Day quickly turned to night in this mysterious world, and Jack soon found himself regaining consciousness. His vision was blurry at first, unable to visualize what was around him. But after a minute, his vision began to kick back in and he could see his surroundings. 

That same animal warrior woman sat just before him, tending to a fire as what remained of the Komoger was in a sack just next to her on the ground. Besides that, Jack could see the girl was rifling through his backpack full of supplies, as well as some of the layers of clothing Jack had worn previously before he was knocked out. Luckily, the woman kept him clothed, in thinner pants and a black t-shirt. 

"Well look who decided to wake up! Thanks a lot, human, you got us both caught by this Cyoman." A familiar, and annoying voice spoke to Jack as he looked up. Hanging from a tree branch above him, in a small cage made from sticks and twine, was the same blue fairy he was supposedly linked to. She looked just as unhappy as she did when the two met earlier. 

"Well sorry, but i'm not exactly from this world, so I don't quite know how things work. I didn't realize you've got hybrid creatures and people running around here attacking whatever crosses their paths, so pardon me for saying this, but shut the hell up, you little brat!" Jack yelled back at the fairy which caught the attention of the Cyoman, as the fairy called the animal-like person prior. The woman stood up, walked over to Jack, unsheathed one of her sickles, and then crouched down in front of him. Jack would normally have ran, but this woman ensured he couldn't by tying his wrists and feet together. 

"What are you? And why do you have a fairy with you?" The woman asked as she put the end of her sickle near Jack's neck. 

"Woah, woah, woah, easy there. Obviously you're skilled with your weapon, and I can't really do anything here, so i'm in no way a threat to you, alright? Secondly, I didn't choose to have this little flying insect person with me, but apparently we're 'linked' to one another, or so she tells me. If it were up to me, I never would've met her." Jack explained as the animal woman put her sickle even closer to Jack which made him worry. Any closer and she'd be stabbing him in the neck. 

"You didn't answer my question about what you are." She said to him in a bit of a ticked off tone. 

"Hurry up and answer her before she kills the both of us!" The fairy pleaded. 

"Ah, hold up, I was getting to that!" Jack quickly said as the Cyoman, as the fairy called her, brought her weapon away to give Jack some breathing room. "Don't know if you really care much about it, but my name is Jack Mannings, and I am a human."

"Impossible. You can't be a human." The Cyoman told Jack as he was more confused than terrified now. 

"Wait, what? But that's literally what I am, just a plain ol' human. Ask the fairy, she seems to know a lot about humans too." Jack said as the Cyoman stood up so she was eye-to-eye with the fairy. 

"Well? Speak the truth or I toss you in the fire." The Cyoman threatened as the fairy back into one of the far corners of her wooden cage. 

"He's telling the truth! The two of us are linked, just look for the marking on him! Surely you must know about that!" The fairy explained as the Cyoman looked back down at Jack and picked him up onto his feet by his shirt. 

"Wait, marking? What marking? If it's like a tattoo, then I don't got any on me at all." Jack told her. 

"Well you do now because we're linked! Hey, Cyoman, check his back, that's where it'd be!" The fairy explained as the Cyoman suddenly tore off Jack's shirt and turned him around. And there, engraved in the centre of his back was a smaller version of the same rune that Jack, Suzie, and Max had found while climbing Mt. Everest. 

"Well i'll be damned.... a real human.... One hasn't been seen in over 500 years...." The Cyoman said as she turned Jack back around to face her. She then used her sickle to cut the rope binding Jack's hands and feet. "I apologize for this. No human has been seen for centuries, it was believed your species had went extinct."

"That's it? Because i'm a human, you're sorry? Can someone please, just, tell me what the hell is going on here?" Jack said as the Cyoman was currently freeing the fairy from her cage. When she did, the fairy flew down and landed on Jack's right shoulder. 

"My name is Dewdrop Leroute. You may call me 'Dew.' And you have been brought to my world. The land of Thendra. Where the people and ecosystem are one." The Cyoman explained. 

"Well, Dew, that doesn't really tell me very much. So could you please go just a little more into detail?" Jack asked her.

