[Jess PoV]

Jess's head throbbed as if it were about to split open. She felt a relentless pounding that echoed with each heartbeat. She couldn't imagine how so much pain could be focused in one place.

She pressed her palms firmly against her temples. It was a failed attempt to alleviate, even if slightly, the overwhelming pressure squeezing her skull.

Something was undeniably off. Her thoughts were tangled, memories a jumbled haze that refused to sort itself. She struggled to recall what had happened.

'Why am I in such agony?' She questioned herself. 'Or worse. Where am I?'

Her own body felt unfamiliar as if she were inhabiting someone else's skin.

Gradually, awareness seeped in. She realized she was lying on a bed.

'A rather uncomfortable one at that.' She judged.

The air around her was both stuffy and chilling, an odd combination that added to her disorientation.

Her eyelids fluttered open slowly, her eyes adjusting to the dimness of the room. Shadows draped over sparse furnishings, and the little light offered some comfort.

After several blinks, her vision cleared enough to make out a stone ceiling right above her. With herculean effort, she braced a hand against the mattress and pushed herself upright. The bed creaked beneath her. It was a bunk bed, she noted, with space for another person below. Yet the lower bunk was empty, both levels laden with thick animal pelts meant for warmth.

Swinging her legs over the side, Jess hopped down to the floor. The cold stone met her bare feet, sending a brief shiver up her spine. It was then she noticed the most startling change.

"Am I... taller?" she murmured. She gazed down at herself, eyes widening in disbelief.

But height was only the beginning. Her hair, once a manageable length, now cascaded over her shoulders and down her back in thick waves. Her gaze drifted to her belly; her stomach was not just flat but toned, the subtle ridges of muscle evident beneath her skin. Tentatively, she flexed her arms. Her limbs felt stronger, lean muscles responding with a newfound power.

Her hands trembled slightly as she held them up for inspection. Longer fingers, calloused palms. Yet it looked a lot like her, but with training and time, she couldn't recall acquiring it.

"What happened to me?" she whispered, a mixture of awe and trepidation swirling within her.

While looking at herself, Jess also noticed her strange attire. Adorned in clothes far wilder than anything she'd ever worn before. Soft, supple leather hugged her body; it was a blend between a warrior's armor and a huntress's dress. The garments allowed for freedom of movement while providing a sense of protection.

As she gazed downward, attempting to make sense of her situation, a flicker of motion caught the corner of her eye. Startled, Jess whipped her head around toward her bed. There, on the lower bunk, sat a small, translucent otter.

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"Please, don't scream," the otter pleaded, its voice unexpectedly clear and tinged with exasperation. It stood on its hind legs, front paws raised as if in surrender, its dark, beady eyes fixed intently on her.

Jess's mouth dropped open in sheer astonishment, but no sound emerged. Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum, and for a moment, she questioned her sanity.

"Great. I thought you'd be the type to shriek the place down," the otter remarked with a hint of relief. "Listen carefully." Despite its diminutive size, there was a commanding tone to its voice. "I know this is a lot to take in, but you're in another world."

Her mind reeled. The room seemed to sway slightly, and she steadied herself by gripping the edge of the bed. She opened and closed her mouth several times, words failing her as she tried to process the impossible sight before her. Without a word, she slowly approached the bed and sat down, her eyes never leaving the ethereal creature.

"In this world, you are the last hope," the otter continued. "We need you to save us."

Jess blinked, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion. "Weren't... weren't others supposed to have come?" she managed to croak out.

The otter tilted its head, raising what might have been an eyebrow if otters had such things. "Perhaps," it conceded, "but we can't trust the others. We don't know who else has arrived or which bodies they inhabit." It paused, scrutinizing her with newfound curiosity. "Wait. How do you know others might have come? And why are you so calm?"

She swallowed hard, trying to wet her dry throat. "My brother," Jess stammered. "He also came here and told me."

"Your brother?" The otter's eyes widened in surprise. "Is there a way to talk with those from your world?"

"They returned to my world for some hours," she explained, furrowing her brow as she tried to recall. "That's how I ended up here. I think." Her memories were foggy, like fragments of a half-remembered dream.

"Interesting," the otter pondered, tapping its tiny paw against its chin in contemplation. "Then you might be able to find an ally."

It tried to maintain a serious expression, but its cute round face and whiskers made it difficult. Jess couldn't help but feel a slight smile tug at the corner of her mouth despite the situation.

Jess noticed a small window, no more than a narrow slit in the stone. She moved toward it, curious to find out where she was.

Peering through the aperture, Jess gazed upon a vast expanse blanketed in snow. The world outside was a stark canvas of white, stretching endlessly beneath a sky.

"What's your brother's name?" a gentle voice asked behind her.

Jess turned to see a translucent otter perched on the lower bunk of the bed.

"Jamie. Jamie Murtagh. I'm Jess," she replied.

"A pleasure to meet you. My name is Yessika," the otter said with a small, whimsical smile.

Jess tilted her head, her long hair cascading over one shoulder. "Who exactly are you?" she inquired.

"I am the former inhabitant of this body and now your guardian," the otter explained. "I've come to guide you, to ensure your success in the trials ahead."

"Thank you very much, Miss Otter," Jess said earnestly, bowing her head in gratitude.

The otter seemed to ponder something, her whiskers twitching. "What are the chances that your brother has ended up in the body of that useless one?" she mused aloud, almost to herself.

Jess frowned. "If you don't mind me asking, where are we?"

"We are in the northern reaches of this world, within the fortress of FrostHell," the otter replied. "I served as part of the fortress's defense." She paused, her gaze steady. "Well, I did. Now, that responsibility passes to you."

"Defense against what?" Jess asked, a hint of unease creeping into her voice.

Before the otter could answer, a deafening roar echoed through the chamber. A horn blast so powerful it seemed to shake the stones around them.

"The attack horn. Prepare yourself," the otter commanded, her tone sharp and insistent.

"Prepare?" Jess repeated nervously, her heart racing.

"Yes! Grab your mace!" the otter urged, urgency flashing in her eyes.

Jess looked around the room frantically, searching for the weapon. Her gaze fell upon an object propped beside the bed. There was a stout rod topped with a heavy, spiked ball. It was a mace, formidable and solid. She reached for it, surprised by how light it felt in her grasp despite its imposing appearance.

The otter took a deep breath. "Attack!" she cried, her voice rallying.

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