A/N: This is my second original idea. ^^;; I've worked hard on this and I hope it's not too long.. ^^;; Enjoy!

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The Meeting
Joanie walked through the field on her way home from school. It had been yet another 'regular' day for her and nothing new or exciting had happened. Her amber gaze was upon the ground in front of her, Joanie not watching where she was going. Pale blond hair swayed gently behind her Her best friends, Gemini and Kenton, were hurrying behind her, attempting to catch up to their friend.

Kenton was 17 and in grade 11. His hair was cut short and always spiked at odd angles. Beautiful baby blue eyes stood out upon lightly tanned skin on his octoganal face. He was tall, standing almost a full 6'3" although he came slightly short. He wore a tight, light blue muscle shirt and beige khaki shorts. His pack was slung over his shoulder, a warm smile on his face.

Gemini ran beside Kenton, strawberry blond hair flying behind her as she went. Vibrant emerald green eyes shone with mischief as thoughts, as always, ran through the 16 year old's head. Her face was oval, slender and delicate. Pale skin contrasted with the tight, black tank~top and black boot~cut jeans. Always being the 'wild and outspoken girl' of the group, Gemini waved a hand then shouted out to Joanie. "Hey Joanie!! Why don't you slow down and wait for us!"

Joanie paused, turning around to notice her two friends heading in her direction. A smile appeared as she waved back, blond hair bouncing behind her slightly. Voilet eyes looked from one then the other person and her head cocked lightly. "Hey Gemini, Kenton. I'm sorry I didn?t exactly wait for you two but...."

Kenton shrugged as he stoped and reached Joanie. He looked down at her, Joanie being much shorter than either of her two friends. "Don't worry Joanie, it's not as if it bother's me at all."

By then Gemini had reached them as well, her green eyes giving a mock~glare to her friend. "Well I do! I waited for you for 10 minutes!" She huffed, fliping back a peice of her hair. "At least Kenton here saw you leave."

A light flush colored Joanie's cheeks as she looked down at the ground before her. "I told you I was sorry.... It's just that I have this big job interview and~"

She was cut off by Gemini, the girl laughing and giving Joanie a pat on the back. "Oh my god Joanie! You can never take a joke, can you?" She smiled and shook her head, slinging a hand over Joanie's shoulder. "Oh well... that doesn't matter much. Now, what have you done recently?"

Joanie was about to answer when Kenton?s voice cut through, the boy walking toward a large cave. "You guys.. have you ever seen this cave before? I swear it wasn't here yesterday..."

The other two turn to look, following Kenton toward the large, dark opening in the side of a hill. As the approached the air seemed to change, it sort of had a more mysterious air to it. The trio stoped at the entrance, each taking a turn peering into the ongoing blackness that lay before them. Joanie began to back off, not liking the look of the cave, or the smell.

"Umm.. you guys. I don't think it looks very safe.." Her voice trailed off, eyes looking at each of her friends in turn.

Gemini rolled her eyes, turning back to look at Joanie. "Joanie, Joanie, Joanie; always the safe one. Oh come on! It's not like we're all going to fall into a black hole and dissapear forever!" She laughed lightly and shook her head, walking over to her friend and taking her shirt sleve in her hand. "We'll be with you, and anyways," She used her other hand to rummage in her pack and taking out a flashlight, "I have a flashlight." A smug grin appeared on her face as she clicked it on and began to drag Joanie into the cave.

The cave was dark, stlagtights and stlagmites lining the floors and walls around them. As they continued to walk you could hear the screeching and movement of bats as the flew from their perches upon the celing. Every so often some stale water or some liquid substance driped, cutting into the eerie silence that surrounded the trio. Joanie no longer strugled and tried to go back, as the opening of the cave was farther away and the only light that they had was that of Gemini's flashlight, casting a circular beam of light at the ground before them.

"Ugh! I think I just steped in something...." Gemini groaned, stopping and looking at the sole of her white sneaker.

"Gemini! I can't see!" Joanie's frantic voice sounded as she looked about at the darkness surounding them.

"Get a grip Joanie. It's only a cave. Oh here.."

The light was yet again shone upon the area before them, Joanie letting out a relieved sigh as her, and her two friends, continued on into the darkness.

"How long have we been walking?" The deep voice of Kenton sounded, echoing off the stony walls of the cave.

"How am I supposed to know? It's not like I have a watch...." Gemini stoped and sat down upon a stone that stood behind her. "But I'm tired and I don?t want to go any farther."

Joanie sighed and sat down beside Gemini, noticing that the rock was basicly big enough for all three of them. They were soon joined by Kenton then they sat in slience for a while. A low rumble broke through the thick silence that the three sat in and, although no one could see, Kenton blushed.

"Sorry... but does anyone have and food?"

"Now why would I bring any food with me?" Gemini replied, shifiting slightly. "Well, unfortuneatly I ate my lunch so I have nothing... have any idea how far into the cave we are? I can't see the entrance any more..." Although Gemini wouldn't admit it, she was becomming slightly scared and worried.

A sudden gust of wind raced through the cave, and what was so strange about it is that it came from the middle of the cave, not the entrance. All three shivered, placing their hands on their arms and looking about, trying to find out where the sudden gust came from. Fortuneatly, their questions would be answered shortly as a dim light appeared in the distance, slowly growing as it approached them. The three friends could only stare at the light in wonder, as it seemed to be floating as it approached them.

