A car under the dazzling heavenly bodies of sizes and colors diverse and fantastical, speeds along a barren land as it rush to its destination ahead.
It alone glowing brightly in the shadow of a broad hill in this land of forgotten history, transport a group of peculiar creatures.
(Squeak "Sky are we going to continue on this straight path.") a golden rat, Raftelia behind in the car asked a young man, Skylar, seated at the front of the car. But before he could answer, a white chubby cat, alias lady cat curled up on this young man's lap also asked him (Meow "My mate do you intend to take that shortcut?")
"Yes" he replied and continued "someone told me about a ruin ahead in this direction..."
(Meow "Is it that crazy sacrificial site that traps anything that steps into it?") lady cat interrupted and asked while she revealed her ruby pupils that was hidden by her big bushy tail and which she now set on the face of the young man above.
So she knows about it... Is it perhaps a famous site... Maybe its famous because of its reputation...
"Yes Its that one, or is there another one like it ahead?" He responded and asked as he lowered his head and looked at the white cat on his lap.
Raftelia behind him lowered her head, her expression nervous; replied in a soft voice (squeak "Its the only one. But its known that very few has been able to escape it, and any group of creature that entered it either all never make it out or less than half their number survived it")
Is she worried some of us might not make it...
Skylar thought as he looked behind him briefly at the worried golden rat. And after this he said while looking to the side at the bright blue moon that has been accompanying them "They told me i should be able to solve the mystery and i do think taking this shortcut is worth the risk. No one knows when that serpent will pop out behind us, and this will also save us time"
He is right, that serpent will never let him go even if she has to chase him to the end of the world...
(Squeak "This great me support his decision") lady cat chipped in as she yawned and stretch her paw. She then continued (Meow "the shortcut might be dangerous, but this great me doesn't think the serpent and her army behind are any less dangerous.")
"I think so too, few among us can beat a giant snake not to talk of an army she will bring with her" Skylar now looking at the red earthly star ahead added and his words as he relayed it earned him a meaningful look from the others.
(Meow "You are the only weak one among us that can't take on a giant snake")
And lady cat unapologetically expressed the mind of herself and the the others.
Skylar turned his head, scanned everyone's expression and muttered softly "Maybe". And at the sametime the little guy vanished, lady cat gave a sigh and Raftelia lowered her head in contemplation.
...
After a couple moons;
The car that contained the group appeared in a hilly region which has exotic shrubs and herbs, some glowing and of enormous sizes sparsely populating its lands, and tall hills exposed to the heaven which illuminate their tops which cast shadows on some parts of the land.
The fairly large car drags at great speed on the sparkling ground as it approach a jaw dropping structure far in the distance.
"Its strange we have not been attacked, we have not even seen a single creature on our way since we left the lair" Skylar inside the car and who is petting the fur of the white cat on his lap as he lowered his head at her commented.
Sky is funny... With my lady with us no creature will dare approach us unless its one of those elders... but still they should know their origin... no sane fellow including those ancient elders will want to cross a primordial specie...
(Meow "What will they gain if they attack, they might even not care about us at all") lady cat moving slightly her back that is being pet by Skylar responded.
"Maybe" And Skylar also added.
Skylar turned to their driver and asked "mr rabbit are you really not tired" And mr rabbit turned to him and gave him a dissaproving look followed by a glare.
(Meow"Her biological clock is different from yours. Her cycle is about thirty six times your cycle. What will drain your stamina in one hour will drain hers in thirty six hours") lady cat lectured and then turned her ruby eyes to the big guy.
I see, so its like what that book i read mentioned... time is slower for bigger animals because they have big heart unlike the smaller animals... maybe the heart has something to do with the biological or body clock thing they mention... so mr Rabbit experience of a day is thirty six times my own experience... its like...
(Meow "Big guy should this great me return your ability this great me borrowed") the voice of lady cat who is looking at the big guy in front interrupted Skylar's contemplation.
And Skylar showing an expression of sudden realization as the big guy nodded negative asked "lady cat can you really copy just any ability including traits?"
(Meow "Absolutely") lady cat responded as she turned her head and look at Skylar excitedly and with unconcealed pride in her voice, and then she continued (Meow "And not just any ability, this great me can copy any techniques including ancient techniques and some actions my body can allow"
"Is there a limit" Skylar asked to which lady cat responded (Meow "This great me don't know for now")
She is really overpowered... i can say confidently she is the reason our journey have been smooth... maybe she really could beat the wolfs one on one and they might really have ganged up on her to capture her... i wonder what her origin is... i am not interested in that for now, i have to reach a safe zone as fast as possible... i might really be a long behind the others... i also hope this serpent just give hope and not follow us into the ruin...
Skylar continue in his contemplation as the car transporting him and his group approached a very huge pillar that look like a tower that reached the heaven.
Not long after the car stopped in front of the pillar which seem to take all the space in their view.
How do they build this structure... i am sure the surface area at the base is as large as an average island IRL... i wonder how long it takes to build one of this... maybe the computer programs just generate it... this shouldn't be something any civilization can replicate giving this is just one out of the three thousand encircling this ruin...
Skylar contemplated as he scanned the enormous pillar with inestimable height as its top seems to be out of sight to him.
He turned to mr Rabbit the driver and signal by nodding his head which the other undersood as he starts the car again and drive it forward towards the pillar and along its enormous girth. And as they entered the vast shadow the pillar cast, the bright blue moon that has been accompanying them vanished totally.
"Those innscriptions do they reach the top" Skylar asked no one in particular as he continued to examine the vivid figures and symbols on the pillar through the side screen of the car as the car skirts its girth.
(Meow "They used to be glyphs that we light up in the past into the sky in ancient times when they worship and make sacrifices in it in the ancient times. The glyphs definitely reach the top and even its surface on top facing the heavens") lady cat curled up narrated like she is addressing no one in particular.
After about an hour the car crossed past the pillar and into the ruin: a place of notorious reputation, an ancient site of sacrifice and the group's shortcut.
"Mr Rabbit keep going along the pillar, don't change direction" Skylar turned to their driver and instructed. And like his instruction the car continued around the pillar in a direction out of the ruin, their shortcut.
As the car moved on beside and round the pillar, lady cat looked up at Skylar's face and asked (Meow "Why are we going back") And Skylar after some seconds turn his head that has been facing the side screen of the car at the glyphs outside on the pillar, at the others inside the car and responded "i want to verify if we truly can't leave easily like the rumor says" and after which he turned again to the glyphs.
After this, the car continue its journey round the pillar as its attempt to return as it come.
...
( Sigh )
After many hours of going around the pillar; Skylar who has been checking the inscription on the pillar sighed as he turned his head from the side to the front and at the scene through the screen of the car before it.
(Meow "We have not seen the moon again and it has been very long") lady cat commented as she complemented Skylar's thought and expressed everyone's else worries. And Skylar turned his head to the front and raise it as he responded everyone with his conclusion of the situation "Its like there is a mirror reflecting us. Anything that tries to exit the ruin will always return to it just like they left it and it will be like they never left in the first place"
He paused turn to their driver and instructed "Mr rabbit we can go inside now"
And as mr Rabbit got the message, the car drifted off at a tangent away from the pillar's side and into the cursed ruin.