I exited out of the portal, I found myself back to my own world. Katie stood by a tree waiting for me. "We're back."

With a sigh and deep breath, I made. "Yes... however, it doesn't seem like it's Colorado."

"Where are we than?" she asked.

"I don't know." I answered. "Perhaps we should try to find a trail or a road. We'll probably get an idea when we spot a road sign."

"Thomas, look!" she pointed at our belongings that were stuffed in bags. I even saw my weapon's bag, where I had my rifle and my M1911. She grabbed her bag, as I grabbed mine and pulled out my handgun.

Just for safety reasons, I had it armed and ready. "You never know. Just stay close to me, alright." Katie nodded, before the both of us traveled through the woods. The woods wasn't Colorado mountains. However, my memories were slim, as I could remember coming around these parts. It seems unclear at first, so I decided to keep it in thought.

It took nearly fifteen minutes to finally find a dirt road. We continued to follow it for quite some time. Katie started to feel tired from the journey. We had to stop, so she could rest for some time, before continuing. After a long journey through the road, it took us to a private home. The house was small, but have some sheds and a storage shed. I unclipped my holster for my handgun in case trouble. With Katie behind me, I attempt to call out to the person who owns this property. After two calls, a door begins to open. Before I could upholster my sidearm, a teenaged girl came out and stared at us.

I wasn't expecting a teenager would open the door. "Uhhhh... hello. Is your parents-"

"DAD! DAD!" She panicked and slam the door shut. Katie and I quickly headed back towards the dirt road. However, we were stopped from a man that came out of the storage shed.

"Hey! Stop! You guys can't come here, it's private property!" the man shouted at us.

We turned back and faced the man. He appears to be somewhat lightweight muscular. "I'm sorry sir. My sister and I were wandering around the woods to find a town or city." I holstered my sidearm, since he didn't have any weapon on him.

"You're pretty much away from Chicago." he slowly stepped forward. "What brings you here?"

I studied the man for a moment to finally realize... I knew him! He was one of my older cousins! "Cole Young?"

"Yeah, how do you know me?"

"Cole, it's me! Thomas, don't you remember me?" I remembered him.

He walked forward and looked at me for a few seconds. Until, he remembered. "Thomas?!" He approached me and hugged of our unusual cousin family reunion.

"Thomas, what's going on?" Katie questioned.

"Katie, this is one of our cousins! Cole Young!" I answered. "Cole, this is my younger sister and your younger cousin, Katie."

"It's really nice to meet you." Cole friendly offered Katie a handshake. She nervously accepted it.

"Dad?" the teenaged girl and assuming her mother came out.

"Emily, they are your cousins: Thomas and Katie!" Cole greeted his daughter to us. "Thomas, Katie, this is my wife Allison, and our daughter Emily."

We greeted back with handshakes. "Very nice to meet you both."

"Yes, especially you two!" Allison was eager.

"If you guys don't mind, we're just looking for a place to sleep and we've been wandering some time. And Katie's tired." I asked.

Cole nodded his head. "No problem. Come in."


All of us entered inside Cole's home. Their home seems small, but warm. Cole and I insisted that Katie and Emily to get to know each other in their daughter's room. The two girls entered the bedroom, while the three adults were in the living room. The three of us didn't say anything at first. I couldn't remember how long was it, since I've last seen Cole. Now seeing him, he's a family man.

"So... Thomas. Have you been?" Cole asked me.

I shrugged. "Let's just say that I've seen and been through a lot."

"You mean your-"

Immediately, I shook my head. "No. Don't say it please!" I stopped him from what he was about to say about my POW days.

"Oh, sorry."

I accepted his apology and knew he didn't mean it. "My sister and I... we felt as if we were at another realm."

"What do you mean?" Allison asked me.

A bookshelf was nearby. I looked at the books that were neatly shelved. No where in site was the book that I wanted to show them. However, I figured I wouldn't need it because of my memories of Watership Down hasn't been forgotten and it's real for me. "You heard of Watership Down?"

The couple looked at each other clueless and had no idea. They simply shook their heads. "I'm afraid not." Allison replied.

