posted on Dec, 9 2016 @ 01:08 PM
The air shimmered, and a seam appeared in The Shed. Its edges expanded, crackling with blue, white, and green lightning. A hooded figure stepped
through, wearing heavy furs and tall, travel-worn leather boots. Tanned, calloused hands gripped a thick oaken staff, and a ram's horn hung from a
braided leather cord around the man's neck.
PrairieShepherd stood up straight and looked around. An ominous Mist hung over the The Shed, and PrairieShepherd felt a chill. Something was very
wrong here.
He called out. "Syx! I've felt a call to arms! The Flock shall answer!"
With his free hand, the dark shepherd lifted the ram's horn to his lips and blew. A thunderous blast echoed through the Shed, and PrairieShepherd
walked forward some distance from the portal, still scanning the skies.
Behind him, the crackling portal heaved like a living thing, pulling and expanding as if it was taking a breath. Dimly, one could make out a strange,
purplish sky through it, with tall grasses in blue and gold. A shadow fell over the portal as a giant shape blocked the light.
A massive head pushed through the portal as the creature stepped out on hoofed legs. It looked like a huge shaggy mountain ram, standing ten feet at
the shoulder. Large eyes surveyed the landscape as it swung its head back and forth. It raised its head and bellowed, then snorted and moved forward
to nudge PrairieShepherd affectionately.
Behind it, more came. One after the other the colossal animals came forth to assemble around the diminutive shepherd, his face still shrouded by the
dark hood. Soon a vast Flock surrounded him, animals eight, ten, twelve feet tall at the shoulder.
After what seemed like hours, the last animal to come through was a huge shaggy dog, tongue lolling out to the side. It ran around the Flock once
before coming next to PrairieShepherd and sitting down, its head even with his. Its amber eyes looked patiently at him.
"Aecian, my friend, you are more trustworthy than I. You have not lost a single one yet."
Aecian barked, then gave a low growl as he looked off toward the Mist.
"I feel it too. Let's find Syx, he will know what to do. Get them up, my friend!" Aecian barked again, then took off around the Flock.
PrairieShepherd whistled, and the giant animal army began to march.