[IC] Through the Portal

[TheUnknowable]

James Williams, or Jimmy as some people call him, lit a twig on fire with his Zippo and used it to light the outside of the fire he was building. After it lit, he started adding more wood, building it up until he could put the tripod for their cooking pot over it. "Ok, fire's built." he said to the rest of his group.

He had partied up with the other "Earthers" the day before and they had made their way back to where it all began, a clearing in the middle of a forest. Various stone pillars were in a rough circle around a platform in the center, the same rune-covered platform where all of them had appeared roughly two months ago. If they were to find a way back home, this place would be the best place to start working.

They had been brought here by magic, however, and while Jimmy understood enough about it for a few basic tricks, he doubted he would be any help in discovering the secrets of this place. That's why he'd started setting up camp about five meters east of the Runic ruins, and was now concerning himself with supper, as the sun was nearing the horizon.

"Anyone need me to forage? I could maybe hunt something if y'all want some fresh meat instead. This trail mix and jerky we bought ain't the best I've had."

[Almosegosum]

Dr Eric Caron

Dr. Caron glared at the darkness around the camp. He had not been very happy to travel around the wilds, been very happy to meet the new people and interesting cultures, ecstatic over the though of learning and mastering magic, and now he was again miserable - in the forest, quite near where they first arrived. His eyes flicked to the fire, looking across the others, before he looked towards the woods again. "I am afraid that might... are you sure you wish to go scavenging alone? Perhaps we should stay together. I can't sense any people out there, but there is something out there-" He sighed and rubbed his temples - He could really do with a drink. "The jerky does not seem that bad, right?" He looked at the other man, Williams was it? - He did seem rather competent, but they had only been at it for a few months. Out of habit and nerves, he straightened his tie and dusted off his pants, before he looked at the woods again.

[Polaris North]

Emi Ushikida

Two months ago, everything had changed for the young girl. She had somehow been transported somewhere (she had eventually found out that it was because of magic) and then was forced to live in that world without any knowledge of what it actually was and its history. Thankfully enough, they use the same language as them. Or at least, they speak English, which she had been particularly good at despite her educational background. Through those two months, she had learned basic lightning magic... and that she was actually nimbler and more fit than she was back on Earth. She could jump from one building to the next, dodge at a moment's notice and so on. It was fun. It was also easier to pickpocket and steal from the people here and the guards are nothing. Their technology wasn't very advanced either so they had no idea what a 'camera' is leading to her being able to baffle the minds of many magicians. That, in itself, was the best feeling ever. She should learn how to materialize those pictures before she runs out of memory. Should be easy enough. She had been living the good life with a lot of gold in her pouch, much thanks to her advanced pickpocketing and hunting skills.

Though now, she had been discovered by other people from Earth. The day before, they had found her taking pictures and explained to her that they were from the same planet. While she had highly enjoyed herself in this planet, she was also eager to get back to Earth. After all, Tatsuo must be worried sick and Ayumi must have hired a search party for her youngest photographer. So, she agreed to party up with these strangers and then headed back to where they had appeared. Oh, she remembered that place. She was all confused when she appeared on this planet and had stumbled blindly on another town where she learned about everything.

Emi had been browsing through her photos when the fire was lit. She lowered it when James suggested to go and scavenge but then Doc Eric suggested not to, as staying together would be ideal. He seemed rather nervous. Then again, Doc Eric always seems to have this nervous energy around him. "I mean, the jerky ain't too bad. I could come with him since I'm pretty much good with shooting my bow and stuff." She was younger than any of them and by at least a decade but she learned that she could openly speak and suggest things. "But you know, all up to you guys." But she also thinks that, out of respect, she could only give so much input.

[TheUnknowable]

Jimmy was about to tell them he didn't mind if they came along when he heard the leaves rustle in a way that the wind wouldn't move them. He activated his infrared sight and looked around, careful not to look at the fire and hurt his eyes. About twenty meters to the west of the ruins he saw a group of creatures moving towards them. "I don't think we'll have to leave. That way, twenty-five meters. Looks like four of them." He pointed in the direction of the creatures and pickup up his bow, knocking a wooden native arrow but not drawing the bow back.

A few seconds later four wolves came out of the underbrush, the one in the lead slightly large than the others. Probably the Alpha of this pack. Jimmy pointed his bow at the creature, ready to pull it back should it attack.

[Almosegosum]

Dr Eric Caron

Dr. Caron got up from where he was sat, and took a deep breath - keeping his eyes on the largest of the four - he expanded his psychic presence. While not something physically observable - animals and to a lesser extent, humanoids could feel it much like a pressure on their spirits. Making a tentative psychic connection to the wolves - he conveyed feelings of reluctance for conflict, but the willingness to destroy should a challenge be made. He did his best to channel his irritation at the situation into a stance that conveyed similar ideas. "I have never killed a wolf before - but I am cold, and this coat is doing nothing for it." His eyes flicked to the others before it went back to the wolves. False bravado. "Remember, The first law of conflict, never split - either the party or damage. We take out the leader first if needed."

[Polaris North]

Emi Ushikida

The rustling made Emi's hand shoot for her bow and then made the other hand go straight for an arrow. When James told them that it seemed that they didn't have to move, she registered it as prey coming to them. She jumped up from her seat and then prepared the arrow on the string of her bow. It only took a moment or two before something emerged from the underbrush - three wolves and a slightly larger wolf that was probably their Alpha.

By the time they burst from the underbrush, however, Emi had already climbed up to one of the trees with her arrow trained onto the Alpha wolf. However, she had also tuned her attention to the others. The wolves haven't attacked yet so they were safe... for now. Who knows when they'll attack. She listened to Doc Eric and then joked, "Well, there's no time like the present to start something new." However, her eyes were still on the wolves, prepared to let the arrow loose once they made any aggressive moves towards them.

Now let's see where this goes.