Into Oblivion (Book 4) by Shawn E. Crapo

to gather in formation facing the companions. Khalid and the Dragon stepped forward, determined to clear their path. The creatures slowly stalked their way toward them, becoming clearer in the dim light.
    They were reptilian in nature; somewhat dragon-like, but with fin-shaped wings that seemed to possess no membranes. The wings were also extra appendages, not modified forelimbs like the Dragon and his priests. The creatures’ tails were smooth and long, whipping about like menacing tentacles.
    But it was their faces that startled Khalid.
    They had no eyes, just smooth, tautly-stretched skin that was pulled tight around many fanged mouths. There was no distinguishing separation of head and neck; just the razor sharp fangs lining a round, jawless mouth.
    “Frightening,” Khalid remarked.
    “Yes,” the Dragon agreed. “But they are mindless animals. We will defend ourselves as necessary, but will cause them no harm. Though they do not belong here, we will not presume to remove them.”
    Khalid nodded, resuming his steady pace as the Dragon continued forward.
    “Knock them out of the way and move on,” the Dragon said.
    As they approached, the creatures scattered, swooping around their flanks and attempting to attack from behind. Khalid turned, crossing his blades in front of him as one dived toward him. The creature’s claws came in quick, and Khalid spun and struck as the creature passed. His blade made a metallic clang as it barely scratched the tough hide.
    The Dragon twirled his own blade, chopping downward as the same creature passed by him. The impact knocked the creature to the walkway and the Dragon finished it off with a downward thrust.
    Khalid leaped past, spinning in the air and bringing his blades down at another creature diving toward the Dragon. A wing was severed and the creature screeched in pain, tumbling over the edge and disappearing into the darkness below.
    “Go!” the Dragon shouted. The two of them dashed toward the pile of corpses, leaping over them and continuing on. Khalid saw that the corpses were humanoid, but pale gray and glistening like wet leather.
    They were definitely not human.
    “What are those?” Khalid shouted.
    “I don’t know,” the Dragon replied, urging Khalid to run faster. “We’ll see a lot of strange creatures in our journey. Those are the least alien.”
    Khalid grunted, picking up his pace. Around them, the flying creatures swarmed, diving sporadically to strike at them. Ahead, the two could see the surrounding pathways becoming more visible and converging on a large spherical structure. Khalid was amazed to see the shapes of the continents on its surface.
    “It’s the world!” he exclaimed, his breath running short.
    “Very good!”
    “And it’s spinning!”
    “That’s how we’ll find the path to the inner spheres,” the Dragon explained. He pushed Khalid forward, narrowly avoid a diving creature. The Priest stumbled, catching his balance skillfully.
    “Not so hard,” Khalid protested. “You almost pushed me over the edge.”
    The Dragon chuckled. “Don’t worry,” he said. “You would have landed right back in the same place.”
    Khalid said nothing, but trusted the Dragon’s words.
    “Do you see the opening?” the Dragon shouted.
    Khalid looked ahead at the massive, spinning globe. Near their physical location on the face the actual world, there was a portal. It was slowly spinning into view, preparing to settle near the end of the pathway they were on.
    “I see it,” Khalid responded.
    “When it reaches the pathway,” the Dragon said, “jump through. We should reach it right as it opens up in our path.”
    “Understood!”
    The flying creatures began squawking loudly as the two neared the sphere. Curiously, they avoided getting too close to the structure, as if it were frightening to them. Khalid could understand. It was frightening to him as well.
    The Priest saw the opening settle down at the edge of their pathway. For a brief