The Rainlands: Grand Delusion

Chapter 29: Howls

"So Jasmine, when you use your Reincarnation, how do you...do it?" He asked one time, as he got too tired to swing his sword anymore. She reached into her clothes, and this time Levi caught a blur of motion as the dagger appeared in her hand.

"I just do. It took me a long time to understand the memories, even longer to make them a part of me, until it was habit. You'll figure it out, you just need time. Try to remember, when it comes, it will come." She said and Levi nodded but internally he was grimacing. I thought there'd be a trick to it. That wasn't very helpful at all. Jasmine heard Levi grunting and glanced back. She laughed, amusement on her voice, "Relax, Levi. Who do you want to be? Someone strong? Someone powerful? The ability to hit a man with lightning out of thin air is not a regular Reincarnation. I wonder what you were, in another world, and another time."

"I don't know, it'd be nice to be some powerful warrior or a ruler. But who knows, I'm just glad to have one." Levi smiled, happy at the thought. It still hadn't quite sunk in yet. I have a Reincarnation!

"Well keep trying. Count to seven while you breath in, hold for another seven, and let loose for seven when you exhale. A simple meditation trick, but the tutors always said an ordered mind is a powerful one." Jasmine advised but gave no more tips after. Levi was at a loss. So I'm just...supposed to think about it? He tried to remember his past life. Who he had been in another time, if that was indeed what a Reincarnation really was? No one knows, I guess. However, though he contorted his brain, it was hard to remember something which had never been there before. Levi tried to close his eyes to focus better, but almost tripped on the trail and sighed. I'm never going to get anywhere like this. Jasmine called back.

"Try the breathing. Seven in, seven hold, seven out. I'm serious!" She said. Levi held up his hands. Is it really that simple? He didn't believe in meditation, but maybe if he tried it, it'd work. He began to breath as Jasmine had described, in blocks of seven, using his footsteps to time the passing seconds.

"Nothing's happening." Levi complained.

"You're distracting yourself by talking. Just keep trying." Jasmine kept walking, leaving Levi to his thoughts.

Seven in.

Hold seven.

Seven out.

Again.

Levi exhaled slowly, over and over. He felt himself relax ever so slightly, his muscles spasming as some of the tension he'd been holding without realizing it rolled away. Was I really that stressed? He wondered. Wait, keep breathing. I mean counting. Oh, darn it. After a few moments, he began to relax again. Then a memory popped into his head, as if it was his own.

There was this...this palace. It was massive, far bigger than any he'd expect to see in the Rainlands, though he'd never been to the capital. He couldn't imagine something that large. It was oriental, the sloping roofs and fantastic painted tiles glimmering over many gates and archways. Servants wandered everywhere and as he stood above them, he breathed in the fresh air-

AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Levi jolted back into the present, the memory fleeing from his conscious mind like it had never been there.

"What? What's happening? Where'd the palace...?" Levi stopped talking as he realized he could barely remember what he'd seen. What was that? Jasmine held up a hand.

"Direwolves. And a lot of them. Something's pissed them off." She said quietly. "They're up ahead. Listen!" Levi hunkered down, lowering his profile. But it soon became apparent that whatever was going on, the Direwolves weren't after them. The two of them met gazes and Levi watched Jasmine's dark eyes behind her mask. "Should we go see what the fuss is all about?" She asked. Levi thought it over for a second then straightened.

"Not like we have a choice." The two of them silently continued down the trail with their blades out, ready for trouble. The sun blazed down, cutting through the openings in the trees, and Levi grinned, enjoying the warmth. What's wrong with me? He didn't quite understand why he was smiling, but the warmth felt good after so long in the dark. Even with the Direwolves howling ahead, and the possibility of death being in the trees, he didn't feel bad. Anxious perhaps, still a little afraid, but not bad. Levi didn't notice but he gradually began to take the lead, cutting ahead of Jasmine who was taken aback, not used to being the one following.

"What are you doing?" She asked him. Levi looked back at her, not entirely sure what she meant. Was I doing something wrong?

"Huh?" He grunted, a little perplexed as Jasmine waved him onwards.

"Never mind." She said, and Levi retook the lead with the faint feeling that something was off. But I can't put my finger on it. The howls became loud, like the wolves were announcing to the world their presence and Levi heard voices. They stealthily left the trail and traveled alongside it in the trees and shrubs until Levi spotted a glimpse of silvery color. He tapped Jasmine's shoulder, pointing it out and the two got in closer. It's the men from earlier. But what are they doing?

"Back! BACK! I'll kill the lot of you all! Don't think I won't" A desperate shriek sounded as one of the riders from earlier shouted. Levi almost gasped as he saw the man's mount on the trail. It had collapsed, it's two front legs practically hewn in half. Long strips of bloody flesh were missing from its flank and a dozen hungry Direwolves eyed the three remaining riders. They were locked in a tense standoff, the Direwolves' slavering jaws dripping drool as they watched the crippled horse bleed out. The other two riders, still mounted weren't sure what to do as the dismounted man tried to stay behind them. Jasmine whispered in Levi's ear sending chills up his spine. He wasn't sure if it was from the situation or just the fact that it was her.

"Look at that Direwolf, Levi!" She pointed at one all the way in the back. "Bigger than any I've seen before. Must have been hit by the Shatterstorm." Levi squinted, trying to pick out what she was talking about. When he saw it, he had to agree, the creature was enormous. And seemingly in great pain. It itched constantly, attempting to scratch itself with its paws until its once grey coat turned red. Clumps of hair were missing, and its eyes seemed sunken into its skull. Two strange horns had begun to grow out of its head and Levi watched in horror as it whined when it tried to groom itself, the unnaturally long claws on its paws seemingly unable to close.

"It's tearing itself to pieces!" He remarked, watching the gruesome sight. Even though the beast was clearly in great pain, it continued to scratch, as if compelled, its claws leaving great bloody furrows in its skin. Even still, the thing had mutated to such a size that the wounds which would have been fatal on a human were not putting it down. It barked, and as if listening to its order, the other Direwolves began to encroach on the riders, who leveled their weapons. "What do we do Jasmine?"