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Ivaylis

There were still scars here.

I gripped my blade tightly, the words of a spell on the edge of my lips as I scanned the darkness of the cold stone room.

The comforting sound of hooves followed quickly behind me.

Through the dim light of our illumination spells, we could make out dark stains of red on the rough floor.

I shut my eyes, memories of that night assaulting me once more.

A cold darkness gripped my heart, threatening to crush it into dust.

I exhaled a quivering breath, and felt a large hand rest on my shoulder.

I glanced back into the face of Hestross, who gave me a reassuring nod.

Behind the centaur, elvish spellblades poured into the chamber, each gripping weapons similar to my own. Fifty elves would accompany us as we attempted to secure the palace.

A strange tremble caught my gaze, and I turned to peer into the darkness.

An odd wave seemed to drift through the air, as if a sheet made from shadows drifted suspended in the nonexistent breeze.

“Darkness has seen this place." Hestross whispered. “Left a wound."

Fear grew ever stronger in my chest. That strange ripple stood in the exact location where the Harbinger opened the Rift.

Perhaps this place would remain scarred.

“Let's go." I whispered, turning for the large double doors.

The dungeons of Manir stood silent around us, not even the drip of water as it worked its way through stone ceilings.

Moving with all the stealth such a large war party could manage, we made our way quickly to the stairway, meeting no resistance.

“Perhaps they are undermanned, my Lady." Calaeron, one of my captains, offered.

“They likely are. However, I won't be taken by surprise." I replied.

We took a tactical formation as we ascended the stairs, finding our way to the main level of the palace.

We entered the great hall, just off the tower, and found ourselves in a room void of life.

There was not so much as a flicker from a torch.

The stench of death assaulted us almost instantly.

Peering around beyond the light from our spells, we could make out prone forms strewn across the hall.

“Spread out, search the room. Calaeron, keep a rear guard for overwatch." I ordered.

“Yes my lady."

Elves spread out from there, leaving a twenty-five man reserve as the rest of us slowly moved out to examine the nearest figures.

The stench of rot was almost unbearable.

As I drew near to one such form, my spell light cast upon it, revealing the heavily decayed body of a human child.

I clenched my eyes shut, took a deep breath, which almost caused me to vomit, and then forced myself to gaze upon it once more.

It was definitely a child, based by its size, though the gender was nearly impossible to tell for one such as myself. What little flesh remained was turned black, and seemed to droop of the bones like blood soaked linen.

There were odd grooves in the bones that I could see, and the intestines appeared to have spilled from the body, pooling on the floor beside them.

One of the men spilled the contents of his stomach.

I almost followed.

Glancing around, I could see that all of the bodies near me bore almost the exact same marks of death, even down to the bone grooves and spilled intestines.

“What evil happened here?" Hestross asked, stepping beside me.

My heart thudded heavily as I crouched to better examine the grooves in the childs bones.

They appeared to be...human teeth marks.

A strange glow seemed to flicker in the otherwise empty eye sockets. The jaw fell open gruesomely, and a terrible and otherworldly screamed echoed through the chamber.

The corpse suddenly leapt up, bone fingers grasping at my mithril breastplate attempting to find a hold.

I stumbled back in shock, pushing the skeletal child away from me, just as a large axe dropped down and sundered the corpse apart.

Hestross pulled me back up.

Surprised yelps could be heard from all around us, and the centaur and I stumbled back to see corpses rising all around us, all echoing that same horrifying cry.

Searching elves were all falling back on the main guard, and we moved to follow.

“Daylight Arrows, everyone!" I commanded as I reached them.

Calls of “Anoron Pilin" echoed from all around me, sending flashes of light firing into the mass of skeletons as they dragged themselves towards us.

The first wave was blasted from existence, but it was clear the attack did little to shrink the enemies numbers.

“Bolrunis!" Hestross roared, summoning a large orb of flames into existance. He directed the ball into the nearest wall of the dead, where it violently consumed any in its path.

“Anoron Pilin!" I cried with the chorus of elves, launching arrows of light into the horde of the dead once again.

The forces were closing in on us. I could not risk my men's lives in this close of quarter by using explosive or wide area spells.

“Nuar Hyanda!" I cast, causing flames to erupt from my blade. My men followed suit.

