The crackling of the campfire echoed softly across the quiet snowy landscape. Its orange glow flickered against the darkness that surrounded them, casting long, dancing shadows in the snow. The air was frigid, but the fire provided a small comfort, its warmth pushing back against the cold that threatened to seep into their bones. Adam sat close to the flames, his deep blue fur standing out starkly against the pale white of the snow. His blue eyes, normally sharp, now gleamed with curiosity as he listened to the monkey Tracient sitting across from him.
Trevor Maymum, his brown fur still damp from the icy plunge into the Ford of Beruna, had regained his usual jovial energy. He sat on a log, his tail swaying behind him as he animatedly recounted what had just happened. His eyes were wide with excitement, his hands gesturing wildly as he spoke.
"I'm telling you, Adam," Trevor exclaimed, "I looked into the water, and it wasn't just my reflection! It changed—there was this lion Tracient staring back at me. And then… whoosh!" He mimicked being pulled into the water with a dramatic flourish. "I was underwater before I knew it, sinking deeper and deeper. Next thing I know, you're pulling me out, and we're here. Wherever 'here' is!"
Adam's brow furrowed in thought as he stirred the fire with a stick, the wood crackling beneath the growing flames. "The Ford of Beruna…" he muttered. "It's been believed for centuries that the Ford has the ability to let others peer into worlds beyond Narn. What you experienced wasn't just a trick of the mind, Trevor."
Trevor, who had been leaning forward eagerly, sat up straight, his tail curling around a nearby branch as he considered Adam's words. "So… you're telling me it's true? That there are other worlds besides ours?"
Adam nodded. "In my world, it's an old legend. But I've always thought it was more than that. Ancient stories tell of times when the Ford allowed brief glimpses into other realities—places beyond the veil of our own. Some believe that's how knowledge of Asalan came to be."
Trevor's eyes lit up with a mischievous gleam. "Well, you're not alone! In my world, we have the same legend about the Ford! The elders used to tell us that the Ford connected to other realms, and you'd never guess what I saw when I was younger!"
Adam raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Once, when I was just a kid, I went to the Ford on a dare," Trevor said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I looked into the water, and—bam!—I saw this strange world, kind of like ours but totally different. The creatures there were... well, almost like us, but they hardly had any fur! Only on their heads, sometimes on their faces. Some of them had these bushy things called 'beards,' and they had different shades of skin—some were pink, others brown, but they didn't have tails or claws or anything!"
Trevor laughed, clearly amused by the memory. "And their clothes—super weird! Not anything like what we wear. And they walked around on two legs just like us, but no fur to keep them warm? I still can't figure out how they did it."
As Trevor continued, his excitement bubbling over, Adam listened intently but found his thoughts wandering. Is this really just a coincidence? he wondered. Trevor being pulled into Narn at this exact moment? Could this be Asalan's doing?
The thought lingered, gnawing at the edges of his mind. For so long, Adam had felt like his journey had been led by something larger than himself—something guiding him through the chaos and despair of his world. Could Trevor's arrival have been another piece of that puzzle?
"Adam?" Trevor's voice snapped him back to the present. The monkey Tracient had stopped talking and was staring at Adam with a rare hint of sadness in his eyes. "Is this really Narn?" he asked quietly, his playful demeanor suddenly gone.
Adam exhaled slowly, the weight of the truth settling heavily on his shoulders. "Yes, Trevor," he confirmed. "This is Narn. We've been under an evil dominion for a thousand years now."
Trevor blinked, his usual energy dampened by the gravity of Adam's words. He glanced around at the bleak landscape, the endless snow, the storm clouds overhead. "A thousand years?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper. "But… everything is so… dead."
Adam nodded solemnly. "This storm has plagued our world for as long as anyone can remember. It's part of the darkness that's gripped Narn under the rule of Razik and others like him. They've turned our world into something it was never meant to be."
Before Trevor could respond, a sharp movement caught Adam's eye. He turned just in time to see a figure approaching them, his steps silent against the snow. It was Kon, his striped fur blending into the shadows as he moved with stealth and precision. His golden eyes were fixed on Trevor, and in an instant, Kon's hand flew to the knife at his side.
Without hesitation, Kon charged toward Trevor, his eyes flashing with suspicion. "Get away from him!" he barked, his voice filled with urgency. Before Adam could intervene, Kon lunged.
But Trevor, ever quick and resourceful, reacted without thinking. His long tail shot out, wrapping itself around Kon's legs and yanking him off balance. Kon tumbled forward, his momentum sending him crashing headfirst into the snow, his knife clattering uselessly to the ground.
For a moment, there was stunned silence. Then Trevor burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching his sides as he doubled over. "Hah! That was too easy!" he managed between gasps, his tail still twitching with amusement.
