A clearing in the jungle with a large cave. Some animals must live here.

::Aidan lies right in front of the cave and faces into its dark mouth. He's on his side, curled up, unmoving.::

::Ryo pushes some large leaves aside and steps into the clearing, seeing the small boy about twenty feet away. He doesn't move closer for now, wary of the cave.::

"Hey... kid?"

::Suddenly everything freezes as Aurellia appears before Ryo.::

"Hello."

::Ryo stares at the woman.::

"Who are you?"

"This is all a trick, friend. I am here to show you what happens if you step any closer to this boy."

::Aurellia moves aside and shows Ryo a vision, wherein he will feel like he is actually taking part of it. He moves over to Aidan's still form and reaches out to see if he's all right. There's a low growling behind him and he looks around to see that he is surrounded by lions. Once he realises her can't escape, he turns to look at Aidan who is sitting on his haunches with that grin on his face. A rumbling growl comes from his throat and suddenly Ryo realises that Aidan is a part of the lion pride, and came to Ryo to lure him to the others so they could kill him easily. As the lions draw in on him, he swallows and movement catches his eye. One has pounced. Just before Ryo is killed, the vision ends and leaves Ryo standing where he was, facing Aurellia.::

::Ryo jumps and stares around fearfully.::

"Where did they go?"

"It has not happened yet. Not to you, anyway. But it will if you do not come with me. I can save you. I can give you a new life in another time, where you will be safe and prosperous."

::Ryo knows that the lions are probably already close by.::

"How can you do that?"

"I can do many things. I appeared out of nowhere just now, did I not?"

::Aurellia smiles.::

"There is only one thing you will have to do for me, and my master. In the place we will take you to, there will be another just like you. He looks and walks like you, and perhaps even talks like you. He will need to come to this time and replace you; he will be the one that is taken in by this trick; falls by these lions and this boy, instead of you."

::Ryo frowns.::

"Like me?"

"He is you in another time. But if you are to replace him in his time, he must replace you in yours. Ryo, you have too much to offer this world to be ended now. He is a version of you, and yet not you. The balance must be kept of the world; so it is him or you."

::The man shifts his weight.::

"I don't know this other me, but I doubt he is up to much great things. If he is, I'm sure he will be able to fend these beasts off better than I. I don't deserve to be slaughtered for trying to help someone."

::His eyes move to Aidan.::

"Little..."

::He brings his gun up and aims.::

"No! You can't do that!"

::Aurellia bats the gun down.::

"It will change too much. You may only be saved if you are replaced and the same events happen."

::Ryo sighs.::

"Fine. I don't know who or what you are, but I'm not about to get eaten by giant pussies. Let's go."

::Aurellia smiles and takes Ryo back to the fourth dimension.::

::Aidan rolls over and sees that Ryo isn't there anymore. He frowns and sits up, then looks around, worried. He yelps and barks a few times then runs off back to the jungle.::