As Ray strode confidently forth, the beast bellowed, and swung one of the gigantic weapons. A creature, a small mouse, had apparently tried to pass, and was neatly smote. The mouse's soul was pulled into the weapon, and the screams of the damned echoed briefly. A few minutes later, Ray was clear of the gate-keeper, and stopped at a river edge. He turned his head, smiling. Ray looked much better since he entered, but the miasma of the land would make mortals ill. The young raccoon spoke, almost jovially. "You can dismount, if you wish, miss Viola."