"This is it." Dan stopped by the top of the slope, looking through a small gap in the rocks that led to a large open clearing. For a moment he turned to Kitty, beckoning her to follow. "Watch out, someone could still live here." He warned her, despite knowing she was more than capable if it came to a fight. Pushing himself through narrow passage, Dan moved slowly to the center of the clearing, rotating gradually to scan the area. Whoever lived here had been long gone, evidenced by the destroyed tents and a campfire that hadn't seen heat in years. Relaxing the hand on his sword he used his other to beckon Kitty into the clearing.

His head remained unturned though, as he was focusing forward on a large upright rock with an orange rune engraved near the top. Both of them would recognise it as a Summoning Stone, this particular one unique to the realm of Mytheria. That was where they had ended up after leaving Oblivion, for it was this stone Dan needed before they began their investigation into the galaxy's strange occurances. Looking up at the rune whilst kneeling down, he moved his hands onto the rock. Eyes closed and breathing steady, he began to channel the energy that remained after the purge. Unlike his old demonic energy, this one was raw and arcane.

Far across the galaxy the stone reached out, calling to the minds of those Dan wished. Should they answer, a portal would appear for them, although he knew Rift wouldn't need one.

"If there was anything still living here other than us I'd hear a heartbeat, and I only hear ours." There would be a slightly sarcastic tone in my voice as I say this, rolling my eyes at your beckoning hand. 

Brushing some stray red and black strands of hair away from my face, I would glance down at Dan after following through the narrow passage. "Do you know how long this will take?" Speaking quietly, I'd look away from Dan and upwards. 

Out of habit my hand would go toward the empty sheath on my waist, touching it would bring me a brief sense of comfort before I frown.

Meanwhile on Earth, Gavin rode through a highway darkened by the night. From either side of the road, nothing but trees were visible. The thundering weather, coupled with heavy rainfall and the darkness made it almost impossible to make out the white lines that divided the different lanes on the highway. Luckily enough, the roads were almost completely empty and Gavin was the only one who was travelling through this particular path; the only sound being that of the loud engine of his motorbike.

Suddenly, he noticed a flash as something oval and large seemed to appear in front of him. Unable to bring his bike to stop quickly enough, Gavin practically skidded as he slammed the bike's rear brakes. However it was too late, as his bike carried on skidding all the way through the oval thing that turned out to be a portal.

The next thing he knew, he was skidding over dirt and stone before quickly coming to a halt. Gavin quickly inspected his surroundings. He seemed to have ended up in some sort of camp that had clearly been abandoned for a long time. As he continued to observe, his eyes set upon two figures that stood to his left, their backs turned to him.

Suddenly, a flash of purple lightning could be seen in the distance through the entrance to the camp, signalling the arrival of Rift.
Twenty minutes passed before she finally reached the entrance to the camp to meet with the others.
"You know, you could have just called me, big brother" she looked at Dan and smirked before turning to Kitty and Gavin.
"Always a pleasure Kitty" she smiled sweetly, almost brushing off Gavin's presence completely.
"Who's the new guy?" she asked.

"See? Not long." Dan replied to Kitty, pushing himself up from his knees. First to arrive was Gavin, who had quite loudly skidded his motorbike through the portal. "Try not to leave that lying around this realm, don't want to disrupt anything with that kind of technology." He said, gesturing towards the bike.

Eventually Rift arrived, and in no hurry at all it seemed. "You took your time, especially for a girl with portals." He grunted, disliking being the big brother. It only reminded him of the two brothers he had killed. A shake of his head dispelled those memories; he would not let his past weigh him down.

"I'm glad you could all make it. You might already have noticed the presence of Oblivion in this galaxy, and the very planet we stand on now. Something's bringing them-" Footsteps, slow and secretive, but not far. His sword pulsed with each one, and so he unsheathed it and readied himself. "Someone sensed the portals..." Upwards he kept his eyes, watching the ridge of the rock surrounding them. For a few moments there was only silence.

Suddenly their came multiple flashes of light, signs of teleportation, as dozens of figures appeared from seemingly nothing. They were covered in bandages and wraps, not dissimilar to mummies, yet their eyes glowed bright with pure cosmic energy. Wielding swords and staves they came for the group, launching their attack in unison. Half a dozen flanked each hero, a mixture of weapons and magic at their disposal.