Hestross continued to direct his ball of flames.

Everywhere around me, flames erupted from elvish blades.

“We came expecting to shed blood. Let us do so!" I roared, rushing into the line of approaching dead.

A rallying cry erupted from behind me.

A skeletal arm was quickly removed as it reached for me, then a spear sundered.

I ducked below the awkward sweep of a sword, just as I cleaved the unsteady leg from beneath it's dead wielder.

We quickly made short work of the creatures in hand to hand, as even agile and skilled warriors had cause to fear elvish spellblades.

As the last of the skeletons fell, the terrible screams fell silent.

“I don't understand. What happened to the humans?" Calaeron asked.

“There is no living here." Hestross said.

“Calaeron, report."

“My lady, Ilmen is wounded, but it's only a flesh wound. No deaths."

“This will likely not be the last of combat. Stay vigilant, we need to secure the palace." I ordered.

The captain nodded, turning to pass the orders on, when his words were cut off by a horrifying cry.

Humanoids began to poor into the room from almost every single door, crawling on all fours with all the speed of beasts. Leaping up, they swarmed, drawing weapons before we could even react.

I barely had time to bring my sword to bear, barely catching a blade as it chopped at my head.

I stumbled back to size up our new opponents. All hairless humans with greyish-black skin and unseeing eyes. Their flesh seemed shriveled to their bones, giving them the look of a heavily dehydrated and starved corpse. Their snarling wails revealed hideous stained and rotting teeth.

“Ghouls!" Hestross shouted, dropping his axe into one of the creatures.

It was once said that ghouls were humans driven into utter madness by the Shadow Lord, cursed with a hideous starvation that drove them to eat the flesh of their own children. I had only encountered mention of them in tales written about the shadowlands, and wars long past.

It was commonly believed they were myths.

“Anoron Pilin!" I cried, blasting my enemy through the chest. He roared, stumbling back, only to be replaced by two more.

They danced and wove with the intensity of ferocious wolves trying to find a weakness in my defense.

I slashed across, knocking a wicked looking axe aside, before bringing my blade back to cleave a clawed hand from another's arm.

The speed and ferocity of their assault had us falling back to an ever-shrinking line of resistance.

I could see fallen elves being ripped into with claws and teeth while they still lived, their dying screams being lost in the din of battle.

I dirty hand managed to grab my wrist, claws digging into my flesh.

Gritting my teeth, I thrust my sword through the creatures open mouth as he leapt forward to sink his rotten teeth into my flesh.

“Bolrunis!" Hestross roared, sending a new sphere of flames forth into the horde.

The sight of the fire coursing through the swarm of the dead reminded me of something.

“Larinar!" I bellowed, Painting a wave of fire with an arcane gesture. The flames sprouted into a wall of dancing heat, splitting the hall in half.

That would at least help to stem the tide for a moment.

“Hestross, remember the courtyard?!" I called, dancing away from two ghouls as they swatted and grabbed at me with rotting fingers.

I couldn't hear or see him, but suddenly vines seemed to begin sprouting from between the cracks in the floor, growing to immense size within seconds. They began to squirm and writhe violently, grasping at the dead as they passed by.

This helped to halt their movement even further.

“Uuruva!" I roared, sending a bolt of fire into the vegetation. Otherworldly screams began to echo through the chamber as those caught began to erupt in flames.

Unfortunately, so did the wooden columns of the hall.

“Shield yourself from the flames!" I cried, before casting a spell of protection from fire.

“Vindr!" Hestross bellowed, sending a gust of wind about us, gesturing it into a cyclone. Flames licked at the wind, sweeping up in a vortex about us.

I could see him trying to force the draft of wind upwards and away, a protection from the smoke.

“Waaosa!" I called, adding my own vortex of wind.

The palace was almost completely engulfed by fire now while Hestross and I fought to maintain our spells. Elves circled us, attempting to cut down any ghoul who had managed to remain untouched.

Finally, the smoke was beginning to overpower the stench of death, and my spell threatened to give out.

“W-Water!" I managed.

Calaeron understood, because he gathered a group of elves together, each beginning the gestures of their own spells.

I collapsed, the spell breaking.

Hestross ended his, trembling, but remaining on his hooves.

