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I'll post a little bit of this story, then I'll probably take it down later. It's a kind of filler while I'm away from a role playing game, so my characters aren't sitting around and doing nothing, so to speak. Anyways, enjoy it for now.

~Malindor, Docks District~
If you're familiar with plane-jumping and portals, you'd probably remember how nervous you would feel--the butterflies in your stomach, the thrumming of your heart as if it were dancing a jig in your rib cage, and the feel of sweat tingling at your fingertips. You would recall the allure of the portal, how it would seem to draw you in, singing a song promising new opportunities, forgotten planes and new adventures. Things waiting to be discovered, doorways revealing either the ultimate evil, or a bright, shining light of freedom. Anything could happen with a portal.
Silastrix felt a hand on her shoulder, and Farrow's soft voice at her side. "The longer we stand here," he said quietly, "the more I put the others in this city in danger. And the mask of Mortal Coil must be found at all costs. We might as well take the step in... there's nothing left for us here now."
She shivered, despite the warmth of the day. Farrow was wrong. There were things left to miss here, things worth remembering and fighting for. No matter what, she would never be able to forget this plane. One day, she would return.
"I miss this place already," she responded. Her green eyes flicked back to the rest of Malindor. So many things were left unsaid, so many farewells left untold. At least Valian Dragneel knew they were gone. Their ever-enigmatic friend was the only one to see them departing to Oerth. A good thing was that now Valian could call upon Farrow's shadow companion and send messages back and forth when needed, perhaps of news or warnings. Or to just say hello.
"I understand." Farrow's normally grim expression softened, perhaps thinking of all of the good times they had there. The tall cleric of Isod'us did not spend as much time in Malindor as she did, nor had he gotten to know the locals as well. But at least he remembered how happy things were, before things took an unexpected turn.
It turned out that Silastrix would not marry after all, and Farrow was now the host of a bloodthirsty nightmare. Already, the monstrosity within him was beginning to eat away at him--the whites of his eyes were bloodshot, and his balance was not as good as it once was. Perhaps half the town already knew of what went on in The Dragon's Breath tavern, owned by the half-dragon, half-demon Vildamork. Valian was looking particularly ill when Farrow had seen him in the tavern, and once he'd explained that a nightmare was eating away at him since he'd gone to the Shadow Plane for more information on Farrow's mysterious companion, Farrow understood that he didn't have much longer to live. So he did what he could to help his friend and relieved him of his burden--by taking it within himself instead. Now the monk of the Shadow Queen was looking much better, despite a few broken ribs.
And now the mission extended from finding Mortal Coil's mask, with the former guild master of the Guild of the Black Rose's soul trapped inside, to that and releasing the nightmare back into the shadow realm where it would not harm innocents. All within a few days, for Valian had predicted Farrow would last that much time. It was a good thing that time ran slower on Oerth than it did on this plane so it bought them some time to act. And Farrow's shadow would be kept mostly busy fending off the nightmare contained inside of Farrow, though it was not nearly as powerful as the dark being.
Silastrix took one last look at Malindor. The city might not feel like home as her former plane did, but at least it was more so than Oerth. And she'd miss it very much. But the portal was beckoning for them to enter, and it was best not to keep it waiting. Taking her friend's hand and squeezing it tightly as if to draw strength, she and Farrow entered the portal. Finally, Malindor seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and returned to as it was once more.