Chapter 26

The landscape rapidly shifted as Niko darted through the forest, the trees shimmering, their leaves fading in and out of reality as though a dream. The land streaked by, blurring as he ran, though not all of that was due to his speed. The wandering realm played by its own rules and seemed to take great satisfaction in imposing them on whoever traveled through. But for those who knew how to bend those rules, rather than a maddening labyrinth of shifting reality, it became ... well, it was still a pain.

Forests gave way to grasslands. Those soon turned to the clear waters of the ocean, shades of creatures below the surface merely echoes of themselves, neither fully formed nor permanent. His paws ran easily atop the surface, every step sending a shimmering ripple across the waves, eventually swallowed up by the world.

Distance and physics meant little in this realm. Oceans shrank to ponds, cracks grew to canyons, and a single step could take one as far as a thousand miles away. Without something to anchor to, even with the keenest of senses, one could lose themselves in the wild, having no choice but to return home emptyhanded.

Niko had such an anchor. Several, in fact. Bouncing between the elders’ territories, which they hopefully didn’t notice or mind, he narrowed in on the song. Different from before, no longer the double melody but a melancholy cry, it was still the Freiji. The chords vibrated against those nearby, the barely perceptible echo of the others the telltale hint of where they were in the wandering realm.

The ocean receded behind Niko, his claws now digging into the soft loam, the call echoing all around him.

He was close.

The wall of cold hit him as he crossed the shimmering threshold, his paws sinking deep into the snow while flakes fell sporadically from above. His breath condensed in the air, a heavy cloud hanging there as he panted.

That uncomfortable feeling settled over him as the territory weighed down upon him. Not oppressive, but certainly not pleasant. Stronger than he’d been expecting, but then again, ‘strong’ was what they were after.

A massive mountain towered above, oddly familiar, reaching toward the sky like a carved spike. Miles of snowy hills, frozen streams, and icy pine forests radiated from that central point. Even the clouds seemed to circle the peak, moving ponderously across the azure sky, the blazing sun just behind the mountain.

Settling himself just inside the territory, Niko perked his ears, listening to the clear call that rang out now. No longer that soulful cry, the double harmony had returned, joining the chorus.