"Look, i'm trying my best, but giving a history lesson about my world isn't easy since i'm trying to remember centuries worth of info, so give me a break, okay? Anyways, if my memory is correct, you're from a land called "Earth," right?" Dew asked as Jack gave her a nod. "Okay, so far so good. Humans like you don't actually live here in Thendra. Instead, humans are transported here by this rune that an ancient civilization worshipped thousands of years ago here. Couldn't really tell you anything about them, sorry."

"Even I don't know much about them. And i'm almost 200 years old." The fairy said as she sat down on Jack's shoulder now. 

"Hold up, before you continue, can I please get a name out of you, ya little fairy? If we're stuck together, then I'd really like to know it, instead of calling you some cheesy nickname." Jack asked the fairy as she sighed and gave him a nod. 

"Well, Jack, my name is Dru. Are you happy now?" The fairy told him as Jack now sighed. 

"Dew and Dru. Great, i'm sure I won't mix up the two of you at all..." Jack said as he gestured for Dew to continue. 

"Alright, where was I....? Oh, right, the ancient civilization! They also had this legend of a great prophecy that would one day come to pass. 3 humans would emerge in our world and begin an age of chaos. During that period, a great evil would reveal itself. One human shall choose the path of light. Another will fall to the evil. And the third human, they must make a choice, whether to side with the light, or to side with the great evil. And.... as much as I wish it was just a legend.... i'm afraid that great evil is very much real." Dew told them as Jack grew more curious. 

"How so?" Jack replied. 

"A few years ago, within the kingdom of our land, our once great king was slain. His eldest daughter took his life in his sleep and fled, leaving the younger of his two daughters to claim the throne. Now the daughter who killed him has formed an army of her own, nearly as unrivaled as the kingdom's royal army. Soon, war will break out in our world. The two sisters will clash, and amidst their chaos, only death will follow." Dew spoke. 

"So you think Jack here is one of these three humans who've been sent to this world to defeat the great evil?" Dru asked as Dew gave a hesitant nod.

"It's possible. By any chance, did you come with 2 other humans?" Dew asked him as Jack gave her a nod. 

"Yes, I did. My friends, Suzie and Max, their siblings. I've not a clue where they could be though." Jack told her. 

"Well.... if anyone would know, it would be my guild master. He has many connections throughout Thendra. If word went around about more humans wandering this land, he'd hear about it." Dew replied as she stood up and started climbing into a tree. "I'm sure you're wanting to see my guild master now, but with all the creatures roaming around in the dark, it would be suicide to travel at this time. In the morning, I shall take you to my village. I advise you find a tree to sleep in as well. Otherwise, you may have an unpleasant awakening from another Komoger. Or something far worse...."

"Why do all this for me? You only just met me, but you're acting as if i'm your greatest hero. Why?" Jack asked as he put on a new shirt before climbing up into a tree of his own. 

"Because i'm hoping you will be. If this prophecy is real, then I hope you choose the side of the light and fight to save Thendra. And I hope whichever of your other two friends has to choose between good and evil, that they side with you. For everyone's sake...." Dew told him as she removed a small sack from the belt she wore. She opened it and tossed out some water onto the fire down below, putting it out so it wouldn't attract anything nearby. She then nestled down on her tree branch and drifted off into a deep sleep. For Jack however, he was still trying to take it all in. 

"Another world.... how the hell did we even get here? And a prophecy? It's like something out of a kids fantasy book. Boy, do I hope she's wrong about all this..." Jack said to himself as Dru now fell asleep, laying down right on top of his chest. 

"Good night, Jack...." Dru said to him as she shut her eyes. 

'Seems since I calmed down a bit, so has she. Guess she wasn't lying about the linked emotions thing. Still, I've gotta watch out for this little pipsqueak now if I wanna survive this crazy place and get home. Hopefully Suzie and Max have had better luck than I did so far...' Jack thought as he now shut his eyes and soon fell asleep. 

-Hours Later-

"jack..... Jack!" Dew suddenly shouted as Jack's eyes shot open. Dew had climbed up his tree and was sitting on the branch next to him, shaking him until he had woken up. "Apologies for waking you, but we really must be going. I foresee some terrible weather coming, and I'd much rather return to my village before it hits."

