When We Spirits Awaken

Chapter 2: Emily Grave

I stood at the edge of the Fantell Woods and faced the Medila Mountains. The breeze pushed through the trees and carried all the beautiful scents of Vanoria past me, filling my nose and making me smile. The wind blew harder for a moment, wrapping its invisible fingers in my long hair and pulling it into my face, covering my eyes.

The wind turned back into a light breeze, still carrying the scent of home and all things good. As I pulled my hair away from my face all the beauty was still there, but I could not stand still another moment. I was running and I could not understand the sudden fear that filled my entire body or the tears threatening to fall from my eyes. I glanced up and watched the sun find its place in the sky, the moment it did a flash of some colour I had no chance to recognize filled my eyes. I stumbled to the ground. As I fell I threw my hands forward to break my fall and curled up on the ground.

When I lifted my head the sun had disappeared and the full moon had taken its place. I felt I was being watched, and fear coursed through every inch of my body.

I looked over to my right and saw Shade lying on the ground. I could not stand, so I crawled over to him. I touched his large shoulder with a shaky hand, his massive Lynkire form did not frighten me as much now, but it still made me weary. I tried to wake him, but he did not move. It was then I realized there was only silence when I should have been hearing Shade's steady breath. I shook his shoulder with more force and his body turned over, lifeless.

I screamed and got to my feet, stumbling as I tried to run. I stopped and found myself deep within the woods, standing in a small opening. All around me tall, thick trees stretched to the sky as though they were trying to grab the full moon while it hovered over the little clearing, providing my only source of light. A quick and eery movement caught my eye. I looked towards it and saw that there, floating in between the trees, was a ghastly figure. It was human, but the way its eyes shifted and its movements were always changing made it clear that it was haunting me, waiting for its chance to do whatever bidding its purpose was.

I ran to the end of the clearing, thinking I could escape it. Before I fell back into the trees I landed into a pair of strong arms, but I found no comfort in their grasp. I tried to pull myself free and looked up, staring into a pair of silver eyes.

"You are only mine," Jadus hissed.

I shot my eyes open and sat up, feeling dizzy. I touched my hand to my forehead and moved my hair out of my face, trying to catch my breath.

It was only a dream, I tried to convince myself, but it was more than that. It was a nightmare, and it felt real.

I heard Shade whine and he put his paw on my leg, tilting his head as he looked up at me.

"Bad dream?" he asked, his thoughts concerned.

I nodded my head. "Yes."

"What about?"

"Jadus."

Shade gave me a knowing look, letting a low growl form in his chest. I lifted my hand, but stopped before I touched him. Without hesitating, he lifted his head and met my hand, his eyes closing. In that moment, all the fear I felt towards Shade ceased to exist. He wanted me to accept him, because he belonged to me, and he was happy. I smiled to myself; there was no one else in my world or this one that could say they owned a Lynkire.

As I continued to stroke Shade's head and feel the softness of his black fur he jumped up onto my lap. His massive body quite literally could have crushed me, even as a dog he still weighed quite a bit more than I did, but he positioned himself so that we both sat comfortably.