The Unforeseen Portal

"Hydra!" I called out into the void, my voice echoing back at me. "Siveth!" I tried again, but the only response was the eerie silence that hung heavy in the air. Panic surged within me as I scanned the barren landscape of the island. How had I ended up here?

The portal. It was always the portal's fault. We had been exploring the underwater realms, moving from one area to another. I had kept close to them, never straying too far. We had entered a deep cave, a gateway to a different place. "Did we just go through a portal?" I had asked. "Yes, and we’re about to go through another one," she had replied.

We had reached another tunnel, and she had shouted, "Stay close!" But it was too late. A powerful current had swept me away, dragging me into the abyss. The next thing I knew, I was flying out of the water, propelled by the portal’s force, and landing hard on this rocky island. I must have been unconscious for hours, as I was completely dry.

Lost and alone, I could see land in the distance. A glimmer of hope. I decided to explore it, but first, I made a vision connection with Hydra. "Hydra, it’s Nox. I’m alive. Are you okay?" I asked. "I’m fine; I’m glad you’re too, but where are you?" she replied. "I don’t know. I’m on an island. A stone island," I said, trying to see through her eyes, but I didn’t recognize anything either.

"There are many islands like that. Can you describe it better?" she asked. "It’s not far from the land. There are sandy beaches," I replied. "I think I know where you are. There’s a place like that near the jungle," she said. "Maybe that’s it. Can we meet at the river?" I suggested. "Sure. It shouldn’t be too far if you go right after the island when you face the land. Got it?" she asked. "Got it. Thank you. See you there," I said.

Using my shapeshifting ability, I transformed into a giant fire eagle and soared into the sky. I hoped to find the jungle that I had seen in the past and had been told about now, but it eluded me. I was unsure of which continent I was on, and Hydra’s guidance was vague at best. Yet, I felt a thrill of adventure as I flew over the vast landscape, searching for signs of life.

Forests appeared on the horizon, and I headed towards them, but they were silent and empty. No animals stirred among the trees, and no birds sang in the air. Only plains, woods, and a lone mountain greeted me. I realized then that I had stumbled upon a new and unknown land, potentially one that had not been mapped or explored by anyone. Curious and hopeful, I continued my flight, hoping to encounter someone or something.

However, my hope quickly turned to fear when I spotted two dark shapes in the sky behind me. They were Shadow dragons, armed with deadly weapons that crackled with electricity. They had spotted me and were closing in fast. In a panic, I flew higher, trying to reach the cover of the clouds. But they were faster and smarter than me. They vanished from my sight, only to reappear moments later on my tail. They fired their weapons at me, sending jolts of pain through my body. I refused to fall. I sped up and looked for a place to hide or escape. I thought I had lost them when they stopped firing and disappeared again. I breathed a sigh of relief and tried to change back into my original dragon form, hoping to blend in better with the environment.

But to my horror, nothing happened. My shapeshifting powers were gone. I had no idea why or how, but it was not because of the portal. I had changed into this eagle form willingly after crossing it. Something else was blocking my powers. Confused and scared, I decided to leave this place as soon as possible. I turned around and headed for the sea, hoping to find another land that was safer and friendlier.

But it was too late. The two Shadow dragons reappeared without warning and shot at me again. This time, they hit me with a net of energy that wrapped around me and immobilized me. I struggled and squirmed, trying to break free or turn into a cloud of flames. But nothing worked. My powers were completely suppressed. I was trapped and helpless.

I hated this feeling more than anything. It reminded me of how powerless I had been before the lessons with the guardians and Freya. It made me feel like an animal caught in a snare, waiting for its doom.

With a heavy heart, I surrendered to my fate.