"I know," Rhianon mumbled. She led them farther down the street. "Miss Hunt," she continued in a whisper. "Do you happen to know of any… safe areas around here?" She proceeded to talk loudly, fawning over the city and the school and everyday things.
Tess nodded, acting like she was agreeing with her. "Two blocks from here. Left side. Between two really fancy restaurants."
He smiled along with Tess, putting a hand on his side exactly where he had been stabbed on the side. "They have enchanted weapons. Silver knives and something else that cut through a wall I through at them."
Rhianon cursed in her native tongue. "Faebane. Negates all kinds of magic." (I'm stealing the faebane from my fav author, so no credit is being taken)
(I have to eat, I'll be back when I'm done)
"So it has to be hand to hand?" he asked, putting an arm around Tess's shoulder with a smile. They're getting antsy…
Rhianon nodded. "Or I concoct some form of countermeasure against the faebane."
Tessa nudged the two over. "Right here." Directly to the left of them from across the street was a large and relatively clean alley between two restaurants.
"How are we supposed to play off going in there?"
"Hey guys, I know a shortcut." Tessa said out loud. "Follow me." She grinned and waved them over, darting across the street. Rhianon chuckled. "Ah, that girl is just full of energy." and quickly followed.
He followed last, feeling the three's blood go up. They're trying to kill me now.
As soon as all three of them were in the alley, Rhianon grabbed them both and stepped back. The world around them folded in on itself. Reality distorted and crystallized and shattered. Wind tore at them as it whispered in their ears. The birds sung backwards. And then…
And then nothing.
They were standing in an endless void. Odd creatures floated around and wondered the flat plane. Black grass swayed and crunched beneath their feet. The sky was a swirling and warping mixture of gray and white and black. It was neither dark nor light.
Tessa broke away from the group and slowly spun in circles as she took in their new surroundings. "Whoa…." she breathed.
Runner winced the second he got his bearings, putting a hand against his left ear. "One of the earplugs fell out." But he felt oddly at home in this place. Like he belonged here.
Rhianon watched the two with a blank expression, disguise gone. "This is the Between. The space between realities and time. You will be safe here." She flicked a hand, and the missing earpiece was in her outstretched palm.
He took it gently from her hand, slipping it back into his ear. "Thanks."
Runner seemed to hesitate for a moment, then asked, "Was this place where I was born?"
"Yes." Rhianon watched him wearily. Tessa was crouched next to a monstrous dog-like creature.
"I thought so. This place seems…familiar."
Rhianon nodded, then turned as Tessa yelped. The dog creature had snapped at Tessa when she got close. "Be careful. The creatures here are mischievous."
"So am I." Tess shot back and proceeded to chase after the creature.
Runner grinned slightly as she chased the animal around. "Should we stop her?"
Rhianon sighed. "Is there any way to stop her?" From her tone, it was clear she knew there was no stopping Tessa.
"Well….good point, I guess." He ducked under a whale-like creature as it flew over his head, frowning.
Rhianon easily ducked under it as well. "These creatures dwell here, occasionally transporting random people to different worlds or timelines for some time or playing pranks such as starting wars or altering someone's fate. They are not to be trifled with." The last part was directed towards Tessa, who was playing a game of catch-me-if-you-can with the dog creature.
"She isn't gonna listen until she gets hurt." He rubbed the right side of his jaw as he studied the sky, smiling slightly.
"Blech!" Tess was under the dog, turning her scrunched up face as it covered her with it's two slobbery tongues. "That is gross, dude."
Runner looked back over to Tessie, letting out a sigh. "Should I go help, at least?"
Rhianon watched the encounter, her black eyes devoid of any concern. "I suppose you could try."
He made his way over to the two, patting the dog on the side with a smile. "זה מספיק, buddy, she's taken."
The creature whined and gave Tess one last double kiss–earning an "Ech!" from Tessa for its trouble–before backing away.
An amused smile crept onto his lips as he offered his hand to Tess. "Seems like you've been cheating on me."
She took it. "What can I say? I'm a one of a kind catch."
He planted his feet and leaned back slightly, pulling her to her feet. "For once, we agree."