The leaves rustle at our feet as we all stop, suddenly. A cool breeze raises goosebumps on my whole body as we all tilt our heads high to look at the earthen gateway before us.

This has to be it.

“What now?”, Lyran asks. “How do we open it?”

I sheathe my sword and walk toward the door, stopping only a foot away. I whisper the ancient creed, the words my mother sung to me so many nights. I’m hoping and praying the stories are true, because I know no other way inside.

When I finish reciting the words, we all feel a burst of energy radiate from the gate and through all of us as it races out to the edge of the forest. We hear flutes and unfamiliar music.

The gateway has opened.

The door flies open and we are met with the sight of hundreds of people, well creatures, all playing instruments I’ve never seen, dressed in strange clothing, and bartering in what looks like a town square. They stand on hind legs, but are all types of animals, some with human parts, some not.

We step inside and the gate closes behind us. We try to open it, but it has been sealed. The creatures eye us curiously, but pay us no mind. With nothing but tales from childhood, we move with purpose toward the edge of Rifsain, searching for markers that align with the words.

We must find her. We must find Sriyani.