AN: Bit of an "Oops" on the MC's part today. ;)

As always, thank you all for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.

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"Hi, I'm Jenny," piped a voice coming from my right. It had been barely a decca-turn since the score of humans and creatures had settled down to eat from what appeared to be a never ending supply of foodstuffs. Indeed, and I would have summoned one of my Undying to send it back to our research team for further study, if I wasn't supposed to reveal what I was able to do.

During this instance, those gathered around the object had released such elation as many exclaimed the foods were exactly how they remembered some friend or relative had made it for them. Whereas I had decided to peel away from the crowd, and settled against a large oak-like tree. For upon Sol'anon, I had found some semblance to a peace of mind, but only when my person was against a tree of some sort. This was so, as a secluded tribe of Kitsunes within that world were willing to help tame that which afflicted all Undead creatures. Of course, there was a price, but you will need to read it in order to understand what it was, and why I gave in so willingly.

Now, at that time, I had closed my eyes in order to spread my energies into the tree I leaned up against, fueling its body in order to rest easily. For the trials of being an Undead were many, and overcoming the Madness which afflicted us all was a constant, ongoing experience. This is something I have taught to all who became an Undead, and desired to have some semblance of life about their person.

The journey to peace of mind is short, but rather dangerous for we who are trapped between life and death. For we must accept the Madness which afflicts our very core; embrace it, become one, all of these things and more. Only then will peace come to us, but there are always those who become fearful of such a curse, and lose themselves in the sea of Madness to the point that others must put them down like rabid dogs.

However, one way of accepting yourself is by finding a conduit of sorts. For my person, it's is an Oak Tree, and I have many near and within my home. Even within our world of Terra, the dominant species of Tree is the Oak and its variants. For I find them the most sturdy when it comes to using a conduit. Not to mention the fact that they gain nutrients from my own energies, but that is besides the point.

In any case, I had been meditating against the nearest Oak, and felt its wooden embrace slowly begin to wrap around my person when a female approached and declared her name to my right. This caused my energies to stop their constant flow into the tree, of which seemed to have become aware, and expressed disappointment at the interruption. To which I smiled lightly, and patted its trunk to my left.

Unfortunately, it seemed the small female mistook it for an invitation, and sat down next to my person. To which I asked, "What are you doing?"

"Sitting," replied the female as she grinned whilst eating something soft and white atop a sugar cone, "Want some?" she asked, pointing the odd confection towards my person. Not know what it was, I leaned back and shook my head slowly whilst my ears and tail twitched with annoyance. "Too bad," she continued, "It really is good," and licked the white something whilst staring up at my ears.

"No," I growled, noting her small maw opening as her free hand twitched towards them, "You may not touch them." Upon these words, did I leave from my spot, and gently brushed the palm of my hand across the bark of the tree my magicks gave awareness to. In which it responded with a ruffle of its leaves high above as though the gesture was pleasurable.

Of course, this brought various others' eyes towards my direction, but were ignored as I circled around the back. It was here that I reached into my Void Space, or as many would call it, my "Inventory". Whereupon I did retrieve a small pearl of soft silver, and pressed it into the bark of the Oak. "To you I give the gift of 'Gate Home', whereupon you shall appear within a grove of trees. In this grove, you will find others like you guarded by the Dryads there. They will help you on your path of awareness, as I cannot stay for too long. Or else I would stick near and help one such as you."

Upon these words, did I hear within my mind, '>.' This spell was intoned by the awareness, yes, but I did not realise how well versed it was, nor how awake it had become within the decca-turn of absorbing my magicks. Well, what happened next left my person, and all others stunned, for the effects of the spell was never witnessed by my eyes, nor did I know of how flashy the spell truly was.

For a large spell circle erupted around the tree, which was far greater than one my know, as it encompassed the area in which contained its extensive root system. Once covered, small lines of bright, silvered lights erupted from the ground, giving off a glow far brighter than the glow of the moon which slowly traversed across the star filled sky above. This glow then spread itself across the bark of the tree, changing it from an earthen brown, to a brilliant silver which then spread itself throughout its branches and leaves.

