The Universe's Mixer

Eric sighed.

He settled into the atmosphere of the cliff and watched the land expand before him. Behind him sat their house, the one he had built for them and the one that now seemed not to matter. No longer were they trapped on this island. No longer did they have to live in such basic accommodations though he would hate to see the place go unused.

It was almost as if the dinosaurs themselves sensed the changed. The trees were quiet, still. Not a leaf shivered. Not a saur cried into the daytime. It was strange. But as much as Eric loathed a cityscape, part of him welcomed the familiarity of it. Except for the part that lead him to believe that some of his past had finally caught up to him.

Bran had flown ahead to assess the danger. Eric had never expected the scene the bird saw. Bran had seen him, and Peter. It had sensed Peter's need for stability and comfort, thus the black avian had flown a circle around their friend to offer comfort. And before Peter had stood...Eric. Himself. He that seemed different. The Dark Avenger couldn't imagine what world or time that part of him was from, as familiar as it was, and yet he knew. They shared the same memories to a point. But that didn't mean Eric liked the idea of having another of himself running amok in the city.

That could be dangerous considering they didn't know exactly what to expect.

And so Eric sat patiently. He watched the city through Bran's eyes and weighed the challenges presented before them. They could do well in a place like that. Function better. He and Macklyn. His mate deserved much more than ancient flora and fauna. But Eric wouldn't move without Macklyn. If Macklyn wanted to stay here, they would stay. If he wanted to explore the tall concrete buildings and cityscape, then they would go together and forage a new existence there. But he would let Macklyn decide.

Bran cawed, perched upon a Directory. This place, apparently, was called The City, and it was waiting for them. Eric could feel the subtle pull. He wondered if Macklyn felt it too.

Hannibal had awoken in the small one room space he had taken root in at Bate's Motel. It was not where he had been staying previously. He had been with River, and they had secured themselves in one of the suites in a hotel, awaiting her trial. Then they had been told that all charges had been dropped, and they had celebrated. And then... and then what?

His mind was flawless, his memory impeccable, there was no way that he would have forgotten. Yet here he was, without River, in this place.

He had no doubt that he was in the City still, as when he looked at himself, he was entirely in black and white. He did wonder about his friends, and then his curiosity went to another place entirely.

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