As Drake, Lykopis, Icarus, Gaunt, and the hellhounds did their best to keep the wendigoes pinned down, Adem had Jym scanning the crystal, searching for the right frequencies with which to activate it's teleportation capabilities.
"There is a problem." Adem said, looking up at the group, as they struggled with the creatures. "Even if we do send them back, someone will have to go with them and destroy the crystal, so they do not return."
The Vanguardians looked at each other in turn, not exactly sure of the meaning of this. They had just come together as a group. And now one of them would be asked to sacrifice themself.
"I am the logical choice." Gaunt said, after a few moments. "I already know what their world is like. I can hold the creatures down until we are transported. I will go. Adem, give me the crystal."
"Wait, wait, we can't just do this." Drake began.
"You are needed as leader, Drake. No one else is equipped to cross the great distance this would require." Gaunt countered. Adem looked up at these words.
"We will remember and honor you." Lykopis folded an arm over her chest in deference to Gaunt's sacrifice.
"Score one for Eddie Munster!" Icarus offered as the group glared at him.
Adem handed Gaunt the crystal as Jym's frequencies began to match up, manufacturing an eerie simulation of the undulating whistles the group had heard earlier. The crystal began to shake and hum as light built from inside it. The snowmen struggled and strained against the shadowfolds that Gaunt had created to hold them back.
He was losing the battle. There were too many of them. He began to falter. The light grew brighter and the beasts surged against their bonds of dark mattter as The Shadow Chancellor struggled to hold them in check.
The onyx crystal shook in Gaunt's grasp as the wendigoes began to move as one, pushing off their bonds. "No. . .I will not. . .lose this. . .!" Beads of sweat poured down Gaunt's face as he attempted to hold them. And the crystal. . .
Fell from his hand.
