Chapter Four: Falcon:

I wake to find myself floating through a tunnel of red and blue mist, a swirl of colours clashing together, but never mixing. They move around each other like a tornado, moving fast—or in slow motion. I can't tell. Near the end is a streak of black, and as I float further the darkness seems to swallow the mist. They finally mix there, essentially being flushed into the black hole. Even though this should be frightening, I don't feel that way in the slightest.

The tunnel isn't loud, no. A peaceful silence echoes around me, and I somehow feel entirely whole. Even with what happened, my mind is enraptured by the momentary silence. I feel like I'm sleeping, but the colours are so vivid that I know this is real. It's like seeing the world for the first time after being blind. The air is crisp, like the earthy smell of fresh pine.

"Wake...hurry, coming," a voice drifts through the swift current, causing the mist to ripple back towards me.

Suddenly my body feels different, a primal instinct coming alive from within me.

"Girl, if you want to live, wake up!" The voice is so loud my ears ring. I wince. One minute I'm in the tunnel, and the next I see trees surrounding me.

I'm in a forest.

Rustling to my left catches my attention. As I turn my head, I come face to face with a massive wolf, its eyes so gold they look like the raging sun. In contrast to this, its fur resembles ash with streaks of black, grey, and a smoky hint of copper. I can hear the warning bells go off in my head, urging me to flee at once. I'm surprised I didn't immediately react.

Before I can listen to my instincts, I flinch when the wolf opens its mouth and speaks.

"Are you deaf? Hurry up, girl, before daylight ends! You're covered in blood, they've probably smelled you from miles away."

I scream, backing away quickly; unfortunately, my back hits the rough bark of a tree.

"Such language, and for a female! And look at how indecent you are, barely clothed!" The wolf looks down at me in disgust.

"Did you kill someone? Come, the boy will know what to do with you," the wolf moves away from me but stops when he hears my voice.

"You talk! A wolf just talked!"

"Of course I talk, just like the rest of my kind. Have you hit your head?" The wolf turns his head to the side like a dog would when curious. The shadow of the sun lowering stops this, and he turns to look at me in a panic. I can tell he is nervous by the small whines leaving his throat.

"We must get going. Come on now."

"I think I'd like to wake up." I pinch my arm.

"Yes, wake up, we need to get going," the wolf mutters while walking towards me.

"No, no, no, don't you dare come near me!"

"I am not the one you should be afraid of, girl. If I leave you alone, you won't last another hour. When I come back tomorrow on my rounds, I'll only find bits and pieces of you around the forest."

"But you're a wolf, and you talk! That sort of thing just doesn't happen. It's not real, you're not real—everything here isn't real! I'm just in a coma after going through a traumatic experience," I mumble to myself. I sound like I'm mentally unstable.

"Well then, I guess you're not in Kansas anymore. Let's go," the wolf lowers himself to the ground next to me.

"What?"

"Hop on girl, before I lose my temper and nip you!"

"You could have said something. And I don't know how that would work. I'm about to wake up soon."

"I will kill you right now if that is what you would prefer. It would be the kindest thing I could do for you. Is this your choice? Death by my fangs, or to be eaten by the Nightcrawlers?"

The eerie silence that follows has me standing up. Grabbing onto the wolf's soft fur, I lift my leg over his massive back. He is bigger than the average wolf—but I know he's far from the norm. I would say his size is comparable to a medium-sized horse.

"Because of your ignorance and stupidity, I'll have to run much faster. Hold on, human."

"Hey, my name is not human, girl, whatever you think to call me. My name is Rayne. And I'm not stupid."

"I am Falcon. Whatever you say, girl."

The wolf starts moving at a slow trot, and I hold on as much as I can. His fur is so soft. I put my face against the back of his neck and breathe in. Oddly enough he smells like cinnamon. I can feel my legs shake and I know it's the feeling of shock. This whole situation is completely insane. I'm insane.

"Do you like being named after a bird, when you're a wolf?" I try to make conversation while closing my eyes. Not seeing him is better, as his voice sounds so human. It's comforting knowing I'm not alone right now.

"My mother's friend was a falcon, so she named me after him."

I choose not to reply. His trot is now full on running. I can feel the wind tangle my short hair, and the familiar smell of pine mixed in with Falcon's scent meets my nostrils.

"Where are we going? And why are we in such a hurry?"

"To see the boy. He'll know what to do with you. Because night is on its way. I'm not sure what happened, but you won't survive long with a forgotten memory," Falcon yells, birds flying as his voice booms around us. Come to think of it, he has a unique voice. It's husky and deep, completely masculine. He sounds like he has lived a long time, wise beyond his years.

"Boy?"

"The warlock."

I sigh immediately.

"Rest now. I need to focus on the forest. The sun has set and the nightcrawlers have risen."

"We're here," Falcon whispers, stopping suddenly. I look over his large head, seeing nothing but trees.

"There's nothing here..."

"Wait a moment,"

"ah, there she is."

A small fox leaps around a tree, its tail twitching as it runs towards us.

"Falcon, I was beginning to think you weren't going to show. Malcom and I were betting on who could have your house."

My mouth drops open at seeing another animal talk. She doesn't seem to notice me on Falcon's back, which is surprising. Falcon is that tall.

"Nonsense, I will always return. Now let us in, Everly" he grunts, patting the ground with one of his paws in agitation.

"Us?"

"A human—how is this possible? Is she injured?"

"The boy will be the judge of that. Call for Caius," Falcon side steps around the fox.

Suddenly, a ripple bounces in the air in front of us, almost like an undulation of water flickering from a current of waves. Within seconds, a massive door the length of the towering trees above us appears.

"I think I must have died and I'm in Heaven."

"Are you alright?" the fox says. I cringe.

"No, I'm far from alright," I rub my cheeks but flinch as my palms touch dried remnants of blood. Aunt Autumn's blood.

"Be weary. It is rare to see a pure human in these realms. Caius will help you find the answers to your questions," her tail lowers as she moves towards the entrance.

The door opens, and I'm expecting to see my life flash before my eyes. But the dream keeps on going. It's just the entrance to a massive town. It appears modern with plenty of windows in each building. There is a Taco Bell and KFC across the street. Looking around, I notice many normal looking civilians.

"I thought you said there aren't any people here?"

"Caius will explain, as he will be able to communicate with you better," Everly—the fox, speaks to me before Falcon does.

"Who is this Caius? You say he is a warlock. But why is he so important?" I hop off Falcon's back when he nudges me with his shoulder. "Off, girl."

"He's our leader. He protects us, and we all work together to keep this realm safe and in order," Everly replies, nodding at a woman with long red hair and bright blue eyes.

"Who's that?"

"My mom," Everly sighs, trotting up to a large office building.

"Y-Your mom? She's a human...And she looks like she's in her twenties."

Before I can utter another word, Everly crouches low and yelps, her bones cracking in the process. A tornado of colours swirl in her place. Gold specks flicker, and the fox is replaced by a girl with long red hair and mesmerizing green eyes. She still wears clothing, thankfully.

"We're shifters."

"Not exactly human, but Caius will explain everything," Falcon grunts, holding out his now human arm to catch me as I faint.