"Good day...." A mysterious voice floated down the cave until it reached them. The light slowly dimmed, until it went out almost completly to leave an elderly man holding a staff floating in mid air.

All three jaws droped, each of them staring at the unbelievable site before them. None of them could find any words to reply as each were too miffed and befuddled to comprehend the situation.

The man's eyes rolled slightly and a quick wave of his staff closed their mouths in an isntant. "Haven't you been taught that staring is rude?" He commented, floating directly infront of them now. Even in the dim light they could see him clearly; round face was aged, covered in rinkles although his bright blue eyes showed wisdom and understanding. Grey~white hair covered his head although it wasn't thining or falling out in large chunks. He wore a pale, brown hooded cloak that covered the majority of his body, only showing his face. He sat crosslegged, floating in the air but it was quite evident that he was short, probably no higher than 4'6". He looked at each of them in turn, his eyes seeming to study each and every one of them. "Well... I see that the three of you aren't too talkative; but then why would you be with a floating man infront of you?" His lips curved into a jenuine grin, although slightly lopsided and it showed slightly unkept teeth. "I wouldn?t be either. Here." He floated closer and closer to the ground, finally touching down and standing. His robe covered the rest of his body, sweeping the ground slightly. His staff was a gnarled and twisted, a strange yellow crystal of somesort resting on top. He placed the staff upon the ground and looked to the three. "So, anything to say? Ask?"

Although Joanie was usualy the withdrawn one, shy and not speaking often, she was the first to manage a sound. "Well... umm... How? I mean... what?" She sighed, taking a deep breath and starting over. "First of all, who are you? Then, why are you here?"

The man's eyes sparkle, gaze turning to look at Joanie. "Ah! So the silent one speaks first." He ignored the blush that came to Joanie's cheeks then continued. "To answer your first question I am known as Khriti." His head was lowered to each in turn. "And I just happen to know each of you; Kenton, Gemini and lastly, Joanie." He seemed to savour the shock upon each of their faces, letting the cave settle into a silence for a moment. "For your second question, you'll just have to wait. Unfortunately, I don't have time to explain, in great detail, the reasons why I know you and why I am here. But you must listen to me carefully and do as I say, for there is much that neither of you know." He turned, jesturing for them to follow as he began to walk slowly deeper into the cave.

The three exchanged confused looks before getting up and hurrying after Khriti, not wanting to be left alone in the dark when they were so curious.

"What do you think he's up to?" Gemini asked Joanie in a whisper.

"How should I know?" Joanie snaped back, looking back ahead as Khriti coughed.

Khriti stoped, turning around to face the three of them. Before him stood a large pool of water, showing a picture of a very dense, thick forest although it was quite bright. Kenton cocked his head lightly at the image, reaching out a hand to touch it.

Kenton's hand was slaped, the boy immeadeatly withdrawing it then looking it over. "Don't touch it yet, there are some things I need to explain to you first." Khriti's peircing gaze looked to each of them in turn, no longer friendly and cheerful. His strict gaze lingered upon Gemini longer than the others, the girl yawning and picking at a nail. "This is a portal to another land, one that is totaly different from the one you currently reside in. Be warned; everything is not as it seems. This land is very dangerous, and is not to be taken lightly." He looked them over again, making sure that his words were understood. "Now, when you enter you are to travel north until you find someone by the name of 'Khrini', he is my brother. But I must warn you, do not, under any circumstanses, talk to anyone or go with anyone you meet along the way. Although the Asenth Forest is the safest place in the world for you at the moment evil creatures and people roam." He sighed and shook his head. "Unfortuneatly that is all I can tell you at the moment. Now I must leave you as I have some important things to do. Please, above all else, stick together." He turned to leave then stoped. "Oh, and when you enter the portal, do not let go of eachother." He looked over each of them before floating off the ground and hovering away from them.

When he was clearly out of sight and most likely out of the cave Gemini snorted, putting her hand down. "Does he seriously think that we're going to fall for that?" She was walking towards the pool. "I mean, come on. This is just some stupid trick; see?" Gemini reached out with one hand, a finger gently brushing over the surface, causing it to riple lightly before sucking the girl in. Gemini gave a frightened shreik and looked towards her two friends just before she dissapeared.

Joanie's eyes widened and Kenton gasped, steping forward in an attempt of grabbing upon Gemini's hand. Joanie stood there, starring as the water's surface rippled slowly then stoped all together. There was a silence that lingered for a long while before Kenton finally spoke.

"Now what?" He was sitting next to the portal and shaking his head. "I can't believe Gemini did that..." He looked up to Joanie, confused.

Joanie looked down and over to Kenton, she was still in slight shock about what had happened, and now a little frightened. "I-I don't know Kenton... mabye, mabye we should go through..." She thought for a moment. "Gemini might still be there and you remember what Khriti said..."

After a while Kenton nodded and stood, dusting off his shorts and looking to Joanie. "Ya.. I think your right." He turned to look at the portal then heald out his hand for Joanie who took it. "Ready?"

She nodded slowly, grasping his hand. "... Ya."

Together the two slowly walked towards the water, one hand out each. As soon as they touched the surface it felt like their feet were jerked from the ground and soon they were spinning around at an alarming rate. Both of their eyes were wide and frightful as they heald onto eachother tightly; what had they gotten themselves into?

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A/N: Well.. what do you think? I don't know exactly what I want to do in the next chapter so some ideas would be great! ^__^