Theo looked at the five dice inside his dice box as he stepped outside with Laura, Bug, Hardcore, and Sol following. The trio of workers were dressed now cause it would've been awkward for them to be seen in public in only their undergarments.
"The four-sided of Transfiguration, the six-sided of Explosions, the eight-sided of Restoration, the twelve-sided of Concealment, and a ten-sided dice of unknown ability."
Bug looked a bit confused.
"What does it do?", he asked as Theo put the dice box away.
"We shouldn't test it out here.", Sol suggested, "It could be dangerous."
Hardcore smiled.
"All the more reason to do so."
Laura looked his way firmly.
"Hardcore, should I have Theo bring out that monster again?"
Hardcore looked humbled.
"Sorry."
Theo observed the four creature cards he had and the two blank ones before turning to the group.
"Well Laura, I hope you and your crew here learn to pull your act together."
Laura nodded.
"Don't worry, I will."
Sol then looked interested.
"Where will you go Theo?"
"Wherever the road takes me I guess.", Theo answered with a shrug, "Still need to find two dice and two creatures to enlist."
Hardcore looked thoughtful.
"Hey, that would make a nice game to work on."
Bug stepped forward, but tripped and accidentally bumped Theo who dropped the dice box and the ten-sided dice flew out and landed on a 0. The dice lit up grabbing everyone's attention before what looked like an ambulance from the 1950's came driving up rather fast and screeched to a halt in front of them. Theo noticed that the driver got out and revealed that it was Hyde who looked confused.
"Theo?", he asked surprised.
The others looked more vexed as Hyde and Theo exchanged a hug and Hyde noticed the other four.
"Oh, who are these?"
Theo picked up his new dice and thought about what just happened, but Hardcore beat him to the punch.
"Wow, a dice that summons help to you? Now that's cool."
Theo raised an eyebrow.
"A dice of Summoning eh? I like the sound of that."
/
It took a while to explain everything, but Hyde got the run down before he and Theo got into his ambulance.
"Does he really have to go?", Sol asked.
"Can't he stay?", Hardcore added, "I was getting used to having him around."
"And he's great moral support.", Bug put in.
Theo smiled and sighed.
"Guys, I appreciate the offer, but I got places to go, creatures to catch, artifacts to preserve. But I'll always be in your hearts. And that's a place I can never disappear."
Hardcore then looked thoughtful.
"Hey, why don't we get a photo of us? So we can remember you better?"
Nobody disagreed on that and after Hyde snapped the photo and Theo said another good-bye, the duo were on the road into the big yonder.
"Theo, don't you feel bad about leaving someone after you just started having fun with them?", Hyde asked as he scratched his nose with his long pinkie nail for a moment before putting that hand on the wheel again.
"It's never good-bye Hyde cause I'm living in their hearts.", Theo answered calmly, "As a good friend and teacher I've done my part. What have you been up to lately?"
Hyde looked a bit lost in thought.
"Get this, I was driving my backup singers and me to our next gig, but then this sandstorm comes out of the blue and once it clears up, our ride breaks down and we couldn't get a tow. Lucky for us, we found some traveling people who could get our engine fixed and we were off again. Then we came upon this wild area of the realm that looks like nobody lived there in ages. The Hydettes are now at this weird cave with all these wackos dressed like homeless people while I went out to test our ride and next thing I know, I'm in that parking lot in front of you."
Theo looked a bit worried.
"Can you find the way back there?"
Hyde smiled.
"Sure. Besides, I met some teens there who are helping the ladies feel at home til I get back. Hold on."
Hyde turned on the ambulance's siren and hit the gas.
"One good thing about this feature.", Hyde said over the sound, "Cops can't pull you over for speeding."
Theo said nothing, but soon Hyde was speeding outside the city and heading into what looked like untamed wilderness where there was no road, but that clearly didn't stop Hyde from driving. After a while of driving, Hyde pulled the ride up to what looked like a cave in a mountain that Theo suggested was the place, but looked Hyde's way.
"Thanks for the lift."
Hyde's smile got bigger making his gold tooth sparkle a bit.
"Glad to be of help."
/
Before long, Hyde had collected his back-up dancers and started up his van again.
"Take care Theo.", he said with a wave, "If you ever need me, I'll be there."
Theo waved back as Hyde hit the gas and was soon over the nearby hill and out of sight again. Shortly after he left, Theo heard what he thought were voices and headed inside. After going past some art on the walls and torches lighting the halls, he found himself in a large room with a bunch of people that looked like they had reverted to primitive tribalism with people using a fire to light up the room, very few old looking books faded or yellowed with age, and clothes that looked used or collected from trash. Theo then recalled he was dressed differently, but couldn't change as people started to notice him before giving suspicious looks and quietly muttering among each other.
"And what have we here?"
Theo paused as the crowd parted to reveal a middle-aged adult wearing a faded shirt under an old leather jacket, dirty jeans, and sandals while wearing what looked like a cross around his neck. Beside him was what looked like a teenager at least seventeen years old in Theo's eyes who had dark hair, brown eyes, and wearing brown clothing from his dirty brown shirt, to his jeans and old sneakers. The man looked at Theo with a raised eyebrow and his dark brown eyes told Theo that the man didn't want him around. The man walked around Theo as the light caused his own brown hair to shimmer slightly.
"We don't like people who dress funny.", he said in a tone that was cold and callous.
Theo didn't flinch however.
"I'm just passing through this part of the-"
"You hear that?", the man asked the others people cutting Theo off, "He's just passing through."
Some of the others chuckled, but the teen beside the man didn't.
"Our tribe don't want anything to do with you Funny Man.", the man continued as if to try and intimidate Theo, "Take your little wandering elsewhere."