As the gusts died to nothing, orbs of water burst forth from the circle of elves, exploding into waves of steam and smoke as they met flame.

Hestross managed to add his own orb to the wave, and I forced myself to my feet to cast.

Water sprung forth, diving to extinguish flames.

We continued like this, slowly trying to make our way through the hall toward the large double doors I knew opened to the courtyard.

Hestross tried to kick the doors, but they wouldn't budge.

“Torsundr!" Hestross called, sending a bolt of lightening into the doors. Wood splintered and cracked, but they did not budge.

The fire and smoke was beginning to build about us, as elves moved to try and push the doors open with the centaur. They wouldn't budge.

“It's barricaded from the other side!" Calaeron called through the smoke.

“Hestross reared back, and gave it another powerful kick from his equine legs.

The wood groaned, but refused to give.

My eyes were burning from the sting of the smoke, and the smoke began to sear through my lungs.

When all hope seemed to be fading, the sound of sliding wood was followed by a rush of flames that blinded me and projected me forward violently.

I felt strong arms gripping me, dragging me away into the cold winter dawn.

Aatu

The overpowering stench of the mire had long since become familiar. It was an unwanted familiarity, that when combined with the long expanse of frozen mud and grime, was beginning to wear on my companions and myself.

The days of endless twilight were visibly affecting my companions as well. Ciara, who usually seemed capable of finding positive in almost every situation, was unusually quiet.

The halfling huntress seemed deep in thought, often staring into nothingness. That morning, after I had offered to bear her through the swamp as normal, she declined, claiming that walking would do her some good.

Even our fey companions seemed unusually solemn. Perhaps their time alone had done much good, though it seemed more likely they were over their time in the swamp.

There was a large pool separating us from the next walkable mound that we would have to cross. I examined the banks, noting the deep mud encircling it.

The pool itself would be simple enough for me or Fyrsil to leap.

With a quick inspection to make sure the mound was not another sleeping troll, I crouched low before springing out over the filthy ice-water, landing on the other side gently.

I turned about, catching an odd gaze from Ciara.

“Can you make it?" I asked the halfling.

Fyrsil landed beside me just then with Tokala on his back.

“I-I think so." She said unsure.

“I can bear you across?" I offered.

Fyrsil made a strange throaty grunt.

Ciara quickly turned her gaze behind her, looking back to me.

“I can make it."

She took a few steps back, before breaking into a sprint.

She launched herself into the air, flying impressively far for one with such short legs.

However, I noticed her projected landing would have her just short of making the muddy bank.

I dove forward, sliding into the muddy water below her, providing a furry platform for her to spring off and continue onto the relatively dry mound.

She quickly rolled up, turning to face me, an odd red color filling her cheeks.

“T-thanks."

I climbed out of the water, my once pristine coat long since darkened by the grime in the swamp.

“It was nothing. I don't mind the cold." I replied.

“Oh, you two are insufferable!" Fyrsil laughed.

“Fyrsil!" Tokala snapped.

I considered the two for a moment.

“I apologize, my brother doesn't have the best manners." Tokala stated.

“Shall we continue on our way?" Ciara said, quickly turning away.

Before anyone could answer, a low howl echoed though the twilight morning.

All eyes turned to me quickly.

I ignored them, turning my nose upward to try to find any familiar scent. It had been so long since I had last seen my two siblings, I doubted Whether I would be able to remember their scent.

It was useless, regardless, as only the stench of the swamp assaulted me.

“That sounded close." Ciara said, eyes scanning the swamp. I noticed her hand was dropped to the arrows in her quiver.

Another howl, this time from behind us.

I whipped around, seeing forms emerging from the skeletal trees in the distance.

A large wolf with an odd dark grey coat emerged from the dark mist. Behind him followed two large trolls.

Fyrsil began to growl menacingly.

I carefully examined the winter wolf before me. He was male, and tall, but not particularly bulky like Haeko had been. He had an odd frosty blue hue to his eyes.

“Cadno?" I asked, stepping forward cautiously.

“Aatu!" Ciara hissed behind me.

I glanced back to see a second wolf, this one with a coat of white to match my own, emerging from the mists.

Melrakki was also flanked by two trolls.

She was much stockier and round than I remembered, but I was convinced I had found my siblings.

