The Ever War: Chapter 2.6

*Excerpt from Josh's Journal*

I honestly have no real collection or memory of what happened. The last real thing that I remember was talking with my father. He had seemed so old and carried a joyous sadness. But that doesn't matter now; he's gone, just like my mother.

I barely remember being shaken awake by Sarah. She was afraid, but what the source of her fear was, neither of us know. My father had come in, grabbed us, and hurried us off. Before I knew it, we were at the main staircase. The Temple was in chaos. There were screams, and people rushed about in confused, frantic movements. I had looked back, and saw a glimpse of a shadow, but Ca'lel shoved me towards the stairs. At the top, I just glimpsed Sarah disappearing into a side chamber. Running after her, I barely had time to register the strange sight before me: a strange pillar of swirling light. Ca'lel shoved me again. "Move it!" She yelled.

I felt myself rising upward. I had absolutely no clue of what was going on, or even where it was I was being taken. I stumbled and fell to the floor. When I raised my head, I gaped at the sight before me. I was at the top of the aerie. A massive, swirling orb of light floated before us; a large ocular opened above the orb. Sarah stood next to my father, tears streaking down her face. Realization struck me, and I shook my head. "No, it's too soon!"

My father smiled. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. The point is, Josh, is that the time has come." There was a sound behind us. Worry crossed, my father's face. "We must be quick. We haven't much time before she arrives." He held his right arm out straight, palm facing the orb. A key of pure light formed, and he brought his arm back then threw it right into the orb.

The aerie seemed to explode into swirling light. Wind rushed about us, the orb vanished into a tunnel. I felt a hand grasp mind, and I turned to see Sarah standing with wide eyes. I grasped her hand back, and together, we walked into it. There was a scream of rage behind us. I turned briefly and saw Ca'lel fighting with the shadow I had seen earlier. And then...everything was gone.
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Josh looked up from his writing. Sarah lay sleeping next to their fire he had built. They both had woken up here, wherever here was. Currently, "here" was a cave on a world that so far resembled a mix between Earth and Hayat. It had trees and brush that looked like the typical Earth forest, yet there were creatures that would not at all be uncommon on Hayat.

He frowned. What were they to do? All they did know was the fact that they had to find the others of their generation. As if that were a simple task. Was this world even inhabited? The brush rustled and Solaris was instantly in his hand. Sarah sat up, eyes wide, as he stood before her protectively. A cloaked figure stepped out of the night and into their cave. He threw back his head and smiled. "At last! I found you!"

Josh blinked and glanced at his love, who looked back with a raised eyebrow. They both turned back to the stranger. He chuckled. "Well now, no need to fear me. I was sent to look for you."

"Sent? By whom?" Sarah asked, suspicious. The stranger sat down by the fire and pulled out a flask. After several swigs, he smacked his lips and sighed in satisfaction. Piercing grey eyes surveyed them.

"Oh, you needn't concern yourself about that. Let it be said that I was a good friend of your father and mother." the stranger said. "Now, how about we rest up, then head out in the morning?" He settled down and stared them both. For some reason, they trusted him completely, even if he was a bit eccentric.