Mara had not thought about how it would feel to travel to another world. TV and movies always made it seem so pleasant and easy. In truth, it was terrifying. Once she passed through the door a searing bright light pierced her eyes but despite the pain her eyelids refused to close. So she blindly stared ahead as the light continued to claw at her eyes. The light was like some kind of creature trying to invade her body, tearing at her with talons that burned cold. So all consuming was the sensation that it took her a moment to notice that the absolute silence of beyond the door had now given way to the gentle sound of running water.

As the black spots dancing across her vision began to fade, a breathtaking view came into focus. They were standing amongst a series of terraced gardens carved into pale limestone mountains. The tall hunks of white stone erupted from the ground to pierce a blue sky, darker than any she had ever seen on Earth. Amongst the natural crags and crevices, large arch windows had been carved into the stones. To Mara they looked like the ancient ruins of a past society but judging from the movement inside and the laundry hung from the windows they were very much in use.

Down below, instead of streets and roads, canals crisscrossed the landscape. A simple barge stacked high with boxes leisurely floated by as another boat carrying passengers raced by with urgency.

Off the canals smaller waterways branched off in every direction. Some disappeared beneath the stone monoliths while others twisted and turned around each other, snaking into intricate designs.

The whole place looked like some elaborate water feature.

The small canals even cut a path through the lush green landscape of the gardens and formed a tranquil pool. Its water was so still that it created a mirror on the surface.

Leaning over the edge Mara indulged her vanity but her reflection was absent. Assuming that she was not at the right angle to catch her reflection Mara leaned further over the water's edge.

It didn't really surprise her when the ground gave way. Given her luck in life, it seemed only fitting that something like this should happen. Her mind breathed a sigh of resignation as she began to fall. But the intense sense of panic that overwhelmed her brain when she hit the water was completely unexpected.

Without conscious thought she frantically clawed at the soft dry ground as she pulled herself onto dry land. Her entire body shuddered to try and shake free the water, all the way from her head, to the tip of her tail.

Her tail. Her furry, ginger tail.

"What the hell!?" she screamed and hissed at the same time as her back arched and hairs, or rather fur, stood on end.

"Oh no no. This is not right, not right at all." Drake became nervous muttering by her side. Craning her neck she looked up to see a tall man with soft, dark hair that hung just over a pair of golden brown eyes. The long fingers of his hands intertwined as he wrung them together. His eyes darted about nervously before coming to rest on her.

"I don't- It shouldn't-" He stammered in a panic. "Maybe if we… Damn." And without another word the dark haired man grabbed her up and they disappeared back through the door, into blinding light.

*  *     *

"What do you mean the prisoner has escaped?" Captain Talba roared, his face red with anger.

"Well Sir, the word escape means that the prisoner should still be in his cell, but ain't." One of the guards helpfully explained.

"I know what escaped means Murphy." The Captain yelled back, sending spittle flying from his lips.

"Then why did you ask-" But the second guard cut off his impertinence with a sharp elbow to the ribs. The Captain dragged his fingers through his ever thinning hair and let out a heavy sigh and turned his attention to the first guard.

"Wilness, how? How did the prisoner escape from a tiny stone cell, with no windows and only one door?" Captain Talba seethed.

"Two doors, Sir." Corrected Murphy.

"What?" Talba snarled as his hand moved to the hilt of his sword.

"The man clearly said 'two doors' Captain. Perhaps if you were more attentive and listened, things like this would not happen." The new voice was deep and smooth, yet laced with an unspoken threat. Captain Talba's whole body froze as the owner of the voice slowly sauntered down the dark corridor.

"The pair of you are dismissed, but you've earned yourselves extra night duty for the next month." Captain Talba snapped. The guards saluted and quickly moved down the hallway.

"Why can't you ever just keep your mouth shut Murphy." Wilness' voice filtered back down the hallway before they turned the corner and were gone.

"Well this has been a disappointing display of your ineptitude. All you had to do was keep him confined down here until the execution. Was that really so hard?"

"No Sir. Sorry Sir." Talba stammered. "I don't understand how this could have happened."

"I do not care to hear your excuses. We had an arrangement and you have failed to uphold your end. I will have to think of how you can make it up to me, but for now show me this second door." His words were absolute and Captain Talba submitted in silence.

Talba's nerves started to show as he fumbled the keys and opened the cell door. But his blood ran cold when he saw the second door. It looked completely out of place, an old wooden door was stuck into the stone.

"How is that even possible?" Captain Talba stared, dumbfounded.

"Well that is an interesting development. It seems our little friend is more resourceful than anticipated. Very interesting."