World Between: Chapter 2 part 1

Sofia and Aaron looked down towards the small crowd as Meisa walked back now. “Everyone who required healing received it. We’re still taking some statements. But given some of the details we liked everyone able to be prepared to assist any Wind affinities, in case of a possible emergency.” Meisa raised her hand and snapped her fingers, producing a small burst of wind before most in the crowd even got a chance to just the growing murmurs of concern. “I’m sure fear seems like the natural response to many of you right now, and I don’t know how much my assurance is really worth. But we are ready, and no matter what happens there is a plan for it.” There was a brief pause before she sighed. “It’s going to be a difficult time for all of us. But if we all look after each other, no one is going to be seriously harmed. Which as someone is in danger at the moment, makes it rather comforting to be here. In this vast and diverse convergence point of acceptance. In a place that I can look around, and see a creature I’ve never even heard of before fitting in like it's nothing. Just… Just looking after each like that, and it’ll all work out.” Meisa kind of chuckled with somewhat watery eyes as the group cheer before walking off with her. Leaving Sofia and Aaron once again alone on the balcony.

“So what’s back there?” Sofia questioned. Aaron looked at her confused. “This other world of yours. What’s so special about it that is worth dragging people back into it?”

“They wouldn’t just leave.” Aaron rebutted. “We’re not dragging anyone back.” 

“So what is so special about it?” Sofia asked again.

“Why does there have to be something special?” Aaron raised his voice a bit.

“I mean it’s not necessary.” Sofia stated. “But you’re so convinced no one would want to come here, I would think you’d have at least one reason.”

“So people just up and travel to another world by default?” Aaron responded. “We had problems, sure, but running away isn’t going to solve them.”

“Depends on the problem. I mean when there’s a flood you relocate.” Sofia replied as Aaron walked away. “You’re really gonna catch up with them? We both know what that rock slide was.”
“You do what you want. I’m not just gonna run from my problems.” Aaron stated as he left. He paid to have a wagon help him get up to where the others were fast enough, but they would only take to where the harpies were nesting. He turned as he heard a female grunt while checking the supplies. “Jen?” Jen looked up at him. Now in a mage looking robes holding a white ball in her hand crackling with out of place green lighting.

“Hey…” Jen greeted Aaron awkwardly before putting her light magic away. “Turns out picking wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be.”

“What are you?” Aaron seemed frustrated, but paused as Jill walked over.

“Aaron, this is my sister, Jill.” Jen stated. “Jill, this is Aaron. He was sort of helping me find you…. For a while.”

“Oh.” Jill stated a little surprised. “Well, thank you. Were you… um… well what brings you here?.. The-”

“I get it.” Aaron interrupted. “We are bringing people home” He stated looking at Jen.

“We were.” Jen stated. “And I guess you still plan to try, but maybe the rest of your plans could reframe harming a massive amount of bystanders?”

“Bystanders like your friends?” Aaron replied. “Like your family?”

“Like other people’s family probably.” Jill replied. “Jen and I are really the only family we have.”
“Some family…” Aaron replied.

“She thought I’d be here.” Jen stated. “And I’m not really sure why I wasn’t anymore.”

“Did she think you’d be a Harpy t-... too?” Aaron stated as he began to look around as several male and female Harpies now circle him.

“Harpies are tied to a Wind affinity. As such they’re usually explorers and adventurers, neither of which are tribalist qualities.” Jen explained.

“My sister is home. So are several of our friends,” Jill stated gesturing to the Harpies around. “and none of them are leaving without a fight.”

Unable to wait any longer as some Harpies began to close in. Jared, Cain, and Anna ventured into the cave. There were several tunnels blowing a fierce wind for several seconds before calming down, and then picking up again. It became a mad dash to find and get to some kind of safe spot in each of the tunnels. Jared finding a way through first, and Cain making it last.

“About time slowpoke.” Odina flying down with the mixture of wings and arms leaning to her blue skinned human half before landing with her bird legs and talons. “I was starting to think only a third of you hadn’t come to your senses.”

“Well I don’t know what happened to the others yet, I am only aware of one traitor to our cause.” Jared stated.

“Disappointing as ever.” Odina sighed before flapping a wing the swift gust setting off one bell, which began ringing outwards into several others. A duantling loud noise slowly filled the room, and Odina vanished with an impressive speed. Cain expected Jared to be hit first, but Anna quickly pulled him back just in time. Or so they thought as one bell launched a shockwave out hitting both of them. Another shockwave pushed into Jared's right hip just before one went into his left hip. Eventually all dove to the ground with Cain going for a bell in the process. The moment he grabbed it. That bell tower, and all of its effects vanished into smoke.

“Don’t you guys have combat rules or something?!” Cain shouted as he crawled. “This isn’t fair!”
“Fair?” Odina gripped the shirt on Jared’s back, and flew to the roof of the cave before dropping him on to Cain. “You caused a rock slide directly under my home.” Anna was swiftly kicked backwards as she struggled toward the giant gem. “You intend to bring my species to extinction.” several large shock waves fired at once. “You reduced this whole world population by a 3rd.” Odina gripped Anna this time and threw her into a corner. “You’d force me back home if you could…”  She landed next to a bell panting slightly. “There’s far too much at stake to be playing fair.” She took a deep breath, and raised up both her wings. Only to lower them. “Jasper slug…” She grumbled as the group stumbled up. (They seem weaker than me right now, at least. Still… doing any wind magic is gonna be tough after that much shifting.) She thought to herself. (Wait…) “What are you doing?...” She questioned as Jared moved with more purpose than the others. “You don’t even have the strength left to get over here. Let alone through a pun-” There were two loud booms, and Odina turned around. Moving as fast as she could towards a severely cracked gem before Jared managed to bear hug her. 

“You’re right.” Anna stated walking up to the gem. “There’s too much at stake to play fair.” Swing her body with what strength she had left to the gem. “That’s why we got a few easy to hide bombs on the...way…” Jared caught Anna as she fell, leaving Odina to collapse. Jen’s focus turned to concern as Jill gripped her head in pain. No one was able to do much as Aaron stumbled away. Leaving with the rest of the group. Odina stumbled towards Jen before passing out. Curling up on a male in process. Beside that most of the Harpies around were settling down fairly fast. While everyone seemed alright for now, Jen had one thing on her mind. She had to help stop this.