She ran faster to catch up to him and saw the small group at the bottom of the hill. She didn't recognize any of them. Dustin ran up to the young man Jenn assumed was his master, and the golden eyes at once told her who this Damian was. Only the sons of a White God had eyes the color of amber!
She moved forward. Someone stopped her, and she looked up, barely registering the face of a tattooed man with long, dark hair.
"She's coming with us," Dustin proclaimed. "Damian, please."
Shifting her attention from the tattooed man, Jenn rested her eyes on the young man, who glanced at her after Dustin spoke. His eyes were red as if he'd been crying, and his clothing was streaked with blood. He nodded.
"Jenn," said the tattooed man, whose hand was on her arm, and she looked back at him. "Yes, you'll come with us." His look said he knew her, though she'd never seen any of them in her life. Another woman lay on the ground near the youth named Damian, her shapely figure, porcelain complexion, and auburn hair indicating her beauty even in her sleep.
"Go, Damian," the tattooed man said.
Jenn looked around, wondering where they were going. Fire still raged at one end of the orchard, filling the air above the trees with black smoke. Damian struggled to lift the woman at his feet then carried her towards a tree. Jenn gasped as the two of them disappeared.
"C'mon, Jenn," Dustin said and took her hand. "We're Guardians now. We're going to the mortal world."
She went, walking towards the tree without knowing what to expect. Suddenly, she fell, just as quickly landing in a field with waist-high grass and a bright yellow sun overhead. Dustin hopped to his feet and ran to join his master.
Jenn looked around, disoriented again. The ground behind her made a sucking sound, and she scampered away, staring at the swirling earth. It spit out someone else from the immortal world then slowed to a near stop. Finally, another body came through, this one bloodied and battered. She recognized the tattooed man. He landed next to her and was still.
"Jule!" Damian exclaimed. He hurried to the unconscious man's side. "Is he alive?"
Jenn knelt beside him and pressed her fingers to his neck. She nodded. The youth with the golden eyes sat back and looked around, appearing overwhelmed.
"Only an Other could hurt an Original like this," he whispered.