Kevin and Theo's Multiverse Misadventure | mariteaux

PAGE FIVE

Is that an interdimensional portal you've got there? the cat asked, emerging from the back door of the house. Theo's eyes scanned her up and down. Skinny, in a puffy jacket far too warm for the weather, long, yellow hair matching her fur draping down from underneath a black beanie. The fascinated stare she gave to the two and their portal worried Theo to no end.

How does she know about that? The bunny whispered to Kevin.

Maybe she's a Multiverse person too!

Multiverse? The cat's eyes lit up even brighter, and she stepped out from the door towards the duo.

Ah, no! Theo put a paw out, waving it in frustration. No, no, no, you're not supposed to know any of this. It jeopardizes the safety of your world and everyone in it!

My world?! She was starting to get downright giddy now, and her speech grew twice as fast to match. "You gotta explain all this to me. Are you aliens?

Realizing the hole he had dug for himself, the rabbit hunched over in resignation. Fine. This stays between you and us, understood?

Deal. Tell me everything.

Let's go inside first.

Kevin and Theo followed the cat inside the house and into the kitchen area, one that reeked of mid-century with its aged linoleum and long outdated gas stove and fixtures. A strange amount of empty macaroni and cheese containers were piled around on the countertops.

Theo hesitated two paces into the kitchen. Oh, how could I have been so rude? We haven't even been properly introduced. He reached out to shake the cat's hand before returning to a polite pose. Theophrastus. I go by Theo, though. It...arouses fewer questions.

My name's Kevin! the aardwolf-turned-puppy chirped.

Interesting names! I'm Kyra. What's with the portal?

Theo inhaled, his eyes bouncing around the room slightly. Well, if I'm honest, I never imagined I'd have to explain the Multiverse to someone who hasn't traveled through it—

So there are other worlds out there? Kyra interrupted.

...Yes. They each have their own forms and properties—

How many?

Ach, an infinite amount. As I was saying—

What lives in them? Do all the creatures look like us?

Not necessarily! I am talking!

Kyra fell silent. Theo continued.

Each world manifests its own means of egress into the Multiverse void, which is an undefined space filled with essentially noise. For most worlds, this is as simple as a rip in space, though other dimensions can have world holes through magical or otherwise unexplained phenomena.

And that was ours? she asked. That portal out there?

Yes. In my home world of the wilds of Pinède, we have what we call "bottomless satchels"—storage bags with portals to pocket dimensions inside them. The pocket dimensions are not large enough to support a living being my size, and thus stretch into world holes when stressed.

I can't believe this. Hold on— Kyra wandered around the corner into an adjacent broom closet, and Kevin and Theo exchanged glances of concern and exasperation at one another, respectively.

Where is she going? Theo whispered.

I dunno. Maybe we should follow her.