Of course, there were some odd rodents living in a hollowed out portion nearest the first large branch above my head, but were forcibly ejected as an even larger spell circle erupted high above. Following this came the sounds of a large, ancient wooden door opening, of which caused the ground to tremble with enough force to cause those of whom were staring at such a spectacle to run farther back. Yes. I did join them as well, for I still needed to play the part of a lowly creature.

In any case, as the sounds of a great door was opening, one amongst the group of humans shouted, pointing towards the large spell circle above. When all of us turned our gazes towards the sky, we noticed the circle opening its centre wide in order to reveal another world within. It was here that I noticed something odd, as a white light was building up behind the circle, something was doing its best to block it from coming through. However, that something was not strong enough in the end, and the light fell from the heavens, engulfing the tree which slowly stretched its body towards the other world. Once completely through, did the circle close itself and slowly fade into the darkness.

Thus leaving only my person below, surrounded by a score of frightened humans and small creatures as we stared at the night's sky, or the area in which the tree was last seen.

*****

Now, I must redirect your attention elsewhere, as this next being introduced will play an important role.

For within a small space within the Ethereal Plane, sat a lone individual who appeared to be Human wearing silvered plate mail that was missing its helmet. This being sat upon an equally silvered throne with a few steps leading up to it, but what was curious about this was the lack of anything else present. Just these simple steps, the being, and the throne.

Now, for those of you who do not know, The Ethereal Plane is not something to be trifled with. For as the Abyss is one of Madness and Chaos, the other is of Peace and Serenity. However, if you believe this is heavenly, then I shall strike your person until you wake up from such a delusion.

Yes. It is peaceful, but that peace is a lie. For once a person steps into such a space, will you lose all sense of awareness and self. In other words, you simply cease to exist, and if you desire to leave such a place, then you must fight whilst the lull of peace embeds itself deep inside your core until you cease to be anything.

Though, of course, there are way to protect yourself from such a pull, but that is equally more difficult than the Plane itself. For you see, you would need to find a Void Pocket, but unlike the Abyss's, these ones roam around in an unknown pattern that is far more chaotic than the Abyss. Indeed, as they tend to merge into one another with far more violence than any of the Voids within the other ever could.

It is here where this being could be found, as it watched over those who were allotted to appear within Terra, and where it was currently fuming over the loss of a single. Oak. Tree.

"How could this have happened?" screamed the being as it watched the tree escape to another world. Such a thing had never happened before, well, not since I was able to take Brutus with my person after my time upon the land.

"This is not possible," the being in silvered armours murmured to itself, placing its head atop the palm of its right, gloved hands. Whereas the left, serpentine eye shook in its socket as the scene played out over and over again, "How? How did this happen?" It continued to stare at the scene before its eye, searching for an answer, but missing it by a hair's breadth. For the creature failed to note my Wolf-kin body walking around the tree and placing a silvered pearl into the body. Of which was then able to cast the spell called "Gate Home", and leave the torturous world called Terra.

In any case, I would need to tread carefully after such a showy display, for I could not afford to reveal the rest of my hand so soon.

*****

"Hurry," called out the Elder, "Whatever that was has attracted unwanted eyes to our positions. Quickly now," the Human would continue its ramblings, as it ushered our persons towards what was perceived as North in its mind. However, it was not, but that was only so, as the spell used by the awareness within the tree had spooked their minds. Therefore, the Human merely had us move as fast as it could hobble, which was not enough. That is, until one of the larger brutes of its kind lifted its frail body, and had us all run faster until each of them collapsed against the various trees inside a different, but overgrown, clearing.

No. This one did not hold the odd basket, but one of the creatures amongst this score of beings was smart enough to bring it along. To which it ended up being used to pass around various wooden cups filled with water or juice. No alcohol was to be served, as the Elder desired our persons to continue moving, even if nearly all of the more adult Humans desired a bottle or two.

"I understand your desire, because I wouldn't mind a glass or two," grumbled the old one, "but we must have a clear mind for what is to come."

"What just happened back there?" called out Jenny, who held an odd light in her eyes. One that could be considered curiosity, if it wasn't so submerged in terror and anxiety.

"Yeah, what was that light?" asked another female, but was unable to locate it, as it was hidden within a small sea of large males.

"I do not know," the Elder shook its head slowly, "but we must continue onwards. So come, we must leave the forest soon." Upon these words, it did lean against the large Human who had carried its body, of whom lifted the other so that they could continue to run abated.