“Hail, wolf druid." Melrakki spoke in a strange, otherworldly voice. She spoke in the common tongue, much to my surprise.

“Melrakki?" I asked.

“Tell your companions to stand down, and none of you shall be harmed." She stated.

It was then I noticed Ciara had nocked an arrow, and was aiming it at one of the monstrous trolls that stood silently watching.

“Fyrsil, Ciara, please." I said.

Ciara lowered her aim, but did not return the arrow to her quiver, and Fyrsil stopped growling, though he remained tensed, ready to pounce.

“You are the Troll Witch." I said, turning to my sister, who's eyes glowed from enchantment.

“You are quick minded druid. I am impressed." She spoke through my littermate.

“Release them!" I growled.

“Ah, there's that wolfish ferocity. That is good. I had feared the druids had whipped you into a tamed dog. Come, allow your siblings to lead you to my home. We can discuss the matter."

“I don't like this." Ciara whispered.

“Hate to agree, Aatu, the Troll Witch cannot be trusted." Tokala stated.

“You do not have a choice, friends. Not even the great wolf druid can face such odds." Cadno spoke from behind me, though the voice was of the witch.

“No harm shall come to my friends." I growled.

“Friends. Such an odd word for a wolf. I would expect 'packmates,' or 'companions.'" The Troll Witch spoke through Melrakki again.

She glanced around at the group, eyes falling to rest on Tokala. The wolf cocked her head to the side.

“You have my word. None of your 'friends' shall be harmed." She replied, turning back to me. “I am eager to speak with the wolf druid."

I nodded at length, that drew a strange chuckle from the witch.

“Come now, 'friends.' My home is not far." Melrakki said, turning and breaking into a quick trot through the swamp. It was then that I realized her roundness was not due to age or a healthy appetite, but because she was heavy with pups.

Cadno and the trolls maintained a circle about us, escorting us through the swamp.

We traveled this way for about an hour, the going much easier as the witch leading us through the mire.

Finally, I caught the scent of wood smoke in the air, and scanned the sky for any trace of a plume.

The fog was dense enough that it shrouded any signs of one.

Suddenly, the bog gave way to an odd grassy hill, with a small dirt path that wound up to a small wooden bridge wide enough for the trolls to walk single file. Beyond the bridge, I could just make out the outline of a small thatched-roof hut through the mist.

There was a small figure standing before it, perhaps only an inch or two taller than Ciara.

As we crossed the bridge, the hut and figure came into focus, revealing a small cobbled-stone cottage with thatched roof. The building was surrounded by a small wall of stone, encircling a garden of various herbs and plants, somehow thriving in the sunless fog.

The figure revealed herself as a small human child, perhaps no older than five winters. Her hair was as black as midnight, woven into braids with raven feathers. She wore only a wolf-fur pelt around her waist, decorated with carved bones and more black feathers. A small bone-handled stone knife with odd spiral markings rested in a leather strip on her hip.

The nearly white flesh of her nude upper torso was harshly contrasted by deep black paint in spiral patterns similar to the hilt of her knife.

That same heavy black paint spread out from her eyes, which were vibrant yellow and black orbs. Her lips were also covered in the same dark substance, with rough lines running above and below her mouth, giving her face a skull-like appearance.

“Welcome, Aatu Wintermoon." The child spoke.

“Y-You're the Troll Witch!?" Fyrsil blurted out in shock.

“And What did you expect? Some ancient hag? I can appear thusly, if you so desire." She replied, suddenly aging decades before our very eyes, until she appeared to be centuries old, her hair greying rapidly, her skin quickly wrinkling and sagging off her skeleton.

Ciara took an uncomfortable step back beside me. I could feel her fingers run through the fur on my flank for reassurance.

“Or, if it so pleases, I can appear more…appealing." She said, suddenly growing more youthful, until a young woman of child-bearing age stood before us.

“Why have you claimed my littermates?!" I demanded.

“The offspring of Eluniss the Silver and a legendary winter wolf? There is magic in such blood." She said, once again the young child from before.

“You knew my mother?" I asked.

“Knew of her. She was a powerful druidess. I have a habit of keeping tabs on the powerful."

“What do you want with my siblings?" I demanded again.

