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The boys gathered around the campfire and watched everyone unwrapped their gifts. Niles got a plushie that looked like Deuel. Niles didn’t seem to appreciate it, but Conner did. [color=deepskyblue]“Aww, the plushie is so cute! Did you make that yourself? I don’t suppose I could commission you to make plushies of all of us?”[/color] Conner asked with a laugh.

As the sun set, the boys continued to have conversations around the campfire. There was the sound of laughter and conversations with the sound of waves crashing in the background. [color=deepskyblue]“Guys, I don’t want this to be sad. We’re gonna be buds forever, no matter where life takes us. Let us enjoy the night, k?”[/color]

The light of the stars illuminated the beach, and Shooting stars streaked across the night sky. It was a beautiful sight. Conner’s cheeks turned red as he took the opportunity to hold Kieran’s hand.

But then, out of nowhere, something unusual happened. The stars seemed to shift and dance into a pattern, forming a swirling vortex of light directly above them. Conner gasped. [color=deepskyblue]“What is that?”[/color]

Before anyone had a chance to react, the vortex grew bigger, and tendrils of light shot out grabbing each one of the boys, and pulled them through the portal. In an instant, the boys were gone leaving behind the tent, and the campfire.

As the boys were pulled into the swirling vortex of light, everything around them blurred and distorted. It felt as if they were falling. It felt like an eternity and an instant all at once.

Then, just as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. The boys found themselves sprawled on the ground, disoriented and groggy. As soon as they stabilized, it became clear that they weren’t on the beach anymore. Or even on Earth anymore for that matter. The air was filled with an otherworldly energy, and strange, luminescent plants cast an eerie glow over the landscape. Above them, a sky of swirling colors, like a never-ending aurora borealis. The portal had deposited them in a clearing, and the forest around them was filled with unfamiliar creatures.

Conner looked around in disbelief. [color=deepskyblue]“Uh… Is everyone ok? And… what just happened?”[/color]