Snippet #2765793

It was with a certain apprehension that he followed along. But there was no resistance. It almost felt like there was a purpose beyond just following, as the little girl gripped their hands. It was firm but gentle. Aaron caught Tahra looking at him. They almost looked like two parents being led along by their child. The idea sat strange with Aaron as he mulled it over for a brief moment. He had never thought about kids.

The salty air called him back to reality. Or what he thought was reality, at least. Aaron had always enjoyed the air by the ocean. It left his hair and his skin feeling a certain way and his clothes smelling like salty and fresh air. But he had no time to notice this; partially because they both smelled of smoke and partially because he had plenty of other things on his mind.
"...pier 39?"

"Huh?" He didn't know what she was talking about, but the way he could feel the air change as Tahra calmed down, had the same effect on him.

He would have stopped and gaped if he wasn't being led by the girl. There were restaurants and shops surrounding them now. Moments ago, he was in the street, having just escaped the fire. And if you asked him, Aaron couldn't tell you how he got here. It felt like some sort of smooth transition of which he had no clear memory. It felt.. Hazy. As if the haze of the wisps clouded his mind as well.

Magic...

No sooner had he thought it than the little girl performed a little more. She deftly rid them of the padlock on the carousel.
"I bet it is." Aaron looked at Tahra with a smirk. She had a certain way about her when she had moments like this, where she would stop and not hold that stray thought that came into her mind. A stray thought that tore away from all the chaos and the unfamiliarity of their situation. It soothed him. Probably because he was sort of like that himself.
He watched Tahra go through the newly opened portal.

Portal, right? Doorway? Passageway? Aaron’s mind raced. He had no idea about magic. And that struck him at that very moment. He had discovered and had been thrust into this magical, mythological world, but had no knowledge of it. But he agreed with Tahra. They followed.

Stepping through felt like stepping through the finest, thinnest silk sheet. As if someone dragged it across his body and over his head. His mind felt hazy again and it was hard to focus. Then, seemingly far off, something started to materialize and become clearer. He began to sense the shape of trees in the distance. Then music filled the air vaguely, drifting on the breeze. There was also a certain smell, the smell of…

“Horse?” Aaron had reached out and was touching something furry and firm and warm. The scent of horse filled his nostrils. When he could focus, he looked up.

“Would you mind?”

The voice was deep and booming. Echoing with a rumble from within a wide, strong chest. Aaron nearly fell over as he saw the centaur towering above him.

“S.. Sorry. Uh. Pardon.” He managed to stutter. He lingered for a moment, but decided to move on. The centaur shook its head and chuckled. It seemed like this wasn’t the first time it had happened. That made it slightly better. He quickly caught up with Tahra, half-smirking.

“Can’t even be here for 5 minutes without groping someone…” He sighed. “Though.. I am not quite sure where here is.” Around them were tents and trees. The tents were more sporadically spread where they were, which lead him to believe they were on the outskirts of some sort of camp. The trees seemed to thin as he looked toward the direction of the music and the noise and the light. In the distance he could make out wooden buildings as well. Built from huge logs. There also seemed to be a large hill as well, that loomed over the camp ominously. “Whatever this place is I hope they’ll share food. I am starving.” Aaron made a face and looked at Tahra.