“As I said, their blood. Or rather, the potential that their blood holds. As you know, winter wolves are no mere wolves. Their blood holds the very essence of the harshest northern winter. A magic so primal and ancient, even I don't remember its creation. Combine that with the magic of perhaps the most powerful druidess of this age, and there is potential to create something incredibly ancient, yet new."

Tokala slid off Fyrsil now, stepping forward in a strangely threatening manner.

“You speak of creating hybrids!" he accused with a growl.

“As a hybrid yourself, Tokala the Feyfox, you owe your existence to such things, no?" she said, turning her gaze upon the fox.

“You condemn such creations." He growled.

“Have you been so condemned? You found a loving foster father and brother. You have wondrous magics capable of twisting the world to your desire. How forsaken do you believe you are?" she replied.

“Fear and dread follow wherever I reveal my true form." He replied.

“Fear and dread follow your wolf companion, as it does the fey companion. It is the nature of mortals to fear those that are different from themselves." The witch laughed, turning back to me.

“I demand you release my littermates at once." I growled.

“Are you in a position to make such demands? Perhaps. I witnessed your fight with the Harbinger of Destruction. Not many could face such a foe and survive."

Tokala and Fyrsil gave me uneasy glances.

I glanced down at Ciara at my side, her hand still interlocked with my fur.

“Then you witnessed I was not alone." I replied.

“Ah, yes, the halfling huntress. Do you really believe her presence made a difference?" She laughed.

Ciara tensed at my side, her fingers trembling in my fur.

“She made all the difference." I growled.

“Perhaps. We shall see."

Darkness began to consume my vision, and I felt the earth rip away violently from my paws. Ciara's grasp slipped from my fur and I felt myself crashing down violently into snow.

Leaping up, I circled around, peering into the darkness. Odd skeletal trees surrounded me, a haze of shadows drifting off their leafless branches, but there was no sign of the cottage or the witch.

Or my companions.

“Where have you sent me!" I roared.

“You have a great destiny, Aatu Wintermoon." Her voiced echoed around me, a childlike laughter cutting through the trees.

“What have you done with the others!" I barked.

The woods fell silent.

Suddenly, four trolls emerged from the darkness like shadows rising from the ground to gain form.

With a terrifying cry, they lumbered forward, reaching for me with filthy clawed fingers.

I dove just below their reach, rushing for the treeline.

I felt a clawed hand grasp me around the rump, dragging me painfully back into the circle.

“Bolrunis!" I barked, sending a large sphere of flames into the attacking creatures face.

The troll stumbled away in agony.

I ducked another claw, rushing up to sink my teeth into the beasts ankle. It roared, kicking out to send me spinning away.

I directed the large ball of fire into a troll as it lumbered after me, catching it he back.

I had to roll away from the fiend as he fell forward, writhing in agony from the fire.

“Brunhyrr!" I called, calling an explosion of fire into the other three who were rushing for me.

A large flash illuminated the trees for a moment, before casting the world back into darkness.

The words of a spell echoed through my mind, one I had never learned. The words were of the druidic language, however, and I forced myself to rise as the trolls were recovering from my assault.

“Elune Aldrnari!" I roared.

The world suddenly erupted into a bright flash of silver flames as if a ray of moonlight slammed down in a large pillar, consuming everything around me. I heard a short cry from the trolls, before all fell silent and dark once again.

My eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, revealing no sign of my enemies.

I now stood alone in the snowy forest.

I could see a faint glow through the trees, however.

With a glance around the glade, I set off at a quick trot toward it.

Emerging from a dense thicket of thorny branches, I came upon an old stone archway, druidic runes glowing with silver moonlight on its surface.

A symphony of howls echoed throughout the night, calling to me.

I suddenly caught the alluring scent of a female wolf, and my heart began to race.

“Aatu." Ciara's voice sounded behind me.

I spun around, relief flooding me.

“Ciara!"

Her nudity caught me off guard, and I stumbled backwards onto my rump in an awkward sitting position.

“Ciara?" I asked, the scent of wolf slamming me full force. My head was spinning.

“Did you really think I could ever love you? You're a beast! A wolf! You're very appearance disgusts me! Terrifies me!" She snarled.

“C-Ciara?" I whimpered.

“The only reason I followed you this far is because of the debt I owe you. I could never love such a wretched monster!"