"Right.... Uh, just let me gather my things and we can get going." Jack said as he sat up on his branch, only to see his backpack full of supplies was already packed up. 

"Already taken care of. Woke up a few hours ago and figured i'd take care of your packing so, when you woke up, we could just hit the road right away." Dew explained as she jumped down to the ground. Jack gently gripped Dru in his hand as she was still asleep, before jumping to the ground as well.

"And how early were you up before me?" He asked her. 

"About 5 hours. I am half Coyote, after all. We're early risers." Dew said as she tossed him his pack, which he put onto his back. She then gave him his two climbing axes, which he put both through his belt for much easier access. He may need them again real soon. "By the way, why carry such weak weapons with you? The metal that makes up those two weapons of yours, it is very frail."

"Well, in my world, they're not used as weapons. Well, other than in some movies. We typically use them for helping us climb up surfaces, like mountains. And you're calling mine weak, when your... uh, sickles? When they look like they're made of bones?" Jack said as Dew unsheathed one of her sickles to show him. 

"They are made of bone. The bones of a Gorith. In your world, I believe the two creatures that make up this one are known as a Mammoth and a Gorilla, yes? They have some of the strongest bones in all Thendra, even greater than most metals. Not once have my trusty weapons cracked. Also, what's a movie?" Dew asked as Jack remembered that things are far from the same here than in his world. 

"Uh, just forget about the movie thing. Now, uh, which way is it to your village?" Jack asked as Dew sheathed her sickle and pointed in the direction of her village. 

"It's several hours North of here. I will guide you, of course. If you would follow me." Dew spoke as the two began their trek to the village. Jack placed Dru in one of the open pockets along the shoulder straps of his pack. He left it open so she wouldn't freak at him again. 

The journey was certainly long, with the two having to traverse all sorts of terrain. From climbing small mountains, to swinging over raging pink rivers, to sneaking through fields of carnivorous flowers, Jack was terrified of each and every one. They even saw more wildlife along the way, but thankfully, they were creatures that weren't going to try and kill them. Jack was awestruck by the combinations of animals he saw. Hedgefoxes(Hedgehog/Fox), Snabbits(Snake/Rabbit), Turpigs(Turtle/Pig), Beagles(Beatle/Eagle), etc. All were amazing to him, despite some having more grotesque appearances. 

"So tell me more about your friends who've been transported here along with you? You said before that they're names were Suzie and Max, correct?" Dew asked as Jack gave her a nod. 

"That's right. They're brother and sister, Max is the older one by 2 years. And they're my best friends since, well, for as long as we've known each other. So over 20 years, I guess." Jack explained as the two came to another river, this one with purple coloured water. The two jumped on some some rocks that were sticking out of the water until they reached the other side safely. 

"And what did the three of you like to do?" Dew asked, but before Jack could answer, he heard a loud yawn. He looked down and saw Dru was waking up. 

"What'd I miss? Oh, we're on the move now? That's nice...." Dru said in a drowsy voice as she used her wings to fly up and land on Jack's left shoulder which she sat down on. 

"Not much. We're heading to Dew's village. Maybe i'll be able to get some answers as to where my friends could be. Anyways, back to you, Dew, the three of us, in your world, I guess we'd be considered adventurers. We liked to do all these crazy things, and we'd show people around the world all our wild adventures. We'd do things like ride massive waves, fall from the sky thousands of feet above the ground, go swimming with dangerous fish, and even our latest adventure, climbing our world's tallest mountain. But things obviously didn't go how we imagined at all." Jack explained, trying to use more simplistic terms so Dew could understand better. 

"I see, I see, and what about these dangerous fish? Did you slay them with your weaponry? And falling from the sky? Are you able to fly, like the Vulman people of my world?" Dew asked him. Jack assumed that 'Vulman' was a mix of Vulture and Humans. 

"Oh no, we didn't kill anything. We're not the kind of people who like to fight. And not exactly. We can't fly. Instead, we wear this pack on our backs, not like the one i'm wearing now, and when we get near the ground, it opens up to form this gliding material that lets us safely land on the ground." Jack told her as Dew looked ecstatic to hear all this. 

