"I want you all to know that it's very dangerous to face the Drust, and seldom few have ever come back from this. If you decide not to enter the portal, no one will hold it against you."
The world around them is in ruins. His people injured. Himself too. The portal opens with a crack; a great light seeping out onto the land. They are quick to flood in, away from the bird and the rot and the evil at their heels. But Campbell falters.
He has a life here. A child. Few others of the Foxrun can say that. Was he just meant to leave them? Evain had said...
It doesn’t matter. The bird makes the choice for him. He’s turning to regard Mozelle, still here with him, when Sparrowhawk launches itself towards the portal, one talon reaching out to rip him through with them.Â
There’s a terrible pain and then, as quickly as it starts... Nothing. He feels... nothing. A cold and empty desolation swaddling him and pulling him through. And then, with a flash of blinding light, he feels everything.
Every pain and agony he has ever suffered suddenly multiplied tenfold, caving in on top of him one after the next after the next. His fears and wants and cravings and awful desires, seeping blood red fingers into his chest and pulling his essence from within; feeding on it. Gorging themselves full.
Campbell sees himself and all selves of him that might have ever existed, floating in the endless dark. Each of them tortured for sins he has never seen transpired. Campbell sees his wife and his child and his dog... Oh he never asked someone to take care of the dog... Hopefully the staff at the Hall will take care of her...
He closes his eyes. Breathes. And opens them again to warm light. Sun. Wind. The ground beneath him is soft. Lush. Endless rolling fields.
"What... where...where am I?" he groans, managing to sit up; his arm held against his chest. Still injured. "Captain?" he calls, struggling to his feet. "Lady Evain? Where..."
Campbell's cutoff at the sound of beating wings. Deafeningly loud but not painful. No. Reassuring. A great being, blue and shining and shimmering against the light; wings of white and gold.
"Do not fear, mortal," the great creature calls. Voice melodic and calm. "Welcome... to Bastion."