My heart was plummeting, as her face screwed itself up in a sneer.

“W-why are you saying this? I-I knew we could never be." I whimpered.

Mocking laughter escaped her lips.

Her scent was blurring my vision and causing my head to swirl. I could feel my wolfhood uncomfortably rigid and free of my sheath.

Take her. She is nothing. Just a tiny halfling. A bitch to be bred. Prey.

A voice whispered in the back of my mind. I shook against it, the scent of her filling my nostrils completely now. The thought of pinning her down with my powerful maw, sliding into her tender flesh…

The howls were growing louder and closer, nearly upon us.

“NO!" I roared, shaking violently. My eyes were clenched tightly shut, but I spun around regardless, diving through the glowing stone archway.

Snow was replaced with dirt, and I blinked around in the small dark chamber. A den. The den of my birth.

I could hear the winds howling fiercely outside, as the large beautiful silver wolf curled around her pups.

Even at such a young age, I could recognize each of the pups. Istas, Cadno, Haeko, Melrakki, and Myself.

My mother raised her head suddenly, silver eyes meeting mine.

She blinked, and I was suddenly in a large circle of stone, an ancient tree towering from it's center.

In its trunk were the same druidic runes from the archway, and at its base was a crystal clear pool of water.

I turned to see a large white stag watching me with glowing viridian eyes.

“Aatu Wintermoon." A voice stated in my mind. It was different from before. Gentler, yet with authority. “War is coming."

Suddenly, I found myself falling into darkness, drifting in an endless eternity, tendrils of shadows and hatred tearing into my flesh and driving into my eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

I tried to cry out, but had no breath to muster any sound.

“You can end this suffering now. Give yourself to me." A hideous voice hissed in my head.

Suddenly, a silver wolf pierced the darkness, though I couldn't see with physical eyes. Her voice held the other at bay.

I couldn't make out what she said, but I was filled with warmth for the first time in an eternity.

I felt a strange ring of metal in my grasp, as if my paws had been replaced with hands.

“Agree to his terms, for it shall be his downfall." Her words whispered in my mind.

“M-mother…" I managed, suddenly being cast back into the snow, eyes blinking in the sudden moonlight. I examined my white paws reflecting the moon, before spinning to examine my flank and tail.

All seemed normal once again.

“Trying times lie ahead, my son." My mother's voice drew my attention. She spoke in the tongue of the winter wolves.

The silver she-wolf stood in the moonlit glade before me.

“Mother?" I asked.

“Darkness has awakened in the world. It desires chaos and death. It cannot be victorious. The world needs you, Aatu. All of you. You must guide Ryze to victory. Only you can do this."

I was trembling violently.

“H-How? W-What can I do? I'm just a beast in the eyes of many." I asked with a pleading whimper. How I desired to rush to her and delight in my mother's embrace one last time.

“You are wise and just. You will know. The Harbinger brings destruction to Rainhaven. If the city falls, so too will Ryze. They need you, Aatu."

“What of the pack?" I asked.

“Your sister will lead them. You must walk a different path."

“Y-yes, mother." I managed.

“The archway will return you home. Go." She whispered, slowly fading into a growing light.

I turned to shield my sensitive eyes, noticing that same rune-carved archway.

I gave one last longing look back at the she-wolf, before stepping through the stone portal.

I noticed the stench of the swamp first, causing my stomach to swirl violently.

I opened my eyes, pushing myself up from the earthen garden. My body ached fiercely, but I fought through the pain.

My eyes quickly fell on Ciara, who was standing and staring blankly at me. Beside her, Fyrsil and Tokala did the same, staring off into nothingness, completely unmoving.

Cadno suddenly growled, eyes meeting mine.

The witch, who had been whispering to him, turned to me with a smile. “Well now, I am impressed. You awoke much sooner than I expected."

She still appeared as a small child, but there was certainly a sense of authority in her voice.

“What did you do to them!" I growled. “You said you would not harm them!"

“And I have not. They are only bound. Unseeing, unhearing. They are unharmed, however. I had to ensure we could speak without interruption." She replied.

“What did you do to me?" I demanded.

“Well, I cannot control your mind like your brother or sister, and I desired to test your willpower and fortitude. Therefore, I cast you into the Dream World." She explained.

