LORRY SPRINGSTONE'S/KELLY THOMPSON'S POV
Elowen, to whom we can be but eternally grateful, takes us to a small cottage nestled among towering trees. The structure seems to grow organically from the forest floor, its walls blending seamlessly with the surrounding foliage.
As we approach, I notice intricate carvings adorning the wooden door - spirals and leaves that seem to shift and dance in the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy above. Elowen places her palm against the carvings, and the door swings open silently.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable," she says, gesturing us inside. "I know this must all be overwhelming for you."
The interior of the cottage is cozy and warm, filled with soft fabrics and glowing crystals that cast a soothing light. Eden immediately gravitates toward a shelf lined with curious objects - feathers, stones, and what appear to be small vials filled with shimmering liquids.
"Careful," Elowen warns gently. "Some of those are quite potent."
I sink into a plush armchair, my mind reeling from everything that's happened. "Elowen," I begin hesitantly, "can you tell us more about this place? About the veil you mentioned?"
She sighs, settling onto a wooden stool across from us. "It's... complicated. The veil is what separates our world from yours. It's meant to be impenetrable, but sometimes... sometimes there are tears, rifts that allow passage between realms."
"Is that what happened to us?" I ask, leaning forward. "We fell through one of these rifts?"
Elowen nods slowly. "It seems so. Though it's rare for humans to stumble through accidentally. Usually, it requires powerful magic or intent."
Our son Eden turns from the shelf, his brow furrowed. "But we didn't do anything magical. We were just sailing over the lake near our house."
"Perhaps," Elowen muses, "but sometimes places in your world align closely with ours. Thin spots, we call them. And in those places, the veil can become... permeable."
I shiver before asking with an open mind, Elowen having gotten my trust and probably that of Jason: "So how do we continue our voyage? Actually, we are going back to England where I'm the director of a renowned medical school in the town of Liverpool."
Elowen's expression grows troubled. "Oh my dear, I'm afraid it's not that simple. Returning to your world isn't like booking passage on a ship. The veil doesn't work that way."
My heart sinks. "What do you mean? Surely if we fell through, we can go back the same way?"
She shakes her head slowly. "The rifts are unpredictable. They open and close at will. And even if we could find the exact spot you came through, there's no guarantee it would still be there."
Jason, who has been uncharacteristically quiet until now, speaks up. "So we're trapped here? In this... wherever this is?"
"Not trapped," Elowen says gently. "But your journey home will be more complicated than you might hope. It will require preparation, and likely, a quest."
Eden's eyes light up at this eventuality. Like most kids, he's excited by adventures.
"However…there's a way faster, but that means to seek the permission of the head of the council, Lady Arianrhod. Which I think she will never agree." Elowen then adds, causing more frustration in me.
"A quest? Lady Arianrhod?" I repeat, my mind reeling. "But I don't understand any of this. We're just ordinary people, not adventurers or... or whatever you might call those who undertake quests."
Elowen's eyes soften with sympathy. "I know this must be overwhelming. But you've crossed into a realm where the rules of your world no longer apply. Here, magic flows like water, and impossible things happen every day."
Jason puts a protective arm around Eden, who now looks equal parts elated and terrified, and pleads with Elowen: "But we're not ready for this. We don't have any idea how to navigate your world. Please, just help us go back!"
"That's why you'll need guides," Elowen explains. "And training. We can provide both, but it will take time."
"Time we don't have," I interject, thinking of my responsibilities back in England.
Elowen nods, her expression grave. "I understand your urgency. That's why I mentioned Lady Arianrhod. She's the only one with the power to open a portal directly back to your world. But..." She trails off, biting her lip.
"But what?" I press, desperate for any glimmer of hope.
"Lady Arianrhod is... particular," Elowen chooses her words carefully. "She rarely grants audiences, and when she does, she often demands a price for her assistance. A price that many find too steep."
Jason's grip on Eden tightens. "What kind of price?"
Elowen shakes her head. "It varies. Sometimes it's a physical object of great value. Other times, it's a service or a task. And occasionally..." She hesitates, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper.
"Occasionally…but wait a minute! What's that gold-colored stick your son has been holding tight since your arrival. It looks like something of great value in your world. Am I right?" Elowen suddenly shifts the topic as she notices the scepter in the hands of Eden that Jason had given to him when we were first fleeing from the palace with the chief servant Tina before the latter finally decided to stay and fight the North pack.
Eden's eyes widen as he looks down at the object in his hands, as if seeing it for the first time.
"This?" he asks, his voice trembling slightly. "It's... it's just a prop from the museum. Part of my costume for the exhibit."
Jason and I stare at each other, worried Elowen is getting an interest in the only thing that reminds us of our origin and who we truly are: the Alpha King and the Luna Queen of the South pack.
Elowen's eyes gleam with even more curiosity. "A prop from the museum ? Anyway, although I have no idea idea of what a museum is, the object seems to be something that could like Lady Arianrhod." She says while blushing.
Jason's jaw tightens, and I can see the conflict in his eyes. The scepter is more than just a prop—it's a symbol of our authority, our heritage. Giving it up would be like surrendering a piece of ourselves. But if it's the key to getting home...
"We need to discuss this," I say quietly, placing a hand on Jason's arm. He nods, and we step away from Elowen and Eden, huddling close.
"We can't give it up," Jason whispers fiercely. "It's all we have left of our world, our pack."
I nod, understanding his hesitation.
"But if it's our only way home—" I try to persuade him.