"And who would be asking?", Theo countered.
The man's expression darkened for a moment, but then smiled.
"I'm the chief of this tribe.", he said with pride in his voice.
Theo then changed his tone.
"Then I'm honored to be in such company. This part of the realm would be quite a tale to tell where I'm from. Of course, I'll be on my way seeing that I'm not wanted."
He turned to leave when a voice made him pause.
"Dad, he just came here. Can't he just wear clothes like us? We never get visitors."
The man who was the teen's father paused for a moment.
"Fine, but if he causes any trouble, you're responsible."
Theo turned to see the man walking away and the teen mentioning him to follow which he did ignoring all the muttering and stares.
"You got a name?", Theo asked.
"It's David.", the teen answered.
"I'm Theo.", Theo told him as they came to another tunnel on another side of the room and went through.
/
Soon, David had led Theo outside where a large section of fence was surrounding a door and a young woman about his age was looking out of. She had dirty blonde hair and pale skin while wearing clothes similar to everyone else. She turned and her light green eyes met Theo's for a moment before she turned back out.
"You just found out a while ago."
"Is this what you want?", David asked her.
"It's a great honor.", she answered.
Theo looked confused.
"Can one of you fill me in cause I'm not putting two and two together."
The girl looked his way a bit miffed.
"We don't speak of our tribe's activities to strangers."
"Sarah.", David said calmly, "His name is Theo."
Sarah's expression lightened when she saw that Theo was backing up a bit, but not much.
"David, can you lead our…visitor away please?"
David did so and Theo followed without complaint. Soon they came to another part that looked like it was a home of sorts before Theo began asking again.
"David, is something going on?"
David sighed heavily.
"It's my father. He likes to talk about sin and yet he chooses some girl in our tribe cause he claims that God chose them."
Theo raised an eyebrow.
"And you think otherwise?"
David then flipped over a mattress that they were near to reveal some magazines that Theo could tell were not ment for young people and looked interested.
"I see. Had he done that before?"
David flipped the mattress back looking a bit angry, but settled as he noticed that Theo was calm.
"Yeah, he did it before. Happened to Elizabeth and I don't want it to happen to Sarah."
Theo looked understanding.
"In other words, you don't want what happened to Elizabeth to happen to Sarah?", he guessed.
David felt a pang of anger, but Theo didn't seem like he was into Sarah that much so he let it drop. It was a good thing he did cause that was when his father came in and noticed the duo.
"What are you doing letting the stranger into my private dwelling?", he asked David.
"We were just talking.", Theo stated.
David's father chuckled.
"You were talking. Did David tell you about how he-"
"Don't even say it.", Theo stated cutting him off, "David's a good kid. He just needs a little guidance."
David's father didn't back down.
"You wander in here, I let you stay and you tell me about guidance?", he asked a bit angry, "Our part of the realm was wiped out because the ancients let curiosity get to them. I already have all I need and I don't have to risk my neck out on the hunt."
David wanted to say his piece, but Theo mentioned with his hand that he had this.
"Keep your distance away from Sarah if you know what's really good for you.", Theo warned, "Those who give into forbidden fruit may find themselves in dire situations."
Needless to say, David's father didn't take it too well.
/
Ted and Junior came into the outskirts of town and clearly not having luck.
"I can't believe you ate the whole stock of meat from that butcher shop.", Ted commented.
"Hey, if I can't eat people anymore, I have to have a substitute okay?", Junior countered, "And not to mention those dogs and who knows what else is out to get us. So, what exactly are we avoiding here?"
Ted looked a bit scared and confused.
"I don't know. Whatever it was, it was not human and not of this world."
Junior's pod kept looking his way as he used his vines to carry himself around to keep up with Ted.
"Try me Ted. I'm a former mean green mother from outer space so I'm sure that whatever you can describe, I can handle it."
Ted sighed.
"Okay, it's like a giant spider-like monster made of flesh and gunk."
Junior looked a bit surprised.
"Sorry Ted, nothing like that rings a bell with me."
Ted's ears picked up a van and he turned along with Junior to see what looked like an ambulance speed past them as if it were in a hurry. Even so, both saw the driver and Ted's eyes narrowed.
"That's the driver who helped Theo get away."
"How can you tell?", Junior asked.
"You know many people with crazy hair, a gold earring, and driving like crazy?"
Junior then looked on board.
"Good point. We better pick up the pace."
That was when Junior lifted himself out of the pot and large rootlike limbs slid out and onto the ground as Junior sighed heavily in contentment.
"That feels better."
Ted looked curious as Junior picked him up in a vine.
"Junior, are you sure you can go fast?"
Junior smiled.
"Watch me."
Junior started after the van and Ted had to agree that Junior was pretty fast.
"You lead with your nose and leave the locomotion to me.", Junior instructed.
Ted obliged and soon, the sound of singing caught his ears as they came to what looked like an old-fashioned theater.
"Guess we go in." Ted said as Junior set him down.
Junior then showed he had picked up his flowerpot and inserted himself back into it before following Ted inside unaware that nearby in an alley, a couple humanoids peeked out with their heads that bore a striking resemblance to the dog creatures and opened them show they also had rows of teeth and no face, but whoever was watching through them saw everything.
"Follow them. Don't let them out of your sight."
The humanoids slipped back into the shadows and up the nearby wall with skill and with ease. They were on a hunt and the dogs following them were joining in as well as the large spider monster back in its lair stirred and started to head towards the outside.
"I was hoping Theo would have the final dice by now, but it matters not."
The creature continued to climb as it opened a tentacle to reveal a twenty-sided dice that was light violet with white numerals before the creature rolled it.