"Of all the times for me to not have a weapon." I'd mutter this under my breath disdainfully before I clench my fist, fire already starting to flicker from them. 

Ducking under a sword, I'd send a fiery punch towards one mummy man. Leaning back to dodge another punch I would let out a hiss of pain as I feel one sword slice from my shoulder to lower back. 

"What the hell is with people and my shoulder?!" Muttering this angrily under my breath I'd drop down and spin my leg out aiming to catch at the very least one or some of them off balance.

Fire would prove extremely effective against the cloth of the mummies' wraps, as Kitty's punch tore through one's face and cut it's life short. Her sweep managed to knock a few more down, but they were not so easily felled by a simple kick. As for Gavin's foes, three of the mummies would indeed burst into flames then fall to nothing due to his fiery chain. The others seem to back away somewhat, cautious of the fire now radiating out from his skull head.

Dan took note of this and ignited his own sword in flames, swinging and stabbing his way through the assassin's that came for him. Embers and ashes flung around, all that remained of those who came in his way until there only one left. This one he stayed his blade for, instead ramming against the rock wall and wrestling the grip off it's weapon. Once disarmed, it merely stared helplessly back at Dan, at his mercy.

Unclenching my fists, the fire around them would die out as I watch the exchange between the mummy man and Dan curiously. Rolling my shoulders I would resist the urge to scratch at the healing wound on my back, my ears twitching as I listen for any other heartbeats. "He's the last one here, just kill him so we can leave, this place makes me uneasy."

Observing and taking note of the effect his hellfire had on the mummies, the Ghost Rider turned to the remaining three mummies that had come for him, closing in on him fast. Instead of using his chain, he merely held his hand out and three fireballs shot forward from the skeletal hand at once, each one travelling towards a mummy each with speed. The fireballs hit their targets, and they too burst into flames and turned to ashes as the fire ate away at their bandages.

With the last of the other mummies dealt with, Dan looked at the one he had pinned by the wall. His spare hand reached out and gripped the mummies face, at which point it began to squirm. After a few seconds Dan plunged his sword into the being's stomach, the runes along the blade glowing brightly. Inside the wraps the energy holding the thing together was absorbed, running into the blade and even down it into Dan.

"Animated by pure cosmic energy..." He said to the others, turned and sheathing his sword. "We have to move fast if they're already on to our movements. There's a ritual site we need to check out, half an hours ride down the road. There are horses by the bottom of the hill for us." Dan then set off out of the camp, not even turning to look at the others. "And if you're thinking of not helping, then know these guys will hunt you no matter what realm you're in."

Whether or not everyone came, Dan reached the bottom of the hill and mounted himself upon one of the various horses tied ready for them. Only then did he turn around to see who had followed, at which point he would speak to them whilst waiting to set off.
"Mount up, and any questions you have, ask along the way."

Rolling my eyes and muttering under my breath as I follow after Dan, "Oh yes of course, obviously after following you to a strange planet with weird mummy puppets I'm going to back out now." 

With a slightly irritated string of grumbled curses I'd manage to mount myself onto the horse, glancing at Dan before down at the now skittish horse I was currently on top of. "I don't think it likes me."

Returning to his human-like form, Gavin didn't get the chance to ask any questions and immediately began to follow Dan down the hill. As he did so, he kept glancing over to Kitty before reaching the bottom where the horses awaited them. 
He then picked one of the horses and, as Dan asked, mounted up.

Rift sighed.
"You know, one day, big brother, you'll be able to go five minutes without getting yourself into trouble like this." She droned at him almost mockingly. With a flick of her wrist, the girl opened a violet coloured portal and began to walk through it.

"Why take a horse when you can travel somewhere instantly?" She smirked as she continued. "I'll scout ahead and meet you at the ritual site"
And with that, the girl disappeared into her portal.

The ride to the ritual site was uneventful, with Dan taking the lead on his horse with a watchful eye. He didn't trust the roads at all, but knew they were safer than the dense forest surrounding them. After half an hour they arrived to a turn in the road, around which they could see a clearing. From where they were it was clear the ritual site was a mess, and also seemingly devoid of life. With a hand out to steady the others, he slowly led them into the ritual site and dismounted.

A clearing littered with rocks and wood, the site looked like it was once well populated, with tents around the edges and some sort of stone construction in the center. However all that had been destroyed somehow, although obviously rather violently.

