Hello, and welcome back to my annual return to this site.
Gone Rogue episode III: Tyranny of the Sky
Prologue
The Overworld, two years ago
Raulyn looked down to the mob at his feet, his sword in hand. The mob looked back defiantly.
Drake and Tristan stood at the mob's sides, grabbed its arms, and hoisted it to its feet. Raulyn glared at the creature, regarding it in full. He briefly paused at the red wolflike ears on its head.
"Why here?" he finally asked.
The mob spat down at his feet.
Raulyn did not react. Flinching or lashing out would imply that he lacked self-control, and he could not give the mob anything to use against him. "Your previous hideout was fine," Raulyn said. "It was well-hidden. You were sighted on your way to this place. Why did you come here?"
The mob scoffed. "You wouldn't understand."
"You are caught. You gain nothing by keeping secrets."
"Give me a reason why I should tell you."
Raulyn said nothing.
"Can't think of any, huh?" The mob let out a chuckle. "You treat all mobs the same. You can't offer me anything."
Raulyn paused. Then he turned to Drake and Tristan. "Keep it here; I will be back."
He turned around and walked over to the horses, which stood a small distance away. He rummaged through one of the bags and took out a loaf of bread and a bottle of water.
He returned to the mob. It glanced at the food only briefly.
"How long has it been since you ate?" he asked the mob.
The mob looked at him uncertainly.
"Tell me why you are here," Raulyn said, holding up the bread, "and I will give you this."
"Raulyn…?" Drake questioned.
Raulyn ignored him. He held the mob's gaze.
The mob hesitated. "Aether portal," he finally sighed.
Raulyn frowned. "What?"
The mob eyed the bread hungrily.
Raulyn broke off a small piece of the bread and offered it to the mob. It snatched the food from his grasp and stuffed it in its mouth. Raulyn reckoned it had not eaten for a while.
"They call you the Red Wolf," Raulyn said. "You are not the only wolf-mob we know of, but you may be the most troublesome."
The mob glanced up at him. "My name is Lorcan."
"Why did you come here?"
The mob's posture wilted. "It's, uh… It's stupid. Heard a story about this place."
"What story?"
"Like I said, Aether portal."
"An…Aether portal?"
"Yeah, I know, it's stupid," the mob snapped. "But with you humans hunting mobs everywhere, I was willing to take the risk."
"What risk?"
"What do you think? Getting out of the Overworld. Live in the Aether freely. That's all I want." It paused. "You know… If you just let me go there, we won't see each other again. It'll solve both our problems."
Raulyn looked at it. Though the existence of the Nether was a well-known fact, he never cared much about those stories and theories involving other worlds. On the other hand, this location was known for its obscure history and the many myths that surrounded it.
He did recall seeing an opening in one of the mountains when they investigated the area. He doubted the mountain held a portal to another world, but something must have lured the mob here. Perhaps simple stories, perhaps something else…
"Raulyn…"
He glanced to his side. Another mountain there held an entrance to it. Perhaps that one was worth investigating. It probably was not, but there was no harm in making sure.
"Take the mob to the horses," Raulyn eventually commanded. "Stay there until I return. I have to examine something."
The Wolf's eyes widened. "Wait! I want more bread! Give me more bread!"
"Examine what?" Drake asked Raulyn, ignoring the mob. "There is nothing to examine here…"
"You are right," Raulyn admitted. "Now go to the horses."
"You…" the Wolf growled as the two Hunters dragged it away. "You…!"
When they were out of sight, Raulyn turned to the mountain with the opening, dropping the bread and water.
Hesitant, he approached and entered it, keeping his shield and spear ready. Something felt off. Of course—that was probably why he felt the need to investigate this in the first place.
The entrance was followed by a short tunnel, which lead to a single cave room. Raulyn narrowed his eyes. A faint blue light radiated from said room, mildly pulsating. Not glowstone.
He felt hesitation set in. Maybe he should not have come here on his own…
He hesitantly snuck through the tunnel. He felt his hesitance grow with each passing step. Soon, he found himself wondering—what was he doing? What was the point of this? Even if there was something in one of these mountains, there were too many to investigate. Why this mountain specifically? What had drawn him here?
"Raulyn…"
His eyes briefly narrowed as a strange feeling washed over him. Or had that feeling been there the whole time, and he only now noticed it?
His body continued moving, as if it had a will of its own.
He stepped forward into the room.
And in the room stood a portal.
Raulyn froze.
The portal was mildly reminiscent of the Nether portal near Ironhand—yet, it seemed like the exact opposite. Contrasting the Nether portal's black glass frame, this one was made of glowstone. The mind-numbing purple swirl Raulyn was used to seeing was absent here, replaced by a watery tranquil blue glow. Like a lake, but…radiant.
"Raulyn…"
Raulyn stared.
Then, against his better judgment, he took a few careful steps towards it.
A whisper. "Rau…lyn…"
He flinched and frantically looked around. Who…?
He was only met with an empty room. And silence. And a fear he could not name.
The blue light in the portal grew more intense.
"Raulyn…"
Raulyn tensed. He cowered behind his shield, his spear at the ready.
He knew that voice.
The light only grew further. The formerly tranquil glow was turning into a restless sea.
And then a silhouette appeared in it.
"Raulyn!" it cried.
Raulyn scrambled back.
Then he turned tail and ran outside.