“Dream World?"

She laughed, approaching the small halfling huntress.

“Beautiful young thing, isn't she? Never have I actually met a wolf in love with a humanoid before." She said, staring into Ciara's unseeing eyes.

She leaned up, planting a kiss on the halflings lips.

“Get away from her!" I growled, frost escaping my jaws. “Release them!"

The witch turned to face me.

“Or you will what? Smite me with Moonfire? I am more ancient and powerful than you could possibly conceive pup!" she snarled, appearing behind me suddenly.

I whipped around, snapping at her, but she was gone again.

“Enough of these games! What do you want!" I growled.

“Oh, dear Aatu, such a question is impossible to answer, for as soon as one desire is met, it evolves, creating new desires." She said, standing next to Tokala now. She was gazing into the foxes eyes, a strange distant look on her face.

“My son, for one, desires to know his true parents. Where does he get his natural affinity for enchantments? Imagine his discontent at knowing that his mother is really the twisted Troll Witch of legend?"

“You are Tokala's mother?" I asked, suspiciously. “He is a hybrid from the experiments in Manir."

“Yes, and I sent the satyr to bring him to Avaltiss Reach. I would not have a child of mine raised as a slave in the dungeons of some foolish human, no matter what the Lord of Shadows demanded."

I thought of my mother and her words from the dream.

“You are in league with Malmyrkris?" I asked, another growl escaping my maw.

“As if the Lord of Shadows could stand an equal. No, I am not in league. I am bound by him." She replied.

She tore her eyes away from the fox, turning to face me.

“The Lord of Shadow is much more ancient than myself, druid. He is the greatest and most terrible deceiver. I was seduced into his service, and exiled for it."

“Am I to feel sad?" I snarled.

She grinned slightly, though her eyes remained distant.

“I care not what you feel. I am long beyond such things."

“I have come for my packmates. Free them, and we will leave you in peace." I demanded.

“You truly are powerful, druid. Even more than you realize. Perhaps even powerful enough to thwart my Master. For that, I shall not destroy you. However, your blood is much too valuable. But I am not unreasonable." She said, walking back to Ciara.

“I may be willing to release your companions and your kin, even set you on the safest border of the marsh, free of this dismal place. If only you agree to a bond." She smiled menacingly.

“What is this bond?"

“I require a child."

I scanned her face for any sign of her meaning.

“A child?" I asked at length.

“As I said, there is strength in your blood, druid. As there is in mine. Such a union could create a beautiful and powerful deity."

I blinked, eyes darting to Ciara's motionless face.

“Why? What would you do with the child?" I asked.

“Love it. Care for it. Even I will not live for all eternity. Don't we all desire to leave something behind to carry on our legacies?"

The thought of leaving any innocent creature in the care of this witch terrified me, let alone the thought of my own child.

“If I refuse?" I growled.

“Then, you are free to go. Your friends, your kin, they will remain here. Perhaps I will see if a halfling can carry a trolls' offspring?"

I growled at this.

“You have a son. You have Tokala!"

“He has too much of his father in him. He does not have the stomach for this life."

I glanced at the fox, then back at Ciara. My siblings suddenly trotted up beside the witch.

“Or, I could have your dear brother experience what you are too afraid to have. And Ciara would beg for it. She would have no choice of course."

I lowered my gaze, defeated.

“I'll do it. I will provide you with a child. But I have conditions. I must see my kin home first, unharmed. As with my friends. I must also go to Rainhaven." I demanded.

“That is a long journey wolf. The risk is great you will die, denying me my prize." She replied.

“Those are my demands." I growled.

“I accept those demands." She smiled, drawing her stone knife.

She drew the blade across her hand, opening a painful looking gash.

Blood dripped from her clenched fist as she approached me.

“And you, Aatu Wintermoon?" She asked.

“I-I accept those demands." I replied.

She cut painfully into my foreleg, causing me to clench my jaw.

“You think me a fool? Do you believe you will just walk out of here, never to return? I will get my child, druid. You will uphold your end of our agreement." She whispered, suddenly becoming the ancient hag once again.

I was suddenly assaulted by a wave of dizziness as the world began to spin. The earth began to tremble, as if it was threatening to swallow me.

For the second time that day, I fell into darkness.