"I remember in high school, you read it." Cole answered also. "What about it?"

I was about ready to say it, but I froze. Finally prepared, I knew what I was about to say next. "Basically, Katie and I were taken to their world."

"Like a dream?"

I shook my head. "Doesn't seem like it. They were being attacked from different soldiers that I never encountered. Not from our world."

"The main evil rabbit?"

"Well, yes, but... he was being helped too." I answered. "Especially, by strange species that were not from Earth."

"Did it occur to you that you two were dreaming?" Allison asked.

"Never... what makes you say that?" I felt doubt from her, but she was kind when she asked me. She went to grab an old newspaper clipping that showed my military base in Colorado. "I remember seeing the base being under attacked!"

"Apparently, it was." Cole stated. "It was on the news and the papers. Apparently, the attack was perpetuated by an terrorist group called... 'The Black Dragon' clan?"

"I know them!" I exclaimed. "They were one of the enemies that I battled at Watership Down! However, when I was there... I only remember seeing a few there, but along with others too that they are not part of the group."

"Well, it says that they attacked the base and killing multiple people." Allison told me. "You and Katie were among the seriously injured. You two were out for a few months."

The shocking truth came! "We were in a coma for months?!"

They nodded their heads. "We hoped that when you two woke up, they'll bring you here."

In disbelief, I shook my head. "But I don't remember being in a coma."

"Nothing unusual? Or long dreams?"

"No! Katie and I were completely aware and awake, that we're at Watership Down! We would never make that up." I believed what I saw was true.

Mom! Dad!

Emily's voice came and she entered the room, along with Katie. "She told me the coolest thing ever!"

"We know... your cousin told us." her father answered, before turning back towards me.

I knew better that they don't believe me. "You guys don't believe us, do you? It's just our imagination?"

"You two were in a coma for months." Cole admitted. "Perhaps you guys stay here and we'll get you situated."


Throughout the day, The Young family were kind and helped us settled in. Katie and Emily were together telling each other about themselves and getting along. While Cole has told me that he became a champion in Mixed Martial Arts. Now, he's basically struggling now to regain his upper reputation, ever since he lost a match and went downward from there. However, his wife and daughter are forever supporting him, as he supported them back. They were a happy, loving family. It reminded me of how some families back in Watership Down. Cole and his family gave us a drive around a small town. Not far from where they lived. He even drove us to a training center, where matches are held every night. Tomorrow evening, he'll be participating in a match. Katie and I were invited to see Cole's fighting skills and of course battling with another fighter. His wife, once seen his matches, but no longer does due to seeing him injured was too much for her.

When we got home, his wife made us some good human food that Katie and I haven't ate for a long time. The two of us were about to eat how rabbits did, but however we remembered our human table matters. After dinner, Cole had me and Katie sleep on the couch. However, Emily and Katie preferred to sleep together, as if they were having a cousin sleepover. It was probably the best of Katie spending time with another human, especially a family member.

I turned on the TV for a bit to help me fall sleep. Oddly enough, they were just bunch of John Wayne movies that me, my brothers, and my father would watch at home. I was up for a few hours watching films like True Grit, The Cowboys, Big Jake, even the comedy western McLintock. It was near towards the funniest ending of a western movie that would put me to sleep.

However... the sleep wasn't pleasant. Nor the dream. My dream had taken me back to preparing the battle at Watership Down, having peaceful moments with Holly and Hyzenthlay before battle... until BANG! Shots were ringing out around us. Woundwart soldiers and Outworld soldiers than charged at us! We battled, until Katie and Hyzenthlay were restrained by Farid and Captain Orchis. Luckily, they were freed, but costing one's life... Holly's.

Afterwards, memories jumped forward to see the down's destruction, by Shang Tsung. I could see him, slitting Hazel-rah's throat... Fiver shivered and frightened, he became hallucinating from the sorcerer's shade magic, until Fiver was stabbed and left for dead... Until there was nothing left, but souls absorbing Shang Tsung.

"Your family's souls are mine!" Shang Tsung pointed out me.

Thomas! The captured souls were calling out to me.

"You... and your sister's will be next!" His face changed into a demon and screeched at my face!