The people are not a threat to us on the Light Side, added the parrot.

Thank you for the information, said Meelay and flexed his wings in preparation for flight.

No problem, the red parrot responded, flapping his wings and flying high into the trees. He wanted to tell his family all about this strange newcomer. The cave must be enchanted, after all, he