"Take a look around, see what you can find." Dan half-ordered, signalling with his hand for them to spread at, as he himself walked to the back of the camp. Around them the options were plenty; tents on the left and right, the construction near the center, or the various crates and baskets littered between everything.

Hopping down from the horse I would glance around, taking a sniff of the air I would frown. "The chemo-signals here indicate stress, fear, panic." Leaning down I would pick up a half burned toy doll. My frown would form into a scowl before I place the doll back on the ground. Walking over to the one of the tents I would grab a stick and use it to slowly lift up the flap, my stance tense and ready should an attack take place.

Gavin dismounted just as the other two did, however ignoring Dan, he walked over to Kitty and stood right behind of her.
"I think you should start explaining things real fast.." He said to her in a serious tone.

By the time the group arrived, Rift was already here.
"Something feels different here than the rest of the planet. Keep your guard up you three." She warned as she removed the lid from a nearby crate. What she saw inside caused her to freeze on the spot.

"Guys, you might want to come look at this..." She called over to the others as she stared down in horror at a collection of newly-killed corpses that had been hidden within the crate.
"Dan you need to explain what the hell's going on here, preferably right now" Rift ordered her brother harshly.

Inside the tent Kitty would not find a fight, but instead a charred corpse. It lay there in a frightened pose, burned to the bone. As Rift found the killed corpses, which had also been seemingly burned until they were black, Dan kneeled down and picked up something small. It seemed hot to touch at first, causing him to shake it in the wind before he could examine it properly. Once he did, he walked over to the others and beckoned them to gather.

"A feather," He announced, holding it for them to see. "Red, and recently alight..."

My once calm face would twist into disgust as I wrinkle my nose and mutter under my breath, "So that's what that other smell was.." Dropping the flap and the stick I'd turn towards Dan, taking a few steps before kneeling down beside him. My disgust filled expression would morph from curious to thoughtful, glancing at Dan then to the feather.  "I wonder..."

Gavin watched Kitty as she ignored him and moved to gather with Dan. Gavin followed and when they both reached Dan, he shifted his attention to the feather. However his prior concerns and confusion came back to him and he frowned, looking Dan in the eye.
"What the portal lady said, I want answers. What is this place? What the hell is going on. And most importantly, how the hell are the two of you alive?"
He looked at Kitty as he said the last part, before focusing his gaze back on Dan.

Rift moved away from the crate as fast as she could to join the others. She felt sick to the stomach at the sight of such horror. Unfortunately for her, what Dan had found in the tent wasn't any less sickening.

"Dan what the hell is going on!? This is already far too out of hand and most of us here are completely in the dark." She snapped angrily at her older brother, refusing to even look at the corpse in the center of the tent.

"You don't understand... a feather..."

A loud screech came from behind Dan, coming from beyond the treeline at first. Closer and closer it came though at an alarming rate, until finally a light blinded them all. After the initial flash of her fiery wings, the phoenix circled around the ritual site, a shining beacon in the sky.

"You no longer need to be in the dark!" A high-pitched voice eminated from seemingly everywhere at once, piercing their ears. Moments later the phoenix came long, perching itself upon the rubble of the stone construction. Merely touching the rock caused a sizzling sound, as it singed the stone in intense heat. With gleaming red eyes the fiery bird watched them, not looking at all happy.

"I was lost, I was left. Left alone by those who created me. BETRAYED!" It took a quick snap as it spoke the last word, as if at someone certain. "But now I am free, now I understand. The Starforger will show you!" With that it extended it's wings, showing the true beauty of it's flaming feathers, although not in kindness. A loud screech accompanied the displayed, a phoenix's cry for battle.

I'd cover my ears in pain as I hear the first shriek, before shutting my eyes tightly as the bright light burns my eyes. "Is that a bloody phoenix?" I'd barely manage to finish my question before I'd press my ears even harder against my head to try and block out the high-pitched voice that grated my ears. 

It would take me a moment to regain proper control of my senses before I can actually look at the bird, my eyes still half closed as if I expected the bird to explode with painful light again. "Betrayed? Starforger? What?" I would shout this out here, shocked at the sudden appearance of the bird and it's outburst. 

Letting out a yell I would drop again as the bright feathers assault my eyes and the loud shriek hammers its way into my ears.