“So., are we going to stay the night a decent bed would be a nice change compared to the last four days.” Tharon eyed Zarath with that I know you want to look.

          “Alright, fine that girl just makes me on edge I mean it seriously like how she just snuck up on me.” Zarath stood from the table grabbing the coin pouch his father gave them from one of his bags and began to walk towards the bar Hura following right behind him as he left Tharon at the table.

          “Sure, on edge.” Tharon muttered under his breath as Zarath walked away.

Zarath approached the bar where Raan’Tor was working the Fennec turned his head to acknowledge the boy as he approached. Setting down the tankard he was washing out at the time.

          “I take it you’re going to ask me about those rooms for rent.” Raan’Tor turned to Zarath as he asked the question, seeing the small coin bag the boy was carrying. He sat the glass he was cleaning down and picked up a bottle from behind the counter the liquid inside of it a pure amber color.

          “Well, I was not sure if I should, but we don’t have any where else to sleep and it’s probably safer to sleep indoors even if this is a Wolfkin settlement.” Zarath sat down at the bar looking at Raan’Tor for some sign of apprehension at his request.

          “Look my daughter has clearly taken an interest in you.” Raan’Tor poured the amber like liquid into the glass he had just cleaned. “So, I will be nice and let you stay the night on the house, but I don’t want any funny business do you understand me young man.” Raan’Tor stared dead at Zarath. Zarath clearly caught of guard by the response, his fur stood on end and his face visible changed red.

          “I have no intention…or I mean that…Your daughter is.” Zarath was trying to think of what to say for once in his life he was caught completely unprepared unlike life back with the Iron Claw tribe none of the girls had every really took an interest in him or openly showed it and then the fact that Lyra wasn’t a personality he was use to dealing with her hyperactive nature or the fact she just did as she pleased, Zarath had no idea how to react with her and the fact her father was now giving him a hard time about it as well.

          “I’m only teasing you boy you remind me of a younger clan member I had back when I was apart of my people always so awkward when he didn’t know what to say.” Raan’Tor took a drink from the glass he had poured letting out a deep satisfied sigh as he tasted the alcohol.

          “What do you mean part of your people? Doesn’t your family own this place.” Zarath managed to ask as he regained his composure over being teased.

          “Well as you guessed I’m a Fennce my people originally come from the Whispering Sands it’s a land on the continent of Da’rath south of the Howling Sea I don’t remember when the first of my people came to this continent, but I made the journey oh I’d say twenty or thirty years ago back when I was your age. I left my clan in search of adventure and traveled between all the kingdoms on this land before I meet my wife here in Vaerthruin.” Raan’Tor seemed to lose himself in thought as he spoke, thinking back to how many adventures he had perhaps.

          “Any way my Kaela will kill me if I throw two young boys out on their first adventure out onto the streets so for now enjoy some of my wife’s food and after we close, I will have Toren show you to your rooms.”

          After a few hours of waiting Zarath and Tharon enjoyed sitting in the Barking Dog Tavern, they watched as patrons and guests from all the different Wolfkin Tribes in Vaerthuin came and went some stopping for a quick drink, others staying for hours and being dragged out by their friends. A few of the Krellar of each tribe taking note of Zarath and Hura others asking Thoren where he got his wyvern bone spear. Neither boy had ever dealt with this many people at once let alone seen this many people at once, their Tribe’s camp maybe had a little over a hundred people maybe at most a hundred and fifty people. As the sky outside darkened and the crowds slowly dispersed for the night Toren led the boys up to the upper levels of the hollowed-out tree that made up the taverns upper levels all be it in an unhappy fashion while doing it.   

          “Here is the room its two beds your Brakkron is more welcome to sleep in the hallway and if my sister comes in here to talk to you, tell her to go away.” Toren crossed his arms trying to intimidate Zarath and Tharon who both ignored him as they put their stuff down.

          “That guy really thinks he would win if he fought us.” Tharon flopped down onto one of the beds quickly making himself comfortable as he let out a deep sigh of relief. “By the ancestors after the last four days an actual bed.” Tharon almost passed out after laying down.

          “Well, he is a lot older than us its possible he might win.” Zarath slid the boots from his feet stretching out his paw like toes his claws flexing and retracting as he did. “And besides as someone with a little sister I get why he doesn’t like me.” Zarath sighed as he laid back onto his bed.

          “Really I highly doubt that Zarath, your sister Luneth has all the boys her age wrapped around her little claw, honestly she is a better hunter and fighter than both of us.” Tharon laughed as he rolled over onto his side, scratching at his belly.

          “That’s not what I meant, what I mean is that I get what he is doing now…now just get some sleep we have to get to the temple first thing in the morning.” Zarath rolled over to his side and tried to doze off.

