The once great oak tree stood in its stump form. Once bearing the symbol of life and greatest, was now a symbol of strength and healing. On the Orina field, stood a white horse with black freckles, its rider was a redhaired woman. For the past two years, she had always wondered what she was doing, what her purpose was as the Creator of such a magical world. The winter wind whipped passed, tugging, and pulling on her cloak. The young woman sighed deeply. Never had she wished, more than ever, that she could rewind time and take back that moment when she entered that tent as ten-year old girl and bought a notebook from an old woman who quoted Spider-Man to her. She patted her horse, Pepper, on her large neck.

Karma took in a deep breath, allowing the cold to enter her lungs and leave her body. It always calmed her when she did this. The sound of a horse trotting its way over, caught Karma's attention. She shifted her gaze over and saw a dark brown horse. Its rider was Jason Owens, a young man who accidently entered Arula. He had a great deal of trouble trying to control the beast, but with no luck. The horse made its way over and stopped beside Karma and Pepper. Jason shivered and wrapped his cloak tighter around his body. "Your world doesn't happen to have heavier winter coats, does it?" He asked with a shivering grin. Karma shook her head.

"My world takes place in the medieval times, there were no 'heavier winter coats' back then. Only thick woolen cloaks and if you're lucky, long sleeved shirts and leggings." Karma said without cracking a smile. "This world is tough, so must be the people who live in it." Jason could tell that she was thinking of a past time. She turned to him. "I'm sorry I had to drag you in it. It was never my wish to drag those I love, and those who I don't even know, into something that they don't understand." Karma returned her gaze back to the tree stump.

"You said, when we first met, that you had to have two of those portals. One to get here and another to return back to Earth. And when I asked if you had an extra, you said you didn't." Jason said thinking back. "What happened to it? Did you give it up for someone else?" Karma sighed and nodded.

"My little brother, Dennis, wanted to know what happened to me when I disappeared to here. He and my older sister, Alice, and her friend Star, found my treehouse, found the portals, and got sent here. When the battle between Termis and I was over, I sacrificed my portal to them. Like you, they didn't think to take another one with them... before they left, I asked my sister if she could hide those portals, so that nobody else came into here and were never able to return home." As Karma spoke, she didn't look at Jason, not at all. She kept her eyes fixed on the field before her. "But I guess she didn't notice the one portal that led you to this fate." Jason thought hard.

"That's why you were upset." It wasn't a question. Karma nodded.

"That was why I was a bit annoyed with, it was at Alice, not you. But I can't stay mad at her though. I knew I should've just taken the chest full of those with me, but I didn't wish for them to fall into the wrong hands." Karma breathed in the cold air again. "Tell me. You said you were going to college, what for?" Jason was taken back by the question, but her answered nonetheless.

"A lawyer." He answered. Karma shook her head.

"I'm sorry I took that away from you. I bet you would've made a great one." Jason shook his head.

"Don't worry about it. It was my mom's idea to be a lawyer. I never wanted to do it, but I couldn't come up with anything else to do with my life, so I chose that." This time, Karma did look at him. Her green eyes blazing into his brown ones. After a moment, she broke away. She looked up at the sun, which was partly hidden by the winter clouds.

"We better start heading back." She said. "I was told it was supposed to storm pretty badly tonight." Karma clucked her tongue and pulled on the Pepper's reins. Jason followed closely behind, having more trouble trying to control his mare. It snorted and neighed in protest. Seeing Jason's struggles, Karma turned Pepper around and grabbed the reins out of Jason's hands. "Don't control her." She said. "Let her take you. All you have to do is give her directions. Haven't you ever been horseback riding?" Jason snorted.

"Not if you count riding on a carousel when I was six, then no." He retorted. Karma nodded and grinned.

"Just cluck your tongue, give her a little nudge in the side and let her do the driving." Jason did what he was told. It was an easy slow ride back to the castle. Karma taught Jason how to ride on the way there. Once they finally made it back, they dropped the horses off at the stables. Karma took Jason to the library, where a blazing fire was roaring in a cave-like fireplace. A servant came and gave them hot tea to drink. Within minutes of sitting in the huge, comfy seats, sipping their hot drinks, the sound of the winter storm blew hard against the windows. Karma smiled. Right on time, she thought.

————

The howling wind never seemed to crease as it to push its way into the palace. Pounding against the doors and windows. Snow hit the windows, sticking to it like glue. Karma watched this all from the window of her room. It has been nearly a week since the storm hit, and it still hasn't stopped since. Karma sighed deeply. She began to wonder how her old friend Omar was doing back at his homeland. She knew how bad the weather could get over at the Clans Territory. All Karma could do was pray that everything was all right since she's yet to receive any letters from Omar, or even Mika, Omar's wife.

They're fine, she told herself. You just need to relax for once. Karma absent mindedly began to stroke Angel on her large head. Angel was a long-tailed fox, a loyal one at that. The fox slept peacefully next to her master on the window seat. Her oversized head laying on Karma's lap. When Karma began to pet Angel on the head, the fox smiled happily and allowed her very long, blue tongue to roll out. Karma smiled at this. She loved her creation she made. It has been over two years since the making of Angel... Three years, Karma thought to herself suddenly. Two years since I came back here, two years since I last saw my family. She let another sigh make its way out.

Oh, how much the years had passed. How much a certain time frame can do to one person. Karma's thoughts went back to her family. How were they doing? Were they okay? How are they getting along without her? Do they even miss her? Is Dennis still mad at me? She asked herself as these thoughts popped in her head. A knock on the door interrupted these lonely thoughts. Angel woke up with a start and growled. "Shush." Karma told her fox. "Yes? What is it?" Karma said to the mysterious person on the other side of the door. The door opened slowly to reveal a servant boy. He popped his head in.

"Umm, miss Creator?" He said nervously. "The Councils wish to seek your audience."

"For what?" Karma asked the boy. The boy shrugged.

"I do not know, miss. All I know is what I've been told. And that was to retrieve you, miss." Karma nodded.

"Fine, all right. Tell Council Marcus I'll be down there in a minute." The servant boy bowed.

"Yes, miss." And he was gone, shutting the door behind him as he left. Karma let an agitated growl escape her.

"Well," she said to Angel. "Let's go see what they want."

----

The first thing Karma noticed as she entered the council room was Jason. He sat there in a chair as bored as any person could be. The next thing Karma took great notice in was a winged-rabbit that was sitting by Head-Council Marcus. It was the completely white with red-pinkish eyes and feathery wings. The rabbit looked very tired. It laid curled up in a small ball, fast asleep. "What is this?" Karma demanded as she took a seat next to Dagner, who was drinking, yet another, bottle of ale. He offered it to Karma, who denied it.

"Well, it's about time you showed up." Head Council Marcus said. "But this isn't about your tardiness or about you having to yet find Arula a king or queen." Jason raised his eyebrows at Karma, having to find interest in what the Head Council was saying. Karma ignore his questioning look and continued to talk to the Head Council.

"So, what is this about then? And what's with the winged-rabbit? Those only live in the Elf Clan." Head Council Marcus reached inside his robe and took out a rolled-up parchment.

"Because of this." He said and rolled the parchment across the long table.

******

Thank for reading the preview of World of Worlds. This book, along with its sequels, will be published to Amazon Kindle (only) within the next month or so. The exact date isn't set in stone yet as the book(s) are going through some editing and changes.

To keep up-to-date with all things Arula and other future projects of mine, read my newsletter book titled "Amber's World of News" or follow me to get notified about posts on my wall, and follow my Twitter @AmberWall2000 as well to get more info.

That's it for now!
~Amber