"Your world sounds like so much fun! And what about you, Dru? Not many people in my world have seen the hidden village of the fairies. Can you tell us anything about it?" Dew eagerly asked but Dru shook her head. 

"No can do, Dew. It's hidden for a reason. After all, as the only beings capable of using magic in this world, we don't want that power falling into the wrong hands." Dru replied as Dew simply sighed in return. 

"So how much further until we reach this village of yours, Dew?" Jack asked her. 

"Not much further. It's just in this clearing up ahead, actually." Dew explained as she lead them through a thick bunch of flower-like trees. Once through them, they came into this clearing, but there was no village in sight. In fact, there was nothing but a huge tree in the centre of this clearing. 

"Uh, I don't want to sound like a downer or anything, but I think you need to check a map. We're clearly not in the right place since I don't see any village here." Jack spoke in an unimpressed tone as Dew gave him a sly smile. 

"That's because you're not looking in the right places." Dew told him as she took in a deep breath before she began to shout at the top of her lungs. "HEY! IT'S ME, DEW!! I'M BACK, SO BRING ME UP!!"

"HEY, DEW! SURE THING, I'LL SEND IT DOWN FOR YA!" Another voice screamed from up above them. When Jack lifted his head up, he saw something incredible. It was Dew's village, and it was scattered all throughout the tree tops; bridges interconnecting everything like a huge circuit. And in mere moments, a huge wooden platform was lowered by a bunch of ropes at each corner. 

"Living in the trees helps us avoid any contact with the more dangerous wildlife. Hope you're not afraid of heights." Dew said as she grabbed Jack's arm, pulled him onto the platform which them began to rise back up into the trees. 

"This is.... wow, this is incredible! My world has a few places where structures have been built in trees, but all this, it blows it out of the water!" Jack complimented as the platform reached the top. 

"Appreciate the kind words, uh.... wait, who's this ya brought home, Dew?" A Rhino/Human hybrid person asked. 

"Okay, don't freak out, but he's a human, Marshto. Maybe even one of the ones that's said to be one of those heroes in the legend. I'm taking him to see the guild master. Is he in at the moment?" Dew asked as Marshto gave her a nod. 

"Perfect timing as always, he just got back from visiting the kingdom and Queen Inza. I think I saw him head into the guild hall to get a drink." Marshto replied as he suddenly got an up close look at Jack, even sniffing him a bit. "Your scent is a strange one. So this is what a human is like?"

"Uh, more or less, I guess....?" Jack awkwardly responded as Dew began to pull him along. The village was full of half human hybrid creatures. Wolf people, owls, lizards, birds, it was a wide variety of species. Everyone was staring at Jack and Dru as none had ever seen a real human before, let alone a fairy. It was starting to make Jack feel very uncomfortable.

"Hey, uh, Dew, i'm not gonna get attacked or anything, am I? Everyone's staring at me." Jack relayed to her. 

"If you start insulting or hurting people, then yeah, you'll get attacked. But if you tread lightly and be careful, you'll be fine, trust me. Now come on. The guild master should be in here." Dew explained as she pulled Jack into the largest structure in the tree tops. Once inside, even tougher looking hybrid humans awaited and yet again, glared at Jack with confusion and intrigue. 

"Word of advice, Jack, don't say a word." Dru told him. 

"Gee, thanks for the advice, Dru. You're such a big help." Jack replied sarcastically. 

"Hey, Dew, is that what I think it is?" A human/zebra hybrid person asked whilst pointing at Jack. 

"Okay, you know what, just so we don't get everyone asking that over and over-*Ahem* ATTENTION EVERYONE!!!" Dew suddenly shouted, getting everyone's attention and making things feel even more awkward for Jack. "This here is Jack! And yes, he is a real human! And as you can see, he has been linked with his own fairy, named Dru! We can't exactly explain why or how he's here, but for now, he's here to stay! Now, can anyone point us in the direction of guild master Roklo!?"

"He just went into his quarters." A human/hawk hybrid person told them as Dew thanked them before taking Jack and Dru over to see the guild master. 

