Daemon Problem

by Ryan Pollard and Katallia

A few months after the end of "The Amber Spyglass", a problem arises between Will's world and Lyra's world. Pantalaimon is ripped away from Lyra and thrust into Will's world, while Kirjava disappears into Lyra's. An adventure begins from there, as both Will and Lyra race to repair the rift between worlds and are forced to endure something much worse than separation.

Chapter 1: Separation

Fear. An onslaught of darkness – shadows – water – gap – opening. Silence. A scream, "No!" Drowning, drowning…

"Pan!" She screams. Awake. Running, running toward, running against. Running. Fierce hope crashing through veins, adrenaline rushing into the legs, eyes peeled for a glimpse. There! Struggling against the current, cool water lapping at paws. Cool water. Soft water. Dangerous liquid.

"No! PAN!". Her voice rips through the air, shredding apart the air molecules with the sheer force of her pitch. Water continues to drag, pulling him, pulling him down, sucking air from his lungs, crunching his body. Killing them.

A giant swallow, and then all light flees. Onward. No escape. He must go down or drown. This is it. The moment they'd been waiting for.

Life ebbing away, shadows laughing. Must continue on. Must continue… Another world is waiting. They are waiting.