Another chapter for my fanfiction, hope you guys have been enjoying the story thus far. We get a little glimpse of what they are facing..and I hope you can visual it...Anyways, don't forget to R&R as always...PEACE!

Chapter 5 – Primeval

Garr was the first to arrive, and he was sure to stay near the portal and wait for his companions. Dragnier didn't have the kindest folk towards his guardian heritage. "They should be here soon." He said in a gruff voice, slightly irritated with everyone's tardiness.

A little while have gone by, perhaps an hour or so and finally the group had started to arrive. The first would be Ryu.

"Took you long enough." Garr said with an annoyed undertone in his voice apparent.

Ryu could only smile towards the guardian and give him a slight shrug. He headed towards the door after a few short moments.

"Ryu?" Garr raised his voice to call out after the dragon prince, but to no avail. "Ah,I suppose he misses his people."

After some time everyone made their appearance, Nina, Momo & Rei who seemingly traveled together.

"Where's Ryu?" Rei said in a spirited voice, looking around in a half-assed manner for his younger brother.

"Oh he went on ahead." Nina spouted abruptly before covering her mouth, her cheeks turning a pinkish hue.

"And how would the Wyndian Princess know this?" Rei jested towards her, his ears perked and his took on a joyous light having poked fun at Nina's fascination with Ryu.

"Oh hush." Momo said and caught the tiger in the ribs with a swift, but playful elbow. "Let's catch up to him."

And without delay the group took their leave of the portal and made way to streets of Dragnier.

YYYYY

The group caught up with the prince, he was parading around the streets greeting everyone. It seemed every time Ryu made an appearance, they held a gathering of some sort.

"Our beloved Prince has returned to us." they spouted through cheers of victory and hurrah's of joyous chanting. Everyone loved him dearly, and he returned their affectionate graciously. Taking notice of his companions, Ryu called them over with a smile adorning his youthful visage. Apparently the elder had a feast planned for them.

Walking into the tent of the elder, the group took their seats upon the floor, awaiting their feast.

"Elder, I'm sure Ryu has informed you." Garr said but was interrupted by the newly appointed elder.

"Of course, of course. But much rather, Ladon has told us of this perilous time before hand." The elder motioned for the food to be brought for all, but more so for their prince and his companions. "Please, enjoy your stay here. Eat, drink and rest for you have a great evil to face tomorrow and you will need your strength."

And so everyone did as they were instructed, they enjoyed themselves. Indulging in the small array of spiced meats and oddity vegetables, they laughed and shared fond memories with one another. Every once in awhile a brood would share their story, however they were not bitter for they received their justice through the works of their prince.

Before long only a few stragglers were left, most had turned in for the night.

"Wheeeelp." Rei said in a drawn out manner as he stretched skywards. "I'm off to bed, I'm beat. Catch you guys tomorrow." Scratching the back of his head, the tiger took his leave from the group and to the tent which was arranged to be their sleeping quarters.

"I think I am too." Momo hesitated to act upon her words, but before long she was also leaving the tent and following after Rei.

One after another everyone turned in for the night to their bed.

The tent was somewhat crowded, and everyone was nearly huddled together. Garr commanded a space of his own, that's to say he had an area all to himself and everyone was rather pleased for the guardian was too bulky anyways. Rei and Momo seemed to have gotten over their petty fights and have grown closer, even physically speaking they were getting closer for they fell asleep near one another.

Ryu couldn't take it much longer though and he sat up in a sweat, it was too crowded and it made the room feel sticky.

"Ryu?" A quiet,young voice spoke up and Nina stirred lightly as she felt Ryu's movements. He looked to her with a reassuring smile, and stroked a stray lock of hair from her face. She reminded him of an angel, and he knew he must gather the resolve to lead this team in order to protect her.

"I'm fine...just catching some fresh air." Ryu spoke eerily as he arose from his position and walked outside the tent. Placing her hand where her prince once rested, Nina closed her eyes and began to drift back to sleep.

Ryu needed to consult Ladon, he was doubting himself and wanted answers to this being he was to fight come sun rise.

"Come forth, young prince." A voice emanated from the stone tablature, carved in the shape of Ladon.

Heeding the words of his God, Ryu stepped forth slowly, his vision slowly become blurred and meshing with his surroundings. Before long he's down upon one knee, his hand resting firmly against his head. The room was spinning and warping into a makeshift dimensional hole.

"Uhh...La..Ladon?" Ryu said while fighting the will to spew vomit on the ground before him.

He felt as if he had blacked out and lost sense of time and direction.....space even. He couldn't tell his surroundings, and all at once a surge of light came at him. "Open your eyes...and behold."

Ryu arose from his panicked state to find himself in the desert, and beside him a flickering bright light which his eyes couldn't peer into without having to turn away. "Do not fear, my young prince. It is I, Ladon. Look to your enemy, and know what you must face...what you must do."

He squinted his cerulean eyes upon a small void which slowly began to form in the distance over the horizon. "Wha...what is it?" He said in a spooked voice, his face losing all color and falling pale. For what he witnessed, sent even a sense of fear down his spine.

The sky was scorched and claps of thunder sang a malefic tune accompanied by dancing streaks of white lightning. A maelstrom of evil whirlpooled into a central point where an ominous being slowly arose from it's slumber, from the depths of hell itself. The desolate, ruined land was beaten with horrific tornado winds and cries of anguish spilled forth from the beasts past victims whose remains still linger and haunt the land it resided in.

Looking closer, Ryu felt a very real shock run its course as a pair of abysmal black eyes which even the shadows avoided, stared him down as if peering into his very soul. "Come...and I shall liberate your soul to a world of anguish you've never dreamed." it said in a deep, resounding voice.

YYYYY

Ryu sat up, gasping for air and clasping his throat. Shaking and breathing heavily he ran a hand through his hair...was it a dream?

He would find out before long.

Waking himself up, he got ready to set out. Leaving the tent, he looked upon his companions with a look of worry and fear apparent.

Nodding to them at once, Ryu led them to set off to the desert to confront an evil unlike any they have ever witnessed...And he knew, they wouldn't survive.