*Knock, Knock!* Dew knocked on the door to the guild masters room and all they heard from the other end was a grizzled "Come in." Dew brought Jack inside and Jack became hugely intimidated by the sight of the guild master. The guy was easily over 12ft tall, half human and half elephant. Jack decided to call him an 'Eleman.'

"Ah, Dew, welcome back! How's my favourite Cyoman doing? And who's this you've brought with you?" Roklo questioned as Dew brought Jack front and center. 

"His name is Jack, and he's a real human! Maybe even one of the humans from the ancient legend!" Dew said gleefully as Roklo simply sighed in response. 

"Dew, how many times must I tell you, stop chasing such distant fables. If they haven't come to pass now, then they likely never will. Now, let's see here...." Roklo said, going down to one knee to get a closer look at Jack. Roklo used his trunk to sniff around Jack, which he found Dru with. 

"Hey, hey, easy, don't suck me into your long nose, or, whatever!" Dru complained which made Roklo laugh. 

"A fairy companion, eh? So you really are a human. Never thought i'd see one of you in my lifetime. How do ya do? Name's Roklo, i'm the master of this guild and elder of the village." Roklo explained as he and Jack shook hands. Although, with Roklo's hands being so much larger than Jack;s. it ended up being him shaking Jack's whole arm. 

"I, uh, thank you for your hospitality, uh, sir?" Jack hesitated, still intimidated from this hulking man-beast before him. 

"Hey, no need to fear, kiddo. I once ripped the horns off of a Bull Shark, but behind all my muscle, I wouldn't hurt anyone I care about. And if Dew here is caring for you, then so am I." Roklo told him but Jack's mind was more focused on the 'Bull Shark' thing he mentioned. To Jack, he knew what Bull Sharks were in his world, but in Thendra, he was assuming they were literally bulls with shark features. What a coincidence. 

"Thank you again, sir. But it's not just myself who's come to this world of yours. My friends, Suzie and Max, they're somewhere out there too. I need to find them, to make sure they're safe." Jack explained as Roklo became intrigued. 

"Yeah, because i'm sure the fairies they got stuck with aren't as great as me! You should consider yourself lucky, Jack." Dru said as Jack just rolled his eyes at her which made her pout in frustration. 

"I see. Unfortunately, having just returned from a week long venture from the kingdom, I have grown weary. This may sound hard for you, but I must ask that you wait a few days until I can regain my strength. There are many villages in Thendra that are welcoming to all species, even humans. I'm sure your friends are safe wherever they may be." Roklo spoke as Jack lowered his head and sighed. 

"Hey, it's okay, Jack. The guild here is interconnected all over the place. We'll send word out and have people keep an eye out for your friends." Dew told him as Jack raised his head and gave her a silent nod. 

"Alright..... fine..... if it helps, then we'll do it." Jack quietly said as Roklo gave him some light, or to Jack some hard, pats on the back. 

"Ah, cheer up, Kiddo! Besides the kingdom, the guild watches over every inch of Thendra. If your friends are out there, we will find them. Now, i'm sure you're both very tired from traveling here all day, right? I unfortunately have to say that our inn is currently at max capacity, so-" Roklo tried to explain as Dew suddenly cut it. 

"He can stay with us!" She chimed with glee as Jack looked at her all confused now. 

'Wait.... who's "us?"' He thought as Roklo just laughed at Dew's enthusiasm. 

"Well it would certainly make finding you some living quarters easier. If Jack's fine with it, then I don't see the harm." Roklo replied as Jack looked at Dew again, who was giving him a pleading look in her eyes. 

"Uh, sure. I guess if you're offering." Jack agreed as Dew grabbed his arm yet again and started pulling him away. Roklo waved them off as Dew took Jack to one of the lower levels of the massive tree. Down many flights of wooden stairs they went until they came to a smaller looking home, maybe only 20x15x15ft. 

"Welcome to my home! And don't mind the roommates, they're friendly, I promise." Dew said as she opened the front door and pushed Jack inside. 

"Wait, roommates?" Jack questioned as something suddenly leapt out from in front of him and latched onto his face. Jack began screaming as he fell onto his back. Dru flew off him and landed on Dew's shoulder as the two just laughed as they watched Jack panic. "Get it off me!"

