Sleep did not come easy for Lance. His mind raced, thinking about all the things that had happened in just the past day: the barrier, the shadows, meeting Caomhnóir, his friends splitting up; it was a lot. He laid with his hands behind his head and stared up at the roof of the giant tree. …

The forest began to look the same as Leigh and Sylqen traveled back the way they’d come, away from the giant tree Caomhnóir lived in. Leigh tuned out the birds around them and he didn’t notice the rabbits that hopped off into the bushes to his left. He only had eyes for the road ahead …

Lance was silent on the walk back. Gagzar glanced down at him a few times, but neither of them said anything. How were they going to tell Anahel two of their friends had split from the party to chase after the Duskhound? More than that, Leigh believed the Duskhound. He wanted to help the beast …

Lance and Gagzar walked side by side, Lance with his bow in hand and Gagzar with his axe slung over his shoulder. They didn’t talk, instead keeping their focus on the forest around them. For shadows or for food, it was hard to tell. Lance reasoned perhaps it was both. The forest was lively around …

The barrier stood where Leigh had last seen it: erected over the whole forest. Squirrels, rabbits, and foxes trickled through the hole. Each one scampered off into the forest and vanished among the shadows. The ground corrupted wherever their feet touched—turned black and died. Plants withered as the black crept up the trees on the …

The stag was a massive beast, larger than any creature Lance had known. Its fur was white—a blinding white that gave off light. A smokey, white aura surrounded it, wavering as the stag moved. It moved its head side to side, its gray eyes peered at Lance and his friends. The creature was intelligent from …

Leigh fell from the portal, down onto the world below. There was a loud splash. It was him, and he found himself in the middle of a body of water, sinking fast. His ears filled with water and he felt dizzy. Quickly, he stopped breathing, shut his mouth tight, and stretched his arms out. He …

“Be careful with that!” Onack shouted from the shop’s door. Onack was a large man, both in girth and height. He blocked the doorway as he watched Leigh work. His apron was covered in flour and sweat, a combination which made a thick paste. “Yeah, yeah!” Leigh shouted back. He carried a crate from the …