Kon, his head buried in the snow, growled in frustration before pushing himself up, his fur dusted with white. "What… was… that?" he demanded, his tone seething as he wiped the snow from his face.
Adam stepped forward, hiding his own amusement as he gestured toward Trevor. "Relax, Kon. He's not an enemy."
Kon's eyes narrowed as he straightened, his gaze flickering between Adam and the still-laughing Trevor. "You're telling me that thing isn't working for Razik?" he asked incredulously, dusting off his armor.
"Nope," Adam replied calmly, crossing his arms. "In fact, we saved his life. He fell into the Ford of Beruna and almost drowned. He's… from another world."
Kon blinked, clearly processing this information. His sharp eyes flicked toward Trevor again, his skepticism not fully fading. But if Adam trusted the monkey Tracient, that would have to be enough—for now.
Trevor, finally regaining his composure, shot Kon a cheeky grin. "Looks like someone needs to work on their reflexes," he teased, his tail swaying playfully behind him.
Kon's eyes darkened with frustration, but he took a breath, biting back a retort. Instead, he turned to Adam. "We need to keep moving. The Vale of Shadows isn't far, but if we stay here, Razik will find us. We can't afford to waste time."
Adam nodded in agreement. The Vale of Shadows was their next destination, a place rumored to hold ancient knowledge about the Aryas—knowledge they would need if they were to stop Razik.
Trevor, overhearing their conversation, perked up. "Vale of Shadows? Sounds fun! Count me in," he said cheerfully. "Besides, the Ford's frozen over again. I can't exactly go home now, can I?"
Kon scowled, clearly reluctant to bring Trevor along, but Adam placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We could use all the help we can get," Adam said quietly. "He's quick. You saw that for yourself."
Kon glanced at Trevor, still annoyed, but he couldn't deny what he'd seen. Trevor had tripped him up faster than Kon had been able to react, which was no small feat. With a sigh, Kon reluctantly nodded. "Fine. But keep him in line."
Trevor saluted playfully. "Don't worry, stripes. I'll behave."
With their unlikely trio now formed, they packed up the camp and set off through the snow. The air was colder now, the wind biting against their faces as they trudged forward. The storm overhead churned, ever present, as if watching their every step.
---
Meanwhile, at Razik's Stronghold
Back at Razik's castle, the remnants of the recent battle still lingered. The stronghold, once an imposing fortress, was in a state of ruin. Dark clouds loomed overhead, and the air was thick with the scent of burning wood and stone. Razik's Hyena Tracient minions scurried about, clearing debris, their movements frantic as they tried to repair the damage.
In the center of the crumbling hall, Razik stood, his expression twisted with fury. His eyes glowed with malice, his mind still consumed by the memory of his recent defeat. The clash with Adam and Kon had left him wounded—not physically, but in his pride. He had underestimated them, and now they had escaped.
He clenched his fists, his nails digging into the flesh of his palms until thin lines of blood trickled down. His Hyena Tracients, sensing their master's dark mood, kept their heads low, not daring to meet his gaze as they worked to repair the damaged stronghold. The flames of defeat still burned within Razik, his mind swirling with rage and a thirst for vengeance. "I underestimated them…" Razik muttered under his breath, his voice low and venomous. His dark eyes narrowed, burning with anger as he replayed the moments of the battle. Adam's quick thinking, Kon's unexpected strength, and that mysterious transformation. How had they slipped through his fingers?
One of the Hyena Tracients approached cautiously, its head bowed as it shuffled closer to Razik. "M-Master… we're rebuilding as quickly as we can. The damage…"Razik silenced the Tracient with a sharp wave of his hand. His patience, already thin, was nonexistent. "Enough," he growled. "I don't care about the damage. This is temporary." The Hyena stepped back, trembling. Razik paced the ruined hall, his eyes flickering with dark intent.
"They think they've escaped. They think they've won a battle. But they haven't seen anything yet. Their victory will be short-lived. I'll make sure of it." He stopped, his gaze settling on the crumbling walls of his stronghold. For all its ruin, he knew that this was just the beginning. The powers of the Aryas were far more than mere legends. He could feel it. With the Aryas under his control, he would not only restore his power, but he would bring the world of Narn under his complete dominion. No one, not even Adam and Kon, would stand in his way.
Razik clenched his fists again, his jaw tightening as he turned back toward his minions. "I want them found. Immediately. Search every inch of Narn. They're heading for the Vale of Shadows… I know it."
The Hyenas all nodded frantically, rushing to do as he commanded. Razik, still seething, turned his gaze toward the swirling storm clouds outside, his face twisted into a malicious grin."Adam. Kon. You won't escape me again," he whispered, his voice carrying on the wind as if it was a promise.