"Hey, Dew, welcome back! What's this!? What's this!? Who's this person!? Huh!? Tell me!?" A little girl's voice spoke as whatever was on Jack's face was suddenly lifted off by Dew. Jack opened his eyes and saw Dew was holding a small light brown furred Lemur/Human hybrid person. 

"Clo, how many times have I told you not to attack people when they open the door? This here is Jack and Dru, they'll be staying with us for a bit. Be nice, ya hear me?" Dew spoke as she dropped Clo next to Jack before helping him up to his feet. "Jack, meet Clo. Clo, meet Jack."

"Nice to meet you, hehe!" Clo giggled as she extended out one of her feet instead of a hand to shake. Jack seemed hesitant at first to shake her foot because of the fact she just attacked him. 

"Relax, she's harmless." Dew told him as Jack finally shook her foot with his hand. 

"Nice to meet you too." Jack said in a defensive tone, but none of it seemed to phase Clo at all. 

"Jeez, what's all the ruckus about? Clo, I thought I told you not to keep it down while i'm trying to sleep?" A new person spoke as, from a door at the back of the home, a Gorilla/Human hybrid person stepped out and came eye to eye with Jack. His massive muscular arms were the first thing Jack noticed as this beast of a man came right up to him. He gave some glares at Jack which frightened him, but then the Goriman, as Jack was going to call him, looked down at Clo and just shook his head at her. "I apologize for my little sister's behavior. She likes meeting new people."

"Jack, Shar. Shar, Jack." Dew introduced them as they shook hands. Although Shar's gorilla-like hands nearly crushed Jack's in his grip. 

"Pleasure to.... meet you...." Jack said, in a bit of pain from the hand shake. 

"So, you're this human I've been hearing about? A lot smaller than I thought you'd be." Shar said as Dru suddenly flew up and hovered between Clo and Shar. 

"Uh, hello, i'm here too, ya know. Whatcha think of m-" Dru tried to say but Clo suddenly grabbed her and ran off into another room with her. 

"Uh, will she be fine? Kinda linked to her...." Jack asked as Shar and Dew gave him some nods. 

"Oh yeah, Clo won't hurt her. Probably will just play dress-up or something like that. And while I would love to get to know you, Jack, I've had a long day, and I need some sleep. We'll talk tomorrow, alright?" Shar said as Jack actually agreed. Shar took his leave and went into his room as Dew brought Jack over into another room. 

"We used to have a 4th who lived here, but they left to join the rebellion against the kingdom. You can have their room. Is there, uh.... anything you need?" Dew asked with concern in her voice.

"No..... No, i'm okay. Thank you, Dew." Jack replied as she gave him a nod before leaving and closing the door behind her. Jack examined the room he was in, small in size with nothing but a animal fur bed, a wooden nightstand, and a window with no glass pane. But given all that has happened, he was glad to even be alive, let alone be given all this. "I guess this is the new normal for now...."

Jack laid down in the bed and took out his phone. He looked at some pictures of him, Suzie, and Max altogether, hoping they were both okay wherever they ended up here in Thendra. But knowing he couldn't do anything more today, he retired into the night and fell asleep. 

Meanwhile, in the guild hall, Roklo was tidying things up within his quarters. On his desk was a coiled up Eaglaconda(Eagle/Anaconda) which he keeps as a pet. Roklo sat down at his desk and patted his winged serpentine creature on the head before writing a letter. He then placed that letter in a small box and tied it around the neck of his Eaglaconda. 

"Deliver this to Queen Inza immediately. She must know of the humans presence here in Thendra. All of them. It would seem that the prophecy is much closer to happening than first believed. If she is to emerge victorious, then she must acquire the assistance of these humans. It is the only way a world of true order can be born." Roklo spoke as he released his Eaglaconda, watching it fly off towards the kingdom. "It is almost time to prepare for war...." 

Once again, a huge thank you to Det3rmined_Writ3r for creating Dew! I highly recommend checking them out, they're an awesome writer with loads of epic and entertaining stories to read! I'm on vacation right now, but when I return, i'm going to continue stockpiling chapters. I'll probably start publishing more around mid-August, maybe the end of it. Regardless, I hope this chapter tides you all over and explains a lot! See ya!!