          As the boys lay there sleeping once again Zarath was drawn into that nightmare, only this time he wasn’t buried to his waist but only to his knees in the tarlike substance that he had been sinking in through his previous dreams. The Shadow like figure appeared once more in a frantic state bouncing back and forth.

          “No, No, NO! LEAVE THIS PLACE THIS PLACE YOU MUST LEAVE NOW!” The figure hissed as it approached Zarath its faceless form mere inches from his. Zarath could tell something was wrong. As the shadow continued in this frantic state appearing and disappearing from his line of sight as it moved around in the void.

          “You can’t sustain yourself inside the walls can you, Vaerthuin is a holy sight for my people the walls are trying to force you out.” Zarath smirked thinking he had the upper hand for the first time since this all started. Suddenly he sank deeper into the tarlike substance down to his hips.

          “To pure to much raw magic, not a place for the likes of us, it will not save you boy, you are mine.” The shadow seemed to be panicked at the idea of losing what control over Zarath it had. He watched as it kept bouncing around him.

          “Afraid you’re going to be driven out.” Zarath tried to keep his cool as he continued to sink deeper back past his waist and then up to his stomach.

          “You know nothing, still a child a child yes, I told you, you will be my greatest creation even here I still have my grip on you, and you will be mine.” The shadow pulsated as its rage was made clear, whatever this corrupted being was it did not like being this close to such a pure source of holy magic. Maybe Tomorrow this nightmare would be over, and he and Tharon could just simply go home back to their tribe, but something told Zarath it wasn’t going to be that easy. Tomorrow would be a challenging day for both him and Tharon and there was no telling what was going to happen to him or his friend.

          Zarath sprang up from the bed panting slightly as a Wolfkin, he didn’t sweat like a human but if he could the bed would be soaked as he sat up slightly panicked. He turned his head to see Tharon had already left the room. He continued to look around, seeing a mirror on the wall the sight caught him off guard completely. What stared back at him was his own reflection but twisted the fur around his face had darkened to a tar black, his eyes showed a fiery red and his fangs had grown into long tusks. As he screamed at the reflection, he let out a deafening roar. Suddenly he sprung up again quickly feeling his face and body, this time he was truly awake but just what was that horrid vision meant to be a warning from the shadow that had been haunting his dreams or was that what would happen if he and Tharon didn’t find this cure and soon. So many questions raced through his head as he slowly got up from the bed, he stumbled towards the bedroom door only for it to suddenly open, knocking him back onto his rear as it did.

          “Morning your friend Tharon said you usual sleep in so…” Lyra stood there noticing Zarath now on the floor and quickly squatted down next to him. “Oh sorry, sorry I didn’t mean to hit you with the door. Oh, hey, are you ok you don’t look so good.” Lyra reached out and gently touched Zarath on the forehead.

          “I…I am fine I just didn’t sleep well ok now just can you back up a bit.” Zarath’s face was red despite the white fur that covered it, this was twice now that Lyra had forced him into a position he didn’t know how to react to.

          “Oh, sorry I just wanted to make sure you weren’t hurt.” Lyra seemed disappointed as she backed away giving Zarath the space he wanted her tail hanging low as she stood up. She waited for him to stand before she attempted to speak again.

          “Sorry I didn’t mean to be rude I just don’t like people that close to me.” Zarath’s ears twitched as he tried to lie the best he could about why he was upset because he wasn’t sure what the real reason for his reaction was either. But it didn’t seem to bother her once he apologized. Her tail started to wag again, and her eyes quickly lit up.

          “Oh, that’s ok I’m just glad you’re not hurt because I hit you with the door. But breakfast is ready your friend Tharon and your Brakkon Hura have already eaten but once you eat my parents said I can show you how to get to the temple.” Lyra finial stopped talking long enough to breathe before she bound down the hallway not even waiting for Zarath to respond to her. Zarath rubbed his eyes once more before following after her. He didn’t really want her to go to the temple with him and Tharon, but he also did not want her to go with them. Zarath made his way down the stairs that led to the lower level of the tavern where Tharon was happily stuffing his face with bread as Hura got up from her spot on the floor brushing against her master’s legs as he approached them.

          “It’s about time you woke up glad to see that our new friend Lyra didn’t have to drag you out of the bed.” Tharon let out a deep belly laugh as Zarath sat down next to him at the bar, he pushed a plate of food over to Zarath. “Eat up its amazing almost as good as my mothers.” Tharon said as he took another huge bite of the bread he had in his hand. Zarath looked down at the food but for some reason he wasn’t hungry either from the lack of sleep or the nightmarish vision he saw of himself or maybe it was that Lyra was sitting right next to him as if he needed her right by his side. Her tail never stopped wagging as she grabbed a plate of food herself.