The missing year

[JunoZXV]

Footsteps, across the sand.

Spanning back and forth across the great wastes that made the edge of the forest. Upon it the wanderer, left to roam. It was an odd time, people suddenly vanished never to be seen, others didn't question...

it was as if time was being glimpsed over...

This is a story that happened during one of those years, and the wanderer of the wastes.

[Luxon Cobrat]

Another pair of feet walked the desert now, moving quietly and with intent. The owner of these feet was being careful, staying alert for anyone who might have been following her, but not stopping until she got to where she was going. Where she finally ended her walk was in front of what looked like an ordinary rock in the middle of the desert, about two feet tall and four wide.

Without any hesitation, the pink-haired girl with the strange helmet knelt down and began to push on the rock. Through brute force alone she made it move, but the effort took all of her attention for a few moments. Beneath the rock, a hole opened in the sand, inside of which was a staircase leading down into the ground. From the look of it, one might have thought this girl had uncovered an ancient ruin.

"We wouldn't have needed one of these if it was still just me," spoke a voice as a black-haired man with bat wings suddenly appeared, sitting on the rock.

"Maybe I won't be the only one crashing your party," the girl answered.

"You think our lord will deem fit to sweep this land?" asked the male. "It has been tried."

"Place looks soft," said the girl. "I'd bet the boss could do it. Won't be your turf for long if he decides it's worth it."

"We'll see," the incubus answered simply, then simply disappeared again without another word.

"Starting to get a little big for your britches?" mumbled the girl quietly.

Then, returning her attention to the stairs, she started down...

[JunoZXV]

The stranger marched on, reeling in his memories. Wondering what happened to them, the lost. One day everyone was in the forest... then suddenly a mass vanishing. Friends and enemies all gone at the same time. The stranger investigated and prodded but to no avail at what was left, but still nothing overall. No clues, no luck.

And thus he traced the edge for the following months to come, in hopes of finding a familiar face.

But still. No luck.

And then... movement on the horizon... two people talking... one somewhat familiar and the other not. He just walked towards them head down and drifting just to listen in while going by and glance at clues to what they were up to.

[Luxon Cobrat]

Zom continued on her way down the stairs, unaware that anyone had seen her. Her brief annoyance with Rekka passed as she got her mind back onto what she had been up to.

Rekka was already at the bottom where the stairs ended and a straight hallway began, carrying a torch that dimly illuminated the carved stone walls for several feet ahead.

"You think this tunnel leads back to Felcaer?" the incubus asked. "I didn't know you could sense portals."

"I can sense the boss," Zom answered. "And I'm feelin' him somewhere down in here. Only thing that makes sense to me is that it connects somehow."

"And if it's a two-way connection, then we'll be able to establish a direct line back to Felcaer from here," Rekka reasoned.

"Or bring reinforcements through," Zom clarified.

At that, Rekka just grunted.

"Come on, then," he ordered. "The more time we waste down here, the colder that succubus' tracks are going to grow."