Present Time

Skaler is lying down on the ground near a tree. With a grunt, he opens his eyes and groggily gets up using the tree to lean on. "My head... what happened....where am I." He says as he slowly begins to inspect his surroundings. "A forest, what hold am I in?" he asks out loud before coming to a realization. "No snow...I'm not in Skyrim," he says as he stops leaning on a tree and begins to wander around.

After some wandering, he finds a stream of water and kneels down and drinks from it. He suddenly looks up and sees the still open portal and his eyes widen. "Oh no.... the ritual...it failed." He says as he begins to remember the outcome of the ritual. "All this caused by a bird..... I hope my friends are...." Skaler is cut off when suddenly the portal violently closes causing a shockwave that sends Skaler into a tree. He screams in pain, which attracts the attention of a particular wooden predator of the everfree.

As Skaler is trying to recover, he hears growls and looks around, spotting a wooden woof slowly approaching him. He attempts to unsheathe his dagger which causes the wolf to bolt towards him and leap at him, but before it can even get close enough to take a bite out of him, a bolt of fire strikes it, knocking it back and making it howl in pain. Before the wolf can do anything else a consistent stream of fire hits it. Soon the wolf collapses, dead from the intense flames.

Skaler takes a look at his savior and sighs in relief. "Raft... if you are here than the others are here. Skaler says as raft helps him up. "Raft, what really happened... I didn't really see when I was knocked out?" he asks. "As you were preparing the spell, a bird flew into the room and knocked a vase on you, which knocked you out and caused you to miscast the spell, which opened a portal and brought us here." Raft replies as he inspects the burnt body of the timberwolf.
"How interesting, a wooden wolf. Sort of reminds of the Spriggans ." Raft says as he drinks a mana potion. "Come, Raft, we have no time to lose, if creatures such as these inhabit these woods, there must be more of them and probably other dangerous foes lurking, we must find the others. Skaler says as he begins to go deeper into the forest followed by Raft.

Meanwhile

A timberwolf growls as it collides with a shield and is pushed back. "How are you faring, Mike!" Ryker shouts as he swings his sword at incoming wolfs while Mike shoots arrow after arrow at the wolves, using his agility to evade them and using a dagger if they get too close. "I am doing fine, I am used to facing wolves, but wooden ones..." Mike responds as he rolls away from a wolf.

The same timberwolf charges Ryker again, and Ryker responds with a shield bash, stunning the wolf and then drives his sword through the wolf's eye. "I wish I had an ax, it would help with dispatching these creatures quickly, he says as he pulls his sword out and slashes at a leaping wolf. "Fire enchanted weapons would be better, but I believe most of our enchanted equipment is gone." Mike says as one of his arrows hits a timberwolf directly in the eye. Suddenly more and more Timberwolves appear and lunges at Stryker from behind and pins him to the ground.
However, a pained shout is heard, followed by more. Suddenly an undead rushes out of nowhere with an ax and tackles the timberwolf off Stryker and begins to mercilessly hack it to death. The other timberwolves growl and move in to attack when suddenly, more and more undead charge out of nowhere. They begin to attack the wolves putting them on guard. One of the undead gets its arm torn off, but its sense of pain and most of its emotions have washed away as it continues to brutally tear the wolves to pieces. Soon the wolves are overrun by the horde and, soon all of them are dead.
Mike helps Stryker up as the soldiers employed by Skaler arrive with Harkon, Henry, Jack, and Qarth in tow. "A bit too late for the party," Stryker says as he catches his breath. "We would have come sooner, but we ran into a much....bigger problem and had to take a detour," Harkon says as the soldiers form up a perimeter. "Define big?" Mike asks as he collects his arrows. "Well...I think this forest has....mantikoras" Harkon replies.

"You have got to be kidding me.... aren't they only suppose to be in Craglorn....are we in Craglorn?" Ryker asks as he sharpens his blade. Harkon sighs. "Yes, and no we are not in Craglorn....this place is...lively." Harkon says as he readies his blade. "I believe one may have followed us, get ready." Harkon says as everyone readies their weapons as the tree leaves rustle, and suddenly a manticore rushes put and roars causing everyone to back up a little. "Come one men, to arms!" Ryker yells to his men and they all shout their battle cry. "A grave to dig, and a body to rise!" and prepare to battle the manticore. which roars in response and prepares to attack them.

Meanwhile in ponyville

Celestia had forbidden anyone from venturing into the everfree. She herself chose not to go, as she wanted to stay near her ponies and protect them, should any danger arise. The portals sudden emergence had put everyone on edge. To face a problem so soon after the other is just stressing, and Celestia has a feeling this problem will be much more troublesome than mild annoyances. "No matter what, I will protect you." Celestia says as she has Twilight write a letter to Luna, telling her to don her armor and gather up as much guard she can to prepare for anything.

Author's Note

Sorry about cutting the chapter short before the manticore battle. I just didnt want to drag on the chapter too long. The next chapter will mainly focus on the manticore. If you want me to detail my stories